I grew up in the church, which was Arminian in its doctrines and theology. It was supposed to be part of the holiness movement, but there was nothing holy about it, nor was it moving anywhere. There was also nothing freeing about it. (Hint- Free Methodist) There was no power and only had the appearance of being alive which describes most churches. Revelation 3:1 “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” Paul said 1 Corinthians 15:2 “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” The true gospel was not preached because signs did not follow (Mark 16:20 “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it) and as far as I know, they have not woken up. Later I was part of the Wesleyan Church, and the same description could be used about it, but it was worse because it actually unashamedly named the man they followed and worshipped, John Wesley, although both denominations followed in the Wesleyan tradition. As I said before, the seminary I went to have an idol of him.

    This next part shows how easy it is for satan to deceive the church. At a very young age, I believe I was around ten years old, in the Methodist church, I was introduced to a doctrine of demons called the rapture in the form of a horror movie called The Thief in the Night (1973). I am not sure why so many bought into showing this movie under the guise of evangelism. I think it was promoted by Billy Graham, which makes sense since these were doctrines that he believed in, but I cannot find anything that verifies how the distribution occurs or the endorsement. The odd part of this was the church I was part of did not teach this end time theology. At the age of ten this movie terrified me to the point that if no one was home, I thought I was left behind. It is important to understand we are not talking about the second coming of Jesus to take us into eternity but the Hollywood version called the rapture, a demonic doctrine. Here is a brief description given by Anne Graham Lotz. She said “I believe Jesus is soon to return to take all of His followers to Heaven with Him in what is referred to as The Rapture. While this will be deliverance for His people, can you imagine the impact on our nation, let alone the world, when suddenly every single authentic Christian disappears? Institutions will collapse. Banks will close. The Stock Market will plunge. Planes will fall out of the sky. Cars will crash on the road. Government in America at every level will disintegrate. Families will be torn apart. In the unprecedented turmoil, our nation will be vulnerable for our enemies to seize the moment and attack us. There will be mass chaos, confusion, fear, grief, despair, anger, threats, danger… judgment.” Yes it is as ridiculous as it sounds. I wasn’t the only one messed up by these lies. I read some comments by others who were shown this outrageous movie at a young age and how messed up they were because of it. It was ridiculous that this movie was shown to children and young people.

    First of all, it was evil and second it was a horror genre. Most ridiculous was the fact that the spirits were not tested and satan easily infiltrated the church. It did not scare you into heaven but put hell in you instead. The theology and doctrines behind this movie and others like it, like the Left behind series and many others, was the true horror of these movies and books. You also had The Late Great Planet Earth, a 1970 book by Hal Lindsey. One site said 28 million copies translated into 54 languages. (Probably more) There was also a film version was narrated by Orson Welles and released in theaters in January 1978 It was amazing how many people who called themselves Christians read these books like the Left Behind series (best sellers and millions sold and many spinoffs) as if these books were biblical in nature. It is Hollywood fiction. I remember people being surprised when I told them not to have anything to do with these books. The writers of this series, LaHaye and Jenkins are false teachers, yet their books were on the best sellers list. One site said, “Jenkins was the author of more than 195 books with sales of over 70 million copies.” They cite the influence of the movie A Thief in the Night for their books. Jenkins son now is producing The Chosen. Jenkins fully supports his son and the deception runs in the family. Even the singer Larry Norman sang a song called I Wish We’d all Been Ready which was used in the movie A Thief in the Night. Yes, the church does need to be ready for the return of Jesus to take us to eternity but not for the doctrine of demons called the rapture. You can see the succession of false teachers from Tim LaHaye who pastored a church called Shadow Mountain Community church that is now pastored by David Jeremiah who is also a false teacher. I did not come to understand where all this nonsense about the end times came from till much later in life, but as I have learned many in the church have bought into these doctrines of demons and remain deceived.

    The deception is that millions in the church actually believe they will be whisked away and will not face tribulation, but the tribulation is already here and millions are being deceived. Those deceived do not even know they need to repent. Jesus said Matthew 24:1 “Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” Jesus also said John 16:12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” The reason why there are so many differing doctrines and theology about the end times is because God has turned His face from the church because of the church’s rebellion. As I said I was raised in Arminianism as opposed to Calvinism. Notice that both are patterned after men; Jacobus Arminius a Dutch theologian and John Calvin a French theologian and both are wrong as they did not return to the true gospel but did as they saw fit and millions have followed. We were warned not to be deceived but the church did not listen. The church was not reformed during the Reformation but was led further and further away from the truth of the gospel. Because of this rebellion against God’s word, God allowed our enemies to destroy the church. These days of the abomination that causes desolation are deadly and millions have been and are being deceived by false teachers. Jesus after talking about the abomination that causes desolation describes the severity of this attack on the church. Matthew 24:22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.” That means no matter how strong you think you are, you would not have survived if God did not step in. Jesus told us ahead of time, but the church refused to listen. The tribulation is not something happening in the future, it has already started.

    The defeat of the church has taken place because God’s people, who call themselves the church, refuse to listen and obey His word. Yes, the church will listen to men and women tell you how God has led them and given them visions, but refuse to turn back to the word of God. Paul tells us 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” This is already happening and started during the time of Paul as he warned us about following a different Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4) and adhering to other gospels (Galatians 1). Not only do we have satan against us, God is also against the rebellious church. This is why you can have people fully persuaded that what they believe is truth, as we saw above with Anne Graham Lotz, even though what they believe looks nothing like what we are taught in scripture as there is no power.

      This is also why people ignore what scripture clearly states and continue to believe what they are being taught and they refuse to repent saying what have I done? They believe that God will do nothing because they have done nothing wrong and they are being told the same by their leaders. Jeremiah 5:12 “They have lied about the Lord; they said, “He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine. 13 The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them.” Proverbs 30:20 “This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’” Ezekiel 16:32 “‘You adulterous wife! You prefer strangers to your own husband!” 43 “‘Because you did not remember the days of your youth but enraged me with all these things, I will surely bring down on your head what you have done, declares the Sovereign Lord. Did you not add lewdness to all your other detestable practices? 44 “‘Everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: “Like mother, like daughter.” 45 You are a true daughter of your mother, who despised her husband and her children; and you are a true sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and their children.” Jeremiah 3:19 “I myself said, “‘How gladly would I treat you like my children and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.’ I thought you would call me ‘Father’ and not turn away from following me. 20 But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you, Israel, have been unfaithful to me,” declares the Lord.” Proverbs 14:1 “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” The wise woman is the opposite of those who despised their husbands. Proverbs 31:10 “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” The church needs to once again be of noble character.

    The church is supposed to be the wife who does not despise God, but serves Him wholeheartedly. Because that has not happened, desolation, deception and delusion have almost completely annihilated the church. I say almost because God promised David there would always be a remnant of survivors. It is not just one group that has turned away from God’s word to go their own way, but all groups / isms that call themselves the church. This attack is far worse than anything that has happened before and millions continue to die in deception and delusion without ever knowing the truth. We saw God’s people vomited from the land of promise, just as they were warned would happen, all because they rebelled. The temple was destroyed twice because God’s people rebelled and now the church has been destroyed for the same reason. Though God promised Joshua that Joshua 1:3 “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you,” this shows how rebellion and disobedience can alter the promises of God. This is also why the doctrine of eternal security is a lie that has deceived millions into thinking they were safe and secure from all alarm and no matter what, nothing could snatch them from the hand of God. Yet as we saw with Israel and Judah, rebellion changes that. Peter said, 2 Peter 3:17 “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.” Having said that truly following God’s word and God dwelling among you means no one can stand against you just as Joshua was told. Isaiah 43:10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. 12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. 13 Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” John 10:26 “The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” The people who quote this verse fail to include the part about listening to His voice. You will be snatched out of His hand if you follow other gospels and another Jesus as most churches do.

    The only comparison of complete and severe devastation on a global scale would be when God flooded the earth but saved a remnant on a boat. As Jesus said following describing the abomination that causes desolation, no one would survive if God had not stepped in, but God had promised David that there would always be a remnant of survivors no matter how bad things got for God’s rebellious people. Jeremiah 33:19 “The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 20 “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, 21 then my covenant with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne. 22 I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’” As we saw with the Babylonians, even the remnant was taken into captivity. 2 Chronicles 36:20 “He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power.” We also saw part of the remnant who had survived and stayed in the land wiped out because they refused to listen to God’s word and obey. Jeremiah 44:11 “Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am determined to bring disaster on you and to destroy all Judah. 12 I will take away the remnant of Judah who were determined to go to Egypt to settle there. They will all perish in Egypt; they will fall by the sword or die from famine. From the least to the greatest, they will die by sword or famine. They will become a curse and an object of horror, a curse and an object of reproach. 13 I will punish those who live in Egypt with the sword, famine and plague, as I punished Jerusalem. 14 None of the remnant of Judah who have gone to live in Egypt will escape or survive to return to the land of Judah, to which they long to return and live; none will return except a few fugitives.”

    The problem with the church is that the church has failed to learn from those who went before us. Paul said, 1 Corinthians 10:6 “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” God will always provide away, but if you or I fail to repent and turn from our wicked ways, there will be no hope of survival. Read all of Psalm 78. Psalm 78:7 “But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High. 18 They willfully put God to the test. 21 When the Lord heard them, he was furious; his fire broke out against Jacob, and his wrath rose against Israel, 22 for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance. 31 God’s anger rose against them; he put to death the sturdiest among them, cutting down the young men of Israel. 62 He gave his people over to the sword; he was furious with his inheritance.” Saying God is a God of love and leave out His anger and wrath is a deception that many have bought into.

    Today we serve the same God who is a God of love but is also a God of wrath and jealous anger. Deuteronomy 6:15 “For the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land.” Though God’s people were warned time and time again, they refused to listen, just as the church has refused in their deception. Jeremiah 11:7 “From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again, saying, “Obey me.” 8 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.’ 9 Then the Lord said to me, “There is a conspiracy among the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. 10 They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my words. They have followed other gods to serve them. Both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant I made with their ancestors. 11 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them.” Most in the church have been deceived and deluded into believing that God would never break out against His church. 2 Chronicles 36:15 “The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. 17 He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men or young women, the elderly or the infirm. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. 18 He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the Lord’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there. 20 He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power. 21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.” God destroyed the earth with a flood, evicted His people from the land of promise and destroyed two temples and now the church. This is the God we serve. Isaiah 45:22 “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. 24 They will say of me, ‘In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength.’” All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. 25 But all the descendants of Israel will find deliverance in the Lord and will make their boast in him.”

    That does not mean every knee will bow in complete submission as many, as scripture has clearly shown, will not listen and will continue to reject the word of God. Hell is not the place to find out that God was God and there was no other. Yet the church continues to be deceived and deluded. God said to Jeremiah, Jeremiah 9:6 “You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the Lord.” Ezekiel was told Ezekiel 3:27 “But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.” Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. Isaiah was told Isaiah 6:9 “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Though calloused there was still hope, but as the church has clearly shown, most are worshipping in vain. Jesus said Mark 7:6 “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” Matthew 13:13 “This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

    Today’s church is deceived and deluded and does not ask, where is the Lord? Jeremiah 2:5 “This is what the Lord says “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. 6 They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egypt? 7 I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable. 8 The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.” 2 Kings 21:6 “He (king Manasseh) did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger. 7 He took the carved Asherah pole he had made and put it in the temple, of which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. 8 I will not again make the feet of the Israelites wander from the land I gave their ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them and will keep the whole Law that my servant Moses gave them.” 9 But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.” One of the worst kings became one of the most repentant kings and turned from His wicked ways.

    Today most in the church are being led by those who are deceived and deluded, which in turns deceives and deludes those who follow. The church looks nothing like the Gospels and Acts, yet most do not look for the true power that is available to the church as clearly described ins scripture. Most do not ask where is the Lord our God? Where is the healing of the gospels? Why are demons not being cast out as we saw in the Gospels. Because of deception and delusion, the church has accepted its pathetic and powerless condition and refuses to turn from it. Paul talked about the words of Isaiah and calloused hearts when he said, Acts 13:46 “Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.” Acts 28:28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” Today, the church, like the Jews, does not listen and because of rebellion have calloused hearts, eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. The church today is in deception and under delusion because of it.

  Today there is very little healing in the church. When Jesus healed people, it was immediate, and they were not medicated as so many are in the church. Matthew 8:3 “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.” Leprosy could be any disease that has ravaged a person’s body. Healing also happened with the disciples after Pentecost. Acts 5:16 “Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.” Acts 8:6 “When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.” Acts 9:32 “As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.” How often do you hear in the church that death is the ultimate healing? They are now free from their suffering. Earlier we read, “Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Jesus is alive so that means Jesus is still taking up our infirmities and bearing our diseases. Matthew 8:16 “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” Ask yourself if you really believe that.

    Jesus gave the church that same power which means healing and casting out demons should still be happening, yet people still do not ask where it is? Having said that many like the charismatics will tell you they have the power and authority but the nonsense you hear when tongues are spoken and the supernatural that you might see is not of God. Sadly, many have rejected the word of God because of what they see in the charismatic circles and continue to reject the word of God and follow their own powerless ways. Jeremiah 8:4 “‘This is what the Lord says: “‘When people fall down, do they not get up? When someone turns away, do they not return? 5 Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return. 6 I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle. 7 Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord. 10 From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. 20 “The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.” 21 Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me. 22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” People do not ask why is there no healing and in their deception and delusion and accept the lack of healing as normal Christianity. Galatians 3:3 “Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?” Paul said at the beginning of Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” So many that call themselves Christians have bought into the lie, yet still call the church, the church. The Gospels show us what the church was supposed to look like and Acts was the church in action under the same power and authority as the Gospels. Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.”

    Jesus is the head of the church and very much alive; therefore, the church should continue to do just as Jesus did. John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Once again disciples of Jesus Christ will go into the world and preach the good news heal the sick and cast out demons. James 5:14 “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Then the words of James would be taking place.

    The deception and delusion have caused people to accept the manmade church that is filled with other gospels and doctrines of demons as the true church, though it looks nothing like the church that Jesus would build. Jesus said Matthew 16:18 “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” The rock was Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Messiah the Son of the living God. Since Jesus is alive, He is still the Messiah and calling disciples to go out to spread the good news and not just the ones at the beginning as many proclaim. That means He is still empowering His disciples with all the gifts of the Spirit. But those who have been deceived and deluded say that God does not do that anymore. 1 Corinthians 12:7 “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” Those telling you the power gifts have ceased are lying to you. If you listen to those lies, you are not following the true gospel but the lies of satan. If you are part of that teaching called cessationism, run away. That is, like the rapture, a doctrine of demons. Other gospels are in every denomination in one form or the other and those false teachers who teach them are everywhere just as we were warned, but the church has adopted their words as truth over the word of God. Paul warned us when he said Acts 20:29 “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” These savage wolves are among the church and continue to distort the truth and their victims are many. Peter said 2 Peter 2:1 “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.”

    We live in a time where everything is not how it should be, Fools have become leaders and the humble have been turned away. Hosea 9:7 “The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac. 8 The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his paths, and hostility in the house of his God.” Truth has been rejected and Isaiah 30:9 “these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. 10 They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. 11 Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” The church is filled with leaders who should not be leading. 1 Timothy 1:3 “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.” Judges 21:25 “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” Proverbs 6:16 “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”

    This also describes the church. Jeremiah 5:30 “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?”  Micah 3:9 “Hear this, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right; 10 who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness. 11 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.” 1 2 Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble.” Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.” Except most people are so deceived they do not know that they should be groaning.” Proverbs 26:24 “Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. 25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. 26 Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. 28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” Ecclesiastes 10:5 “There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: 6 Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones. 7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.” The church is like Egypt and Israel. Isaiah 19:12 “Where are your wise men now? Let them show you and make known what the Lord Almighty has planned against Egypt. 13 The officials of Zoan have become fools, the leaders of Memphis are deceived; the cornerstones of her peoples have led Egypt astray. 14 The Lord has poured into them a spirit of dizziness; they make Egypt stagger in all that she does, as a drunkard staggers around in his vomit. 15 There is nothing Egypt can do— head or tail, palm branch or reed.” Romans 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. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.” Isaiah 9:13 “But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the Lord Almighty. 14 So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day; 15 the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail. 16 Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray. 17 Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men, nor will he pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks folly.”

    Though that sounds pretty bleak concerning the church, there is still hope as God is God and there is no other. Isaiah 54:7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. 8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you, says the Lord your Redeemer.” Isaiah 44:24 “This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself, 25 who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense, 26 who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited,’ of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’ and of their ruins, ‘I will restore them,’ 27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your streams,’ 28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.”’ Jeremiah 30:8 “‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them. 9 Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. 10 “‘So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel,’ declares the Lord. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. 11 I am with you and will save you,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 31:11 “For the Lord will deliver Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they. 12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord. 16 This is what the Lord says: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy. 17 So there is hope for your descendants,” declares the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land. Jeremiah 32:27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 33:6 “‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. 7 I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. 8 I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. 9 Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.’10 “This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without people or animals.” Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more 11 the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever.” For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the Lord.” Isaiah 37:31 “Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. 32 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. 35 “I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!”

    Jesus said Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Now is the time. Isaiah 49:8 “This is what the Lord says: In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, 9 to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’” Paul said 2 Corinthians 6:1 “As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” The time has come to return to the word of God and turn away from the manmade church and demonic doctrines. Don’t be like those who refuse to repent. Jeremiah 5:3 “Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent. 11 The people of Israel and the people of Judah have been utterly unfaithful to me,” declares the Lord. 12 They have lied about the Lord; they said, “He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine. 13 The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them.” God will do something even if there are those who tell you He won’t. Jeremiah 3:12 “‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will frown on you no longer, for I am faithful,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will not be angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your guilt— you have rebelled against the Lord your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,’” declares the Lord. 14 “Return, faithless people,” declares the Lord, “for I am your husband. I will choose you—one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion. 15 Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. Ezekiel 18:30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” Romans 13:11 “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”