Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

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October 2012 Issue

The Coming War
Oct 1st, 2012
Art Sadlier
Uncategorized

A war in the Mideast is inevitable; it is just the timing that is in question. Israel must prevent Iran from destroying her with nuclear weapons. Iran is close to developing nuclear bombs to fulfill their commitment of annihilating the Jewish state.

Iran does not fear an Israeli attack; in fact they seem to be encouraging it. Iran believes that an Israeli attack would unite the Islamic nations under the Iranian banner in a war against Israel. Iran’s leaders believe that a major war would hasten the appearance of the Mahdi, who they believe will bring Islam victory over the entire world.

It is now clear that Israel stands alone against Iran; they are very unlikely to receive American help.

If the attack happens prior to the US elections, Obama will then be under electoral pressure to help Israel. Once the election is over Obama would likely block an attack on Iran indefinitely. The 

Israelis are well aware of this scenario.

In a late report debkafile reveals the sabotage of the Fordo uranium enrichment facility’s power lines on Aug. 17 gave Israel Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu extra leeway to move his original red line for Iran from late October 2012, now to the spring or early summer of 2013.

Our military sources report that the advantage gained is already proving short-lived. Iran has pounced back fast with two aggressive counter-moves on Israel’s doorstep; 1. Thousands of elite Al Qods Brigades officers and men are being airlifted into Lebanon and Syria and deployed opposite Israeli borders.

2. Shortly before the Israeli Prime Minister rose to speak in New York, Syrian President Bashar Assad again removed chemical weapons out of storage. Some were almost certainly passed to the incoming Iranian units.

Both Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have repeatedly stated that the transfer of chemical weapons to Hezbollah would necessitate Israeli military action.

The fact remains that there are a number of signs that this war is imminent. In a recent article there were 19 signs given to clearly indicate that Israel is preparing for war. Each of these signs gives credible evidence that war is at hand.

The differences between Obama and Netanyahu on this issue are set in stone. Netanyahu stated, “The fact is that every day that passes Iran gets closer and closer to nuclear bombs. The world tells Israel, wait there is still time; and I say wait for what? Wait until when?”

Obama’s response was to snub Netanyahu by cancelling his meeting with Netanyahu in New York. Then he proceeded to refer to Netanyahu’s call for a red line against Iran nuclear program as, “Noise that is out there.”

That has left Netanyahu with stark choice, go it alone or surrender to Iran’s nuclear program.

Debkafile reported, “For two weeks, the Israeli prime minister has dodged and ducked around the White House message. Instead, he has kept on bombarding Washington with high-powered messengers. They all came back with the same tidings: the US President is not only fed up with Israeli pressure but more determined than ever to evade any military engagement with Iran.”

In the meantime there is no end to Iran’s threats to destroy Israel. Not only are the Iranians threatening to destroy Israel, they are actively preparing to do it. Iran is pouring Iranian troops into Syria.

Debkafile reports, “Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has leapt into the Syrian battle arena, undertaking the task of transforming the Alawite Shabbiha militia.

For this project, a massive Iranian airlift of personnel and weapons is running daily from IRGC air bases in Iran into Syria.

They are carrying large numbers of IRGC and al Qods military officers and instructors, as well as enough arms to distribute to the Shabbiha combatants during their training and after they go out on field operations.”

Israel is now faced with a growing Iranian army on her northern border. Iran is also working on Israel’s southern border. “Hamas leader Mahmoud A-Zahar and deputy commander of its military arm, Marwan Issa, finalized and signed protocols covering a binding commitment by the radical Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip to join Iran, Syria and Hezbollah in a war on Israel,” debkafile’s exclusive military sources disclose.

For placing itself under Tehran’s jackboot, Hamas was assured of the resumption of Iranian economic aid and fresh supplies of missiles, advanced hi-tech war equipment to improve the accuracy of its rocket attacks on Israel.

Another dangerous scenario is the possible use of Chemical and biological weapons against Israel by Syria. The presence of Iranian troops in Syria could be used to assist both Hezbollah and Syrian forces in using these weapons. Remember these weapons were prepared for the sole purpose of attacking Israel.

In an interview conducted from the safety of Turkey, former Syrian Major-General Adnan Sillu said he defected three months ago after participating in a meeting held at Syria's chemical weapons center. Sillu confirmed the regime had considered providing such weapons to the Lebanon-based Hezbollah terrorist organization.

Another movement forecast in Psalm 83 is the present move by the Muslim Brotherhood to bring down King Hussein in Jordan. Jordan is listed as one of the countries that will come against Israel in the war of Psalm 83. Unless the king is neutralized Jordan is unlikely to go to war against Israel. The fall of Hussein would change that situation.

In the background, an armada of ships from 25 nations is in the Persian Gulf to prevent Iran from blocking the flow of oil in the event of war.

The inescapable fact is that Iran is growing in military strength, is gaining strategic advantage and getting bolder by the day. We need to remember that Iran will not be directly involved in the war of Psalm 83, according to the scriptures.

Perhaps an EMP or an economic collapse will neutralize Iran? Iran will be directly involved in the later war of Ezekiel 38-39. An exchange of EMP attacks could account for the seeming more primitive warfare of the war of Ezekiel 38-39.

It is my understanding from scripture that this coming war will be the war of Psalm 83. I could be wrong; this could be a war that precedes Psalm 83. To me that would appear to be unlikely, it seems that the scenario is so fully in place and that this will be a war of great magnitude.

The scriptures give a detailed account of events leading up to the war of Psalm 83. In verse 12 we have a description of that which is now happening, “Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.” Today the Palestinians are claiming the Temple Mount in Jerusalem as belonging to them.

In the Ezekiel account of this same war we see the same thing. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession” (Ezekiel 36:2). And also in verse 5 we read, “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.” This is a prophecy that is being fulfilled today, it describes the attempt to drive Israel off her land, and it is a description of that which precedes the war of Psalm 83.

During his speech to the UN on September 26, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi stated, "The world should resolve the Palestinian issue first.

A (Palestinian) state must be built with Jerusalem as its capital.”

This has been the demand of Islam for sixty years; it is motivated by a fanatical drive to remove Israel from Jerusalem and her land. The stage is set for this war to take place.

We have a further description of events before this war in Psalm 83:4-5, “They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee.” Last week Hamas signed a binding agreement with Iran to join Hezbollah and Syria in a war against Israel. These are fulfilled prophecies and they indicate the war in question is at hand.

The scriptures also give us an account of the results of this war. We read in the passages that deal with this war that the Lord will bring a devastating and destruction upon these enemies of Israel. We read in Isaiah 17 that Damascus will be obliterated. We read in Ezekiel 35:6-7 that those who have sought the blood of Israel will have their blood shed, “Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee. Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth.” The Palestinians are the descendants of the Edomites and they have in recent years pursued the blood of the Jews, God will shed their blood in this coming war.

When this war takes place the world will be shaken by the results and the way in which God intervenes. It also seems that an imminent great economic collapse will take place, no doubt brought on by the war. I suspect that the climate will be set for the world to seek peace and safety. Conditions will be set for the peace treaty of Daniel 9:27 and the appearance of Antichrist.

I believe events that are now unfolding are in line with Bible prophecy. I have repeatedly dealt with this war because I believe it is like a flashing red light on the near horizon.

I would also remind you that the rapture is a sign less event that could take place prior to this war, during this war or after it. We only know that it will happen prior to the tribulation period.

Our world is today involved in an awesome rebellion against God and His Word. Today whatever God says in His Word is totally rejected. Whether it is marriage or the homosexual agenda or Israel or whatever, if God demands it, men reject it. Psalm 2:1-3 describes our world, “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.”

The hour is late; our God defying world is tempting the Lord to bring judgment upon it.

Transitions
Oct 1st, 2012
Art Sadlier
Uncategorized

When Adam sinned and rebelled against God the seed of the entire human race was resident in Adam and partook of his fallen nature. The fact is, when Adam joined Satan in his rebellion against God, Adam’s divinely appointed governorship of the earth was transferred to Satan by the permissive will of God. Satan became the ruler of this world’s system.

Since that hour there has been an ongoing conflict between God and Satan to win the hearts of men and women. God intends to redeem man and restore him to a relationship with Himself and restore the kingdom of God on earth. At the same time Satan struggles to consolidate his ruler ship of the kingdom of this world by bringing men to worship himself instead of God.

God has introduced two programs to effect His redemption of man and to re-establish His Kingdom in this world of men and women.

The first program is the nation of Israel. The second is the Church of Jesus Christ. Because both of these programs were intended to replace Satan’s kingdom in this world, both these groups were commanded to separate themselves from this present evil world system.

Israel was called to be separate from the gentile peoples around them. They indicated they were strangers and pilgrims just passing through this world. They lived in tents apart from the peoples around them, they had a different worship system, diet, clothes and laws. They were the people of God and they were instructed to go to great lengths to indicate they were not a part of the world system.

Israel disobeyed the Lord with regard to His command to separate. The Lord describes this failure in 2 Kings 17:15, “And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.” Israel repeated this failure many times and each time it brought God’s judgment upon them.

The Church of Jesus Christ is also a group of called out ones. We are called out of this evil world system; called to be separated unto Christ. We are not to be identified with the world or the things of the world. We are not to love the world or the things of the world. In fact we are told in 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” The love of the world marks a person as not being a true disciple.

Jesus warns us that the world will hate us because we are not of the world. John 15:19, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” Separation is the cause of the world’s persecution of the believer.

Over the centuries of the long church age the followers of Christ understood that truth very well. Opposition, persecution and martyrdom were the constant experience of Christ’s disciples; multitudes laid down their lives in obedience to this requirement of the Lord. It was understood that a Christian was one who was separate from the world.

The basic characteristic of true Christianity is separation from the world and separation from apostasy. That includes among other things: the world’s music, the world’s lifestyles, the world’s entertainment and the world’s approval. Compromising Christianity is counterfeit Christianity. Separation will always bring the reproach of Christ, the new evangelical will not bear the reproach of Christ; he will compromise with the world.

At the midpoint of the twentieth century a transition took place. That transition has altered the professing church to the point that it would not now be recognizable to those believers who lived prior to that time. That transition was called new evangelicalism. I am old enough to remember the days prior to inception of new evangelicalism; the church was very different.

The man who first used the term and founded new evangelicalism defines it for us. Dr. Harold Ocenga said, “New evangelicalism was born in 1948 in connection with a convocation address which I gave in the Civic Auditorium in Pasadena. While reaffirming the theological view of fundamentalism, (this is what makes new evangelicalism so invasive and deceptive) this address repudiated its ecclesiology (separation from apostate churches) and its social theory [separation from the world]. The ringing call for a repudiation of separatism and the summons to social involvement received a hearty response from many evangelicals.” [Editor’s note in parenthesis].

New evangelicalism is simply the repudiation of the basic tenant of the church, separation from the world and from apostasy; these things are the bedrock of the practice of the church of Jesus Christ. New evangelicalism swept away this fundamental tenant of the church of Jesus Christ breaking down the barrier between the world and the church.

We have witnessed 60 years of new evangelicalism. When new evangelicalism took its divergent fork in the road in 1948, it was thought to be a slight course correction. Now many new evangelicals find themselves on a totally different road. Unless fundamentalists obey the Bible by separating from the world and disobedient brethren, we will find ourselves with them on a broad road, 

totally different than the one on which we set out. In fact that is already the situation in many churches that boast they are fundamentalists.

The deception of new evangelicalism is found in the fact that it has pretended to hold to the fundamentals of the faith. They claim the larger numbers they draw give validity to their denial of separation.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Long ago I ceased to count heads, truth is usually in the minority in this evil world.” “The battles of Scripture were always won by an obedient minority, not a diverse majority.”

John Ashbrook said, “Thousands of Churches have fallen to new evangelicalism while trying to be silent fundamentalists. At the same time the Bible believing Church was stolen by vocal new evangelicals.”

He also said, “The most dangerous deviation is the one closest to your own position. New evangelicalism sprang out of fundamentalism. It is a movement of brethren. The lie of new evangelicalism has deceived more fundamentalists than the siren of ecumenism.”

THE TRANSITIONS CONTINUED as new evangelicalism produced its natural fruit, the user-friendly church. The goal of the church was changed from redemption and sanctification to simply getting the crowds into the church and preaching an inoffensive gospel that would not keep the crowds from returning next week. Everybody jumped on board including many fundamentalists; it seemed so good to have the crowds. The true gospel was lost in the house of the Lord, and the church was filled with pseudo Christians.

That change has been absolutely profound and pervasive. I think that there is not church in North America that has not been insidiously impacted to a greater or lesser degree by the philosophy of new evangelicalism. Many who would refute new evangelicalism are nevertheless unknowingly compromised by it.

THE TRANSITIONS CONTINUED with Rick Warren’s purpose driven movement. He excelled in bringing the world into the church. His was the ultimate expression of the user-friendly approach. He also introduced into evangelicalism an ecumenical endeavour with the new goal of uniting all the churches and religions of the world for world peace. His influence is very widespread. He has claimed that he has 500,000 pastors and religious leaders in his purpose driven program.

THE TRANSITIONS CONTINUED as to this point the effort had been to bring the world into the church, the emergent church has now come on the scene to bring the church into the world.

One writer says, “The emerging church is a movement that is said to be a new way to do Christianity, a way that is supposed to reach out to the postmodern generation in a more relevant way than traditional Christianity. In reality, the emerging church, which is really a merging church, is a full-scale ecumenical effort to unite all religions against biblical Christianity by using mystical practices to accomplish this. In the emerging church, doctrine becomes unimportant while unity at all costs becomes the most important thing.”

Today the infrastructure of the great world-wide harlot church is being laid. It will be a totally different Christianity. Christianity has to change to accommodate the influx of the various religions and the new age philosophy that will bring the entire world under its roof.

What we have been witnessing is the transition from the church of Philadelphia to the church of Laodicea. Laodicea is an apostate church that will be spewed out of the Lord’s mouth and into the tribulation period.

Along with these transitions we have witnessed a growing apostasy in the professing church of Christ. Much of this apostasy is based on the lie that all truth is “God’s truth.” This is a springboard for twisting God’s Word. For example: principles that may work in business are not equal to the truths of God’s Word, but nevertheless they have been incorporated into the program of the church. On the coattails of the lie, that “all truth is God’s truth” came the new way to do church.

Warren B. Smith, in his excellent book entitled, “A Wonderful Deception” deals with this deception and the growing apostasy in the church. The following quotations are from his book:

Rick Warren’s associate, Richard Abanes wrote: [ Rick Warren feels, as I do, that a person does not have to be a Christian in order to make an astute observation, or say something that is true. All “truth” (wherever it may be found) is God’s truth. For example, a true observation about about the way people think or feel is a true observation – no matter who says it. So if I quote something that is true in order to make a point, then it really doesn’t matter who said it, whether it be a Buddhist, an atheist, or a space alien!

Pastor Dr. Harry Ironside warned about the deceptive notion that “all truth is God’s truth,” when he wrote, Error is like leaven, of which we read, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Truth mixed with error is equivalent to all error, except that it is more innocent looking and, therefore, more dangerous. God hates such a mixture! Any error, or any truth-and-error mixture, calls for definite exposure and repudiation. To condone such is to be unfaithful to God and His Word and treacherous to imperiled souls for whom Christ died.]

Smith continues: [Jesus Christ is lord. His name is above all names (Philippians 2:9). He is not the “Jesus” of the “The Shack” and He is not the “Jesus” of the New Age/ New Spirituality. Most assuredly, He is not the “quantum Christ” of a deceived world and an apostate church.

The apostle Paul describes the simplicity of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3). According to many of today’s spiritual and religious leaders, it has taken humanity 2000 years to finally “get it.” They say we need quantum physics, cellular biologists, Ph.D. mathematicians, New Age channelers, and emerging postmodern preachers to finally understand what Jesus was trying to tell us back in the first century. No, this is not the simplicity that Paul was describing. This is the deceptive work of our adversary as he tries to transform the creation into the Creator and co-opt God’s creation to himself.

Unfortunately, many of today’s pastors have forgotten that Satan is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) and that we are able to “stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). As a result the church is now catapulting into great spiritual deception.

For those who still rightly divide and depend on the Word of God, the Bible warns that the coming deception will be so great that most of the world will be deceived (Revelation 13:13-14). Jesus warned that His way is not the broad way but the “narrow way” of continuing in His Word (John 8:31). And it is His way that leads to eternal life.]

Warren B. Smith adds: [Sadly, Christian leaders today are in absolute denial about the New Age/New Spirituality that is accelerating its reach into the world and into the church. These leaders are telling us we need not be concerned about spiritual deception - or Antichrist and they have all but forgotten the devices of the adversary. They say all the world needs to do is follow their lead, and engage in their P.E.A.C.E. Plans, and be a part of a New Reformation that will change the world.

In an online update of Reinventing Jesus Christ, I relayed a conversation my wife and I had not long after our conversion. We talked about the ultimate spiritual deception described in the Bible - the great “falling away” of the church and the coming of Antichrist. We agreed that for someone like Antichrist to be credible in the world, he would need a majority of the people who call themselves Christians to believe that he is Christ. If he could get enough Christians - especially influential Christian leaders – to follow him, he could then discredit and marginalize those who oppose him. But to get people who call themselves Christians to believe he is Christ, he would first have to successfully redefine Christianity. To do that he would have to introduce non-Christian teachings and practices into the church, while at the same time make them to appear Christian. His obvious goal would be to convert undiscerning and unsuspecting believers into a more eastern and mystical, New Age “Christianity.” While invoking the name of “God” and “Christ,” he would actually turn the Bible upside down – just as we have seen in our New Age teachings.

For this end-time, world-wide deception to take place, Christianity would have to become a more “positive” New Age “Christianity.” This emerging New Age Christianity would have “a form of godliness” but it would actually deny the true faith (2 Timothy 3:5). This New Age Christianity/New Spirituality would use Christian terminology, while being under the spell of “another Jesus,” “another spirit,” and “another gospel” (2 Corinthians 11:4).

This New Age/New Gospel/New Spirituality would be the ultimate deception.

It would be what the real Jesus warned His followers to watch for.

Warren B. Smith concludes: [So where is this ever-expanding Purpose Driven movement heading, and how will it get there? I believe with all of my heart that Rick Warren and his colleagues are being used to lead the church into a New Spirituality for a New Age. Whether they consciously realize this or not is beside the point. The fact is that they are doing it, and it has become a mockery of those who came before them and who rightly divided the Word of God – men and women who willingly died for their faith rather compromise themselves with the world.

As we have discussed transitions we believe that there are two transitions yet remaining.

The first of these two coming transitions will be:

THE TRANSITION FROM CHRISTIANITY TO THE HARLOT Revelation 17

(John does not call it a church because it is not a church.)

After the bride of Christ is raptured, everything that remains under the banner of Christendom will be unregenerate professing Christianity. Under that banner will come unregenerate Laodicean / Evangelicalism. Added to that will be all of professing Christianity and all of the false religions of the world plus the New Age movement. These will have a leader who will inspire and unite them and lead them into a union with the world’s political leader, Antichrist. They will be occupied with consolidating a world government, a world economy and a world religion.

THE TRANSITION TO THE WORSHIP OF ANTICHRIST AND ULTIMATELY SATAN

The final transition will come at the Mid-tribulation point. At that point there will be two new unveilings. Antichrist will be revealed a second time. The first time he was revealed at the beginning of the tribulation period as a benevolent, charismatic, wise leader who brings peace to the world.

His second revelation comes at the Mid-tribulation point. He is here revealed as a beast which causes all to be killed who will not submit to him and take his mark.

We also have two revelations of a second man; this man is revealed at the beginning of the tribulation period as the world’s new religious leader. He miraculously brings all of the religions of the world under one roof; he does what today is absolutely impossible. It seems that Contemplative/Mysticism will be the common denominator between Evangelicalism, Mainline Christianity, Catholicism and the Religions of the world and it will bring in the secular world through the involvement of the New Age movement.

This man also has a second revelation or unveiling. At the mid-tribulation point he is revealed as the second beast. He performs wonders and miracles to persuade the world to worship the first beast, Antichrist. He betrays the harlot and destroys her (Revelation 17:16-17). We read about him and his power to cause the whole world to worship Antichrist in Revelation13:11-17.

This last transition (referred to above) is the focal point of Satan’s program:

The Transition to replace all worship and all religion with the religion and worship of Satan

As we approach the soon coming rapture of the bride of Christ, I tremble for the multiplied millions of new evangelicals who are resting in what may be a false security of salvation. I think one of the most frightening verses in the scriptures is Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

What a tragic moment that will be for the many who are deceived about their salvation and disowned by the Lord.

A parallel verse is found in Revelation 3:16, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” This is spoken to the last-days church of Laodicea which is represented by evangelicalism.

To take away assurance of salvation from the unsaved is a good thing; it leaves him with the possibility of being saved, meanwhile, the true believer has the witness of the Spirit within.

Believer, be encouraged and remember that you are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. You are surrounded by multiplied millions of believers who have gone before you, a multitude who have loved Jesus, who have worshipped Him and served Him. This great host, who have sung His praises and obeyed His Word, have paid a price for living lives separated from the evil world some were martyred. Let us walk in their footsteps.

If you are to wear the crown you must bear the cross. Remember there is a robe of white, a harp, a crown, and a home in heaven awaiting the true child of the King.

Contemplative/Mysticism is falling like a blanket upon the Evangelical church. Except for a few voices crying in the wilderness, there is virtually no resistance. Those who consider themselves fundamentalists need to beware.

When a boat takes on water the water shifts in the hull and the boat begins to list to one side. If the boat continues to take on water the list becomes greater and greater until the tipping point is reached. When that happens all hope is lost and the ship is doomed to sink. Our society has been taking on the water of sin and wickedness for some time now.

I am convinced that we have reached the tipping point and all hope is now gone.

Our society is going down; the Day of the Lord is near at hand. We can’t save the ship, but we can rescue some of the passengers.

Some think that if America had a change of presidents the problems could be solved. Obama is not the cause, he is the consequence. The issue is that our society has rebelled against God and against God’s Word and against God’s will. We have worshipped the gods of materialism, pleasure, lust and the pride of life. Our society has mocked the Word of God at every turn. The issue is the wrath of God on the unrighteousness of men. Hearts have become hardened and the line of God’s patience has been crossed.

“And they said, there is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart” (Jeremiah 18:12).

Laodiea?
Oct 1st, 2012
Art Sadlier
Uncategorized

We are now undoubtedly living in the last days of the Laodicean church age. I am personally not aware of a single pre-millenialist who would not agree with that statement. The characteristics of the present day Evangelical Church perfectly match the characteristics the Laodicean Church given by John in Revelation 3:17, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” This is the Evangelical Church of the present day. The Evangelical Church is materially rich but spiritually poor.

The alarming thing about this whole scenario is that John clearly teaches the Laodicean Church is an unregenerate church. The implication is that if you are a Laodicean in character, then you are unregenerate. The implication is that the evangelical church of the present hour is an unregenerate church. The question each individual must ask, is, “Am I Laodicean or Philadelphian in character?” The issue is not what you think you are or what you profess to be, but, “What am I in my practice?”

There seems to be a discrepancy between what many evangelicals believe it means to be a Christian, and how the New Testament defines a Christian. John uses a term which describes today’s evangelicals; “lukewarm.”

Many evangelicals today are;

* warm to Christ, but not on fire,

* let Christ have a place in our lives, but not the only place,

* let Christ have a place in our lives but not first place,

* let the Word of God have a place in our lives, but do not let it be the only and final authority

* let worship have a place in our lives, but leave room for pleasure and entertainment,

* make Christ a priority, one of many priorities,

* make our time of worship light and enjoyable, without laying too many demands on us.

Such an attitude is really saying that Christ is an “add on” to our lives. The scriptures teach that Christ will never accept those terms from anyone. The evangelical has a place for Christ but he also reserves a place for the world and the people of the world and the things of the world. That does not agree with what the Lord commands in 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” You can’t have the world and Christ at the same time. It will cost you the world to follow Christ.

Listen carefully to the demands Christ makes on the life of those who would follow Him. “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). You can rationalize away these words of Jesus, but you do it to your own peril. Paul taught what the Christian’s relationship to the world is to be in 2 Cor. 6:17, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” Notice this is a condition of being received by the Lord.

If this is the correct definition of what it means to be a Christian, it would seem that only a few would then be saved. The disciples asked the Lord that very question, listen to His answer. “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).

Is it possible that multitudes of evangelicals who profess faith in Christ are actually unregenerate? Matthew 7:21-22 say it is: “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

There is another indication of this scenario in Revelation 3:16, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” This plainly says that Laodicea is an unsaved group. We see this again in verses 18-20, where Laodicea is given an invitation to salvation. In verse 20, the Lord is pictured outside the door of the Laodicean church knocking to gain entrance.

I do not apologize for the repeated use of these verses. I fear that there are millions of new evangelicals who are on the broad road to hell. For them the clock is about to strike the midnight hour, and I am burdened for them.

What an awesome and terrifying thought, that multitudes of evangelicals are unregenerate and are about to miss the rapture of the church and be spewed out by the Lord into the tribulation period.

Before you “tar and feather” me, let me ask you a question. If this is what the scripture teaches, should we not shout a warning from the rooftops?

The issue here is not legalism, but rather, where are the marks of genuine salvation? Paul said, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). A change of life style and a difference from the world are the marks of genuine salvation.

We need to weep over and pray for those who are deceived into believing that they are believers when they are not. It is not that we are the judges of who is saved and who is not, the Lord knows them that are His. "Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!" (Jeremiah 9:1).

I close with this challenge. Look carefully at the evangelical church and be honest.

* Is the Word of God the only rule of faith and practice?

* Is the evangelical church occupied with seeking to please the world and trying to be accepted by the world?

* Is the evangelical church wrapped-up in the things of the world?

* Has the evangelical church turned away from the doctrines so tenaciously held by their Philadelphian forefathers?

* On what has the evangelical church not been willing to compromise?

* For what sound doctrine has the evangelical church been willing to contend?

* Why is it that evangelicals no longer delight to be in an evening service and prayer meeting?

* Why is it that evangelicals equate big crowds, beautiful buildings, the world’s music styles and entertaining meetings with what the body of Christ is to be and do?

* Why are evangelicals no longer willing to preach about hell?

* Why is it that evangelicals are no longer different than the world in their life style and dress?

Come out of Laodicea. Do not support this thing which is entangling so many around you, including your own family.

Signs of the Times
Oct 1st, 2012
Art Sadlier
Uncategorized

Events that are taking place around the world seem to be shouting warnings of end of the age. We know from scripture that the end times will be troubling times and those times are now descending upon us.

RADICAL ISLAMIC FERVOR is sweeping the world with violence, demonstrations, murder and chaos. The President of Iran has warned once again of a coming war that will, as he says, hasten the coming of Islam’s Saviour, the Mahdi. This could be the unwitting preparation of Muslims for the appearance of Antichrist who will deceive Islam as well as the other religions of the world.

THE WORLD IS FACING THE REAL THREAT OF A WAR between Japan and China. These two countries represent the world’s second and third largest economies. Such a clash would plunge the world into certain economic disaster. Some are warning that this is a real possibility. This could be a part of the confusion that will surround war of Psalm 83.

IN SYRIA WE SEE A CATASTROPHIC CIVIL WAR developing. This war could be a prelude to an attack on Israel which would be diversionary tactic of the Syrian dictator. The real danger is the use of Syria’s chemical and biological weapon against Israel.

THE THREAT OF A MASSIVE WORLD-WIDE DROUGHT is driving food prices upwards. As US crops weather the country’s worst drought since 1936 grain and oilseed prices climb. The farming belts of Russia and South America suffer through similar water shortages.

A significant rise in prices will mean starvation for many of the world’s poor. Is this a precursor to the famines of the tribulation period?

THE GREAT INCREASE IN EARTHQUAKES. Large earthquakes are now a daily occurrence. On the afternoon of April 11, 2012, one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded, and now revealed to be among the weirdest, struck in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Sumatra. A strong 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck along the coast of Colombia

New research published Sept. 26 in the Journal Nature delves into the intimate details of this earthquake, along with the powerful, magnitude-8.2 quake that followed two hours later. The new studies add to an existing body of research that shows this was a remarkable event. One of the most surprising earthquakes ever recorded. This is another sign of the times.

IN EUROPE the push to establish a European Federation of nations is accelerating. A block of eleven EU nations are calling for a single, elected head of state for Europe, the bloc demanded a new defence policy, under the control of a new pan-EU foreign ministry commanded by Baroness Ashton, which "could eventually involve a European army.” Someday ten nations will appear and take control of Europe.

The president of the Czech Republic has warned, “The new push for a European Union federation, complete with its own head of state and army, is the ‘final phase’ of the destruction of democracy and the nation state. (The beat goes on).

Jeremy Warner reports: The euro zone crisis has sparked back into life more swiftly than even I would have anticipated, with the epicenter returning to a fast-shrinking Spanish economy. Political and economic developments are once more threatening to combine into an uncontrollable firestorm.

THE POTENTIAL COLLAPSE OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY The latest forecast by LEAP/2020 predicts the global economy will be ‘sucked into a black hole’ by October, that the Fed’s QE will be ineffective at staving off the collapse, and that all signs indicate a massive downturn (‘without modern historical equivalent‘) in the economy is ‘dead-ahead‘.

AMERICA APPROACHES A FISCAL CLIFF Meanwhile, America’s fiscal cliff is the single biggest near-term threat to the global economy, Fitch Ratings said Thursday.

“While it is not our base case, the dramatic fiscal tightening implied by the fiscal cliff could tip the U.S. and possibly the global economy into recession.”

AMERICAN U.S. HOMELAND SECURITY PREPARES FOR AN ALL-OUT "AMERICAN SPRING" REBELLION and has bought 1.2 billion bullets for counterterrorist snipers. An additional 200 million bullets are to be purchased. Someone in high places is preparing to kill Americans in their homeland?

The U.S. Army has also been preparing for rebellion in the streets, and a Military Police training manual, entitled "Civil Disturbance Operations" describes how to suppress riots and kill civilians when confronting "dissidents." The manual states, "Warning shot will not be fired."

The following report warns of a massive surveillance system which is being assembled. Brace yourselves for the next wave in the surveillance state’s steady incursions into our lives. It’s coming at us with a lethal one-two punch.

To start with, there’s the government’s integration of facial recognition software and other biometric markers into its identification data programs. The FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) system is a $1 billion program that is aimed at dramatically expanding the government’s current ID database from a fingerprint system to a facial recognition system.

NGI will use a variety of biometric data, cross-referenced against the nation’s growing network of surveillance cameras to not only track your every move but create a permanent “recognition” file on you within the government’s massive databases. By the time it’s fully operational in 2014, NGI will serve as a vast data storehouse of “iris scans, photos searchable with face recognition technology, palm prints, and measures of gait and voice recordings alongside records of fingerprints, scars, and tattoos.

HOMELAND SECURITY FEMA CAMPS a bill introduced in Congress in 2009 authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to set up a network of FEMA camp facilities to be used to house U.S. citizens in the event of a national emergency. Those few who have seen these camps report that they are built like concentration camps. They can only be intended to inter Americans. Is someone preparing for some, as yet, unknown but planned event?

MUTATING VIRUSES in recent days we have seen a spate of new viruses that have the potential to be deadly global pandemics. It is surprising how suddenly so many dangerous scenarios can develop. Jesus warned of global pandemics in the last days.

THE UNITED NATIONS CREATES GLOBAL TAXES The UN is finding new and “innovative” ways to create global taxes that would transfer hundreds of billions, and even trillions, of dollars from the rich nations of the world, especially the U.S., to poorer ones, in line with U.N. directed economic, social and environmental development.

* A 1 percent tax on billionaires around the world.

* A tax on all currency trading in the U.S. dollar, the euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound sterling.

* Another “tiny” tax on all financial transactions, including stock and bond trading, and trading in financial derivatives.

* New taxes on carbon emissions and on airline tickets.

* A royalty on all undersea mineral resources extracted more than 100 miles offshore of any nation’s territory.

It seems the financing of the New World order is being put into place.

IRAN ON THE BRINK OF ECONOMIC COLLAPSE Iran is teetering on the brink of collapse as biting sanctions strangle the country's economy, while talk of an imminent attack on its nuclear facilities is causing people to fear Iran will become another Iraq. Iran's currency, the rial, has plunged nearly 60% in the past few months, six percent of that in the last two days as Iranians and foreign investors cash out in a classic flight to safety situation.

TURKEY, EGYPT TO BOOST ALLIANCE Dozens of ministers from Turkey and Egypt will gather in Cairo in November in a bid to boost their alliance, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday. Note....This will strengthen the Islamic alliance against Israel.

All of the above seems like preparation for the world of Antichrist. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke21:28).

"When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" (Matthew 16:2b-3). Jesus taught that signs from heaven portend things to come and testify to God's intention.