| The Coming of the Anti-Christ: Another movie “cultivates” his arrival? |
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THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
Klaatu, an alien “savior” to earth, visitor off a UFO, walks on water! ( A look at the movie from a Biblical Worldview) THE CONDITIONING PROCESS CONTINUES…. The Bible warns of a coming usurper, a Christ figure “savior” who’ll deceive the world, named Anti-Christ. “Anti” is the Greek prefix for “in place of” or “a substitute for”. The counterfeit will attempt to establish a kingdom on earth which the legitimate Jesus Christ, Son of God, is to accomplish at His Second Coming – His millennial (1000 year) rule on earth bringing restoration to the Kingdom of Israel. A recent film release, “ The Day the Earth Stood Still” is confusing many Christians and non-Christians with its mixed messages of a so-called “Christ figure” savior coming to earth which, in the film seems more like the anti-Christ figure the Bible warns about. Following, we’re going to examine some aspects of the movie and see what the Bible says of Anti-Christ, his short rule, and the purpose of Christ’s government on earth and His future reign forever. THE COMING KING OF THE JEWS The Bible predicts a Messiah will rule “upon the throne of His Father David”…..and “over the House of Jacob”, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High…and He will reign…. forever; and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:30-33). The Jews knew of this prophecy when Jesus Christ, Son of God, was born in the flesh 2000 years ago in Bethlehem, Israel. His presence and ministry confused them because He came as the “suffering” Messiah (predicted in Isaiah 53) not the “conquering” and “political” Messiah they were expecting, Who many Jews still hope for today. The political reformer they anticipated would rid them of the Roman Empire, but, this future One will end the world war predicted against Israel by “all the nations” (Zech. 12:9). The political reformer the Jews wanted then (whose counterfeit will soon dupe many) is familiar in the words of the prophet Isaiah found in Christmas cards, "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end...." (Isa 9:6-7). The Bible warns, the coming usurper (one who seizes without legal right or authority) will offer a deceptive peace and government before the arrival of the real Prince of Peace. The counterfeit will be a global leader with an assistant called the “false prophet”, who demonstrates, with miracles, his abilities and powers but then disaster - "For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them...." (1 Thess. 5:1-4). This “like” Christ will be charismatic and able to weald great authority manipulating unity in world government, commerce and religion but, warns Scripture, his position and power comes from Satan, the dragon and not from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The usurper’s influence will be worshipped by all who dwell on the earth and his pride will cause blasphemies against their Creator and all who dwell in heaven (Rev.13:2-8). The “like” Christ’s “false prophet”, will be his master’s "enforcer". He’s described as "another beast" which spoke like a "dragon" which exercises "all the authority of the first beast" and will cause everyone to worship the Anti-Christ. He performs “miracles” and "even makes fire come down from heaven." These “signs” will deceive and cause all on earth to worship an image of the Anti-Christ or be killed by that image (Rev. 13:11-15). The Day The Earth Stood Still - A Green Anti-Christ? Interestingly, the recent “The Day The Earth Stood Still” movie, a remake of the 1951 science fiction classic, has a visiting UFO alien Klaatu, “friend of the earth - savior” arriving on earth with his powerful enforcer robot, Gort, which is designed to destroy to kill anyone who threatens its master. Beams of light emanate from an opening where its eyes should be and its miraculous powers cause major destruction to earth by fire – a confusing attack as the movie’s plot is about “preservation”. The 1951 theme of preservation was from nuclear destruction due to the pending nuclear arms race, but this remake’s message is about global preservation of the universe’s environment. The alien Klaatu, representing a force of inter-galactic beings out there, have judged that we, the irresponsible human inhabitants of earth, are bringing danger, according to their universal code, to the universe at large. Therefore Klaatu’s “enforcer” begins a course of destruction. But, Klaatu, having been “touched” with “compassion” towards the wayward earthlings, ultimately “intercedes” the judgment of the universal powers that be, and leaves earth to enjoy peace, walking away on water to presumably convince viewers of his “Christ” likeness! This movie, along with contributing messages circulated by mass media, combines to be one of the most powerful “change agents” of today’s “greening” spirituality, propagated by many liberal movie celebrities and surprisingly, the church, who surely should know Who preserves the planet? According to Scripture, the ability to “sustain” the planet belongs to God alone. He, as the One outside of His creation and above the universe, created the world to be something from nothing (Gen.1:1). “The worlds were framed by the word of God" (see DVD The Privileged Planet), so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible (Heb 11:3). He is not subject to the laws He created for the earth for He existed before His creation. For example, the second law of thermodynamics, the law of entropy, (most scientists agree) shows that everything related to this earth (the sun, moon, stars with their heat and light, etc) are all winding down as the winding down of a wound up clock. God is eternal, not created or part of the creation He created. He will never wind down and is central to all that exists in life, light and our environment. Jesus Christ, God’s Sovereign Word made flesh, predicted by Isaiah the prophet (7:14, Matt.1:23) said, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (Jn.1:4) that “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:14-16) and "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (Jn 8:11-12). Jesus Christ is eternal life available to the believer in order to be reconciled in fellowship to His Father. He holds the earth, universe and environment together giving all a chance to make the eternal decision to walk in His light and life, a gift given to man by His Grace. His universe is subject to His faithfulness which is the foundation of what establishes the very heavens (Ps 89:2). At His appropriate time His judgment will bring about the end when, “The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare" (2 Peter 3:10), Believers have this confidence which should encourage them to “preach the good news” while there is still time which is winding down. Until God’s judgment of earth (foretold in Revelation) all will go according to His plans and no alien or UFO interruptions, or manmade efforts at “environmental sustainability” will change what God has spoken. This movie continues to disseminate the religion of paganism in “new age” ecology, which teaches that man is the centre of his universe and apparently able to preserve Mother Goddess Earth, Gaia Worship, et al through politics and “spiritual” methodology. HOLLYWOOD’S MISSIONARY ENDEVOUR… Sadly, Christianity is promoting much pagan ideology and thousands of Biblically illiterate Christians are buying into it and Hollywood’s “missionising” of it. The post modern culture we find ourselves immersed in has embraced pagan philosophical ideas that dismiss God’s reality embedded in His Truth, central to all that sustains life in the universe and life in ourselves. God has defined Truth as Jesus Christ (I am the Truth – Jn.14:6) Who is God’s integrity and character: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn 1:14) Post moderns have trivialized Truth as a commodity that can be all things to all people accommodating today’s consumerism, boasting anything wanted can be tailored to ones personal needs. Within this framework, combined with notions of “self deification” (self is able to create its own reality, own truth, own authority, etc) post moderns arrogantly imagine they can over-ride God’s laws, physical and spiritual, being creator and judge of their pleasures. A rude awakening is to come (see DVD Countdown to Eternity). God is outside the internal god many are creating for themselves and outside of their deluded “reality” based on believing a lie and rejecting the only One Truth. (2 Thess. 2:11-12) Regardless of what Hollywood and mass media promote, the commission of all who believe in Jesus Christ is to teach Biblical Christianity: make disciples based on Jesus’ Truthful teachings, confirmed by Prophets of old, and disseminated by Jesus’ disciples for the saving of souls for eternal gain. This mandate is the Christian’s order despite post modernisms ridicule of “Truth”. But the “new” look-alike Christianity (devoid of Biblical Truth, teaching, sound doctrine, whole counsel, et al) is eroding the Christian’s foundation, creating theological illiteracy and removing the only shield of protection against spiritual deception – knowledge of The Sword of Truth, Scripture. The church, being dulled by the value-changing entertainment industry, no longer practices the urgent skill of being “noble minded” like the Bereans who the apostle Paul applauded. When Paul preached to the Jews telling of their Messiah, Jesus Christ, he encouraged them to use discernment, the power to distinguish what is not evident to the natural mind, and pursue “truth” by “examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things (Paul was telling them) were so.” (Acts 17: 10-11) Christians today must imitate the Bereans learning to daily check societal messaging against Scripture so as not to fall prey to the impending global spiritual deception. The Thessalonians “agitated and stirred” the crowds but Paul stressed the quest for good instruction founded on Biblical prophecies especially regarding end-times trickery. He warned that before Jesus Christ returned to set up His Kingdom on earth there’d be a false messiah offering a phony utopia. The stage began being set during Paul’s time for a coming scenario when the whole world would be deceived. Paul showed it to be starting in Christendom, coming “from within”, from “those amongst us”, by “wolves in sheep clothing”, who gave “false teaching” and offered “a form of godliness but denying the power” of the True God, Who’d give the followers over to a “spirit of delusion”. Paul called the process, an “apostasy” - a falling away from THE faith. True faith is based on the Bible (Thy Word is Truth: Ps.119:160) while another is based on “exchanging the truth of God for a lie” (Rom.1:25). The only protection against incorrect teaching and myths, Paul said, was “the knowledge of God”. He “preached the Word” and emphasized “sound doctrine” be held firmly, with the “bringing (of) every thought captive to the obedience of Christ”. (2 Cor.10: 5, 2 Thes. 2:3, 2 Tim. 4:2-4). THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH Being able to discern end-time “apostasy” is crucial to the Church’s welfare. Born again believers (the true church, the Bride of Christ) should remain vigilant in “looking up” for the promised coming of their Groom Who’ll take His Bride “up” to dwell with Him in His Father’s house (Jn. 14: 1-3). The Bride mustn’t grow tired of looking up for the “blessed hope” or be tempted to “look down” for earthly pleasures which culminate in delusion. Jesus said “His Kingdom was not of this world or realm” and where He is “there you (believers in Jesus Christ) may be also”.(Jn. 18:36; 14:3) The Bride has a soon to be fulfilled promise to look forward to. In Jesus’ parable of the kingdom of heaven, He likened it to the waiting of ten virgins, five who were ready for His coming with oil in their lamps, and five who weren’t. During the delay of the bridegroom the story goes, “all got drowsy and began to sleep”. But, when the “shout, Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him” signaled his arrival, “those who were ready (with oil symbolizing the Holy Spirit) went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut”. Once before, at a previous judgment of earth, God shut the door to protect the innocent from impending disaster. At that time, it was the door to Noah’s Ark, saving those within from earth’s global flood (Matt. 25:1-13, Gen 7:16, Matt.24:36-39). While waiting earth’s impending judgment, the Bride should be willing to be daily obedient to the leading of the Spirit of God and live by faith according to the Scriptures, interacting with God’s directions, walking “in the Spirit” with “the mind of the LORD that He may instruct”. Not according to the mind of the flesh or things of this earth, but things above where Christ (the Groom) is sitting (see DVD-Living the life of Christ) at the right hand of God (1 Cor. 2:16; Rom 8:4-5; Col 3:1-3). THE SEDUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY (see DVD The Seduction of Christianity) The present seduction places loyalty in the notion that man has power to improve the earth, perhaps control its inevitable wind-down, which, in the process of spiritual rebellion, sets up man’s self interest as priority. Jesus instructed abandonment of self interest (“come after Me and deny self” Lk. 9:23-24) and make “disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit….teaching them to observe all that I commanded you”(Matt.28:19-20). Saving people from eternal damnation should be the Bride’s emphasis, not humanitarian efforts through human government or a social gospel of good works to the detriment of spreading the Gospel. The true Body of Christ holds fast to its Head, Jesus Christ, “from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God” (Col 2:19). Believers shouldn’t be manipulated by the enemy’s head and brain-child which calls all people on earth to unite in subjection to his “like-Christ” ruler. True Christian’s then, looking to humanitarian means to fix the environment and poverty for ecology’s sake, or working with diverse religions to aid this cause, or uniting as though all spirituality is equal, or crediting all “gods” of all religions to be the same as the Only One resurrected by God His Father, become pawns in Satan’s counterfeit government which is preparing for his global ruler to come from earth. The One Who’ll reign from Mount Zion, Jerusalem, for a 1000 years, will come from above…He “is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him” (Rev.1:7,19:14). The usurper will be distinguished by the absence of nail prints in his hands, feet and spear-pierced side, because only Jesus Christ paid sins price on Calvary’s cross resulting in His pierced human flesh. An alien coming from outer space in his UFO doesn’t fit the Messiah’s description no matter how much water he walks on! Or will Satan’s counterfeit Messiah be able to exhibit such identification. Today’s “new” spirituality cunningly looks like a type of Christianity but is rooted in the 60’s New-Age movement, the 70’s and 80’s psychology based self help movement (deeply entrenched in the Church) and the 90’s emergent church movement . Christianity which used to proudly claim its cornerstone for faith based on Jesus Christ, the Son of God is today slowly merging with an apostate “like” Christ simulation. The “new” spirituality rooted in pagan mysticism is morphing into a sound alike, look alike of some aspects of Christian religiosity. Why does the “new” spirituality not promote Mohammed or Buddha? Because Jesus foretold “many will come in my name” claiming to be Christ (Lk.21:8, Matt. 24:5) and the anti-Christ “man of lawlessness…..who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God” will attempt to duplicate the Creator God of the Bible and rule from His temple in Zion, Jerusalem “as being God” (Thes. 2:4). The current apostasy, impersonating Judeo-Christianity is seducing the Bride with a false groom, no wedding feast and no future hope of eternity with Himself. His name and reputation are being used to give certain legitimacy to the false which is not being checked against The Word or Bible history (see DVD The Indestructible Book) resulting in the havoc of Christendom. GUIDELINES FOR SOME "Christ-like" HERESIES… A false imitation of “Christ” comes as the “Christ within” - but the lookalike “Christ” is part of universal god-consciousness, Hinduism’s Brahman, an infinite, non-being reality, and pantheism’s God in all-all is God and is a subjective mystical experience. The Bible’s Christ is an objective Person, supported by historical fact, “who was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mk.16:19). He was “seen by over 500 brethren at once” after His crucifixion and by Stephen prior to his stoning to death, “standing at the right hand of God” (1 Cor.15:6, Acts 7:56). This historical Son of God is separate from and outside the universe He created (Jn.1:1-5). However, He can be invited to “dwell in a heart” of a believer through repentance and faith, “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom.10:8-9). He’ll never leave the believer according to His promise (Deut.30:14, Jn.14:18-20). His presence isn’t conjured through an altered state, meditative contemplation or a mystical experience but accepted by faith based on the integrity of His character of Faithfulness. (Eph. 3:17, Mat. 28:20, 1 Cor.1:9, 2 Thes.3:3, 2 Tim. 2:13). Using Bible words and phrases out of context are plentiful when promoting pagan techniques, e.g. eastern meditation, labyrinth walking, contemplative prayer, and more. “Be still” is often used to justify a technique to “practice ‘the presence’ of Christ”, but the Biblical command “Be still” from Psalm 46(10) is an acknowledgement of the Hand of God in history and His attributes of power: “Behold the works of the Lord….” In its context the psalmist is saying, “cease striving (be still) and know that I am God” (the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of Israel, Who alone accomplishes). He is “our refuge and strength”, trustworthy and dependable in trouble therefore stop worrying (be still), calm down, cease striving and watch Him work in your moment of trouble, He is your help. This praise is not to be used to justify an eastern technique to manipulate “a presence” and call it “god” in the “stillness” of creating a time and space to “go within”; such is eastern “contemplation” mixing and merging, corrupting true Biblical meditation. The latter demands pondering on the character of the Creator based on His Words given by the prophets of old, explained by Jesus and the apostles. These Words shouldn’t be used as a means to “centre” on a self-fashioned co-creator within visualized by imagination. “In His law he meditates day and night” (Ps.1). Why go within where “The heart is deceitful above all things” and “the sinful mind is hostile to God”? (Jer.17:9, Rom 8:6-7) Eastern mysticism teaches “the inner-being” is connected to “the outer consciousness”, a collective consciousness which can be “experienced” by a so-called “bliss” and “peace”. I well know the experience of that ecstatic “peace” having been a “yoga-meditator” for many years and a drug-user. The fake peace is what Jesus said the world offered in contrast to the peace He gives. (Jn.14:27) The fake is “a feeling” brought on by spirits in the unseen supernatural world around us. It is similar to a drug-high and is today being redefined as a “Christian” experience substituted for Christ’s atonement, called “at-ONE-ment”. The fake “inner awareness” is rationalized as “Christ” within, or “being in the presence” of so-called God. Biblical atonement is when Jesus Christ atoned for the sins of mankind at the cross. It is a free-gift act of God towards man for his eternal salvation. “At-ONE-ment” is man’s attempt to reach “peace” through a personal experience which will result in eternal separation (damnation). The Bible teaches that through Christ’s atonement mankind, separated from God due to sin, can, through belief in Christ, “abide” in the “True Vine” (God Himself) and “bear much fruit” by abiding in Him and His “Word” (Jn.15: 4-7). Mysticism teaches man is separated due to ignorance of his personal divinity which can be reconnected to through disciplines of concentration on the inner being through techniques of contemplation and meditation integral to Yoga Hinduism. The Biblical “way” (entrance) into the presence of God happens the moment a sinner acknowledges he has sinned against God (repentance), and believes Jesus Christ is “The Way” to God (Jn.14:6). At that moment, the born again believer receives the gift of God’s Holy Spirit, (the same spirit of power Who resurrected Jesus Christ from the dead) and is raised from sin to being a “new creature” with God’s power to live a new life. (2 Cor.5:17-19, Gal.6:15, Eph.2:15) Therefore a believer in “The Way” does not need to “practice the presence” because faith assures “The Way” has given entrance and fellowship to God through Christ. Mystical contemplation often uses methods to experience spirituality, such as the use of “a mantra” (repetitive prayer) When I was a practicing Roman Catholic I used this “mantra” method while praying the “Rosary”, a rote system of repeated prayer with prayer beads. Another mystical system uses Hinduism’s “prana” (breathing) often called “breath prayer” in Christian circles. Inward imaging called visualization is a pagan prayer technique often used by Christians in conjuring up mental images of Jesus; this imagined Jesus is a spirit guide responding to a pagan technique which has given it entrance into the believer’s life, “Satan himself can transform himself into an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). Disguised as “Christian” these pagan techniques encourage “another Jesus” and a “different spirit and gospel” (2 Cor.11:4) teaching Jesus or the Holy Spirit can be manipulated at will to appear as a benign being or the “breath of God” moving within. This self-hypnosis technique uses rhythmic breathing to induce an altered state allowing entrance to a spirit-demon. Finding a place or space to bring in the experience is part of the technique. “Positioning” with “prayer-poses” is another and taught in Yoga practice (the heart of Hinduism). Yoga postures are called asanas. Positions imitate animals (paganism teaches all nature and created creatures are idols to be aligned with for the animal’s innate “natural” power, Romans 1:22 tells it from God’s perspective). The use of any methods for prayer is contrary to Biblical faith. Jesus taught us how to pray (Matt. 6:9, Lk.11:12) saying, “your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him”. Jesus prayed everywhere and at any time. Believers too are called to pray without ceasing at all times which does not call for a special mat, prayer closet, time or space! Some say Jesus taught to go into a “prayer closet” or “prayer room” but in context what Jesus was teaching was not to be a hypocrite praying in public “to be seen by men” for “they have received their reward”. He suggested prayer be private “to your Father, who is unseen” (not conjured in an imagination of the mind) (Matt. 6:5-6). When a former Roman Catholic I reverently followed my religion with all its methodology but was left searching for more beyond mere mysticism. Then an Evangelical group of believers introduced me to Jesus and His Words. I became devoted to studying the Bible finding it the most exciting Book to read. I am therefore saddened to see that many today in Evangelical Christianity has succumbed to post modern rhetoric setting aside sound Bible studying for an embrace of mystical “experience”. I thank God a believer courageously gave me the gospel, the power of God unto salvation, and didn’t compromise its Truth. My Roman Catholicism didn’t teach me the Holy Spirit’s power in God’s Word. A FALSE MESSIAH OF PEACE The movie, The Day The Earth Stood Still entwines environmental politics and moral (religious) views in an interesting twist. The aliens arrive with concerns that man’s stewardship of the earth has not been responsible, they’ve been judged by the aliens and must be destroyed. However, in the beginning, (Gen.1: 29-30) God gave all He created to man alone to cultivate and keep (v.15) and aliens, as guardians, were absent. The presumption of aliens as redeemer, judge or savior is a myth! The appointment of a human “like” Christ leader of peace however is Bible prophecy! Daniel, the Prophet foretells he’ll reign for a short seven years, often referred to as “the Tribulation” starting with what appears to be a global peace plan, an agreement "a covenant with many for a week (a Biblical idiom for seven years – Dan.9:27) which deceives all, and primarily God's people, the Jews, “the saints (holy ones) of the Highest One” who look for “possession of the kingdom” which will ultimately be given to them by their God Himself, the Ancient of Days. (Dan. 7:18-27) In the middle of anti-Christ’s tyranny “the saints” will recognize him as Satan the deceiver. The saints in this Old Testament passage are not the same as "the saints" often referred to in the New Testament who are believers in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Many believe the New Testament saints (the true Church, the Bride of Christ) will by this time be "snatched away" (known as the Rapture) by the Groom to attend "the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev.19:9). They later return with Him, “following Him on white horses” (v.14) at His Second Coming, when he seizes the anti-Christ and false prophet and binds them for a thousand years and will rule with all who are “resurrected”, “the priests of God and of Christ who will reign with Him for a thousand years." (Rev. 19:20 - 20:6). As Isaiah prophesied “the government will be upon His shoulder” as He rules from Jerusalem. But, warns Daniel, "the saints…. will be given into his (anti-Christ’s) hand…in the middle of the week”. By this time the Jews temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, a miraculous event considering the Muslim’s Dome of the Rock stands on the Jews Temple Mount today, and is forbidden territory to the Jews who Muslims call “pigs and monkeys”. This victory convinces the Jews the anti-Christ is their long awaited Messiah but when he stops the sacrificial rituals and offerings three and a half years into the agreement, havoc breaks loose: "he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate . . ." (Dan.7:25, 9:27). Jesus warned His disciples in Matthew 24:15-28 of the anti-Christ and false prophets. "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains . . . false Messiahs and prophets…. will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." The Apostle Paul also warned of the Antichrist’s reign. "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thess. 2:9-10). Notice delusion comes to those who do not "love the truth". The Truth of course is not only Jesus Christ (The Way, The Truth, The Life. Jn.14:6) but also The Word of Truth (Ps.119:160). Hence the urgency, in these last days, to preach the sound Gospel of Jesus Christ to a perishing world and give truth so they don’t get lost to “strong delusion” while believing “the lie”. (2.Thes. 2:10-11) THE PRESENT SPIRITUAL DELUSION There are undoubtedly many conditioning systems at work in society today but one which harnesses global impact and power is the influence of mass media (see Gods of Entertainment DVD). In just a few short decades, the entertainment industry, through its fantastic special effects, computer technology, financial resources and marketing skills has been able to change the minds, hearts and spirituality of entire generations to accept another truth (morals and values) far removed from a traditional Judeo-Christian worldview. One example is the open acceptance of the practice of occult (hidden) wisdom/knowledge which was, and not so long ago, understood to be wrong! God’s wisdom is not “secret” or hidden by Him Who desires that we “know and understand” Him. (Deut.30:12-13, Jn. 1 Cor.2:10, 10:38). Both so-called “good” magic and “bad” are known to come from the same source, Satan. Today, encouraged by mass media marketing, the so-called “white” purpose of the dark arts can be used for “good” and the “black” which taps into “dark powers” while sensed to be dangerous, are unbelievably being approved of for youth to practice. God’s Truth as defined in the Bible teaches darkness and spiritual danger are in “the appearance of white” which when unmasked are all evil. Satan, called the “Father of lies” by Jesus, is referred to as an “angel of light” as are his ministers who “transform themselves into ministers of righteousness”(Jn. 8:44, 2Cor. 11:14) Only Biblical distinctions will keep us from being deceived by vain philosophy and myths. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!" (Isa 5:20-21). The Day the Earth Stood Still movie is one of many that muddy distinctions and sadly ungrounded Christians are being caught in delusion. The story appears to be of a savior to earth portrayed as benevolent but a discerning viewer will understand the hero to be the Bible’s anti-Christ. Wicked is enhanced as good and the “savior” is projected to be "the Messiah", or anointed one. The Bible warns no matter how well presented, he’ll lead the world into global war, which will only end with the saving arm of the real Jesus Christ Who returns to defeat his wicked intentions and rid the earth of him. Jesus told the Jews 2000 years ago, "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive"(John 5:43). The Antichrist will come in his own name, will be viewed as savior. And will "exalt himself and magnify himself above every god"(Dan.11:36, 37). The Apostle Paul said, "He will sit in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God”. (2 Thes. 4:2). Within the same context Paul said he’ll be revealed prior to the “Day of the Lord” (Judgment) before which time there’d come “a great falling away” from “the” faith. (2 Thes. 4:3) The tremendous apostasy (falling away) of “the faith” is here. True faith is mentioned almost 40 times in the New Testament, based on the gospel of salvation in Jesus and the persistence of Truth from sound Biblical teaching. Truth is quite distinct from its counterpart “false” faith based in spiritual lies. Jesus stated when He returned He wouldn’t find true faith on earth (Lk.18:8). In the last decade many in the “church” have fallen for demonic deceptions introduced and reinforced through the culture. The music industry has been a prime doorway into occult experience. Witchcraft has seduced the church through Harry Potter (see DVD Witchcraft Repackaged). Celebrities calling them Christians such as Oprah Winfrey promote unbiblical teaching through The Course in Miracles and The Secret, (see DVD The Secret Seduction). Twilight’s Mormon author ,Stephanie Meyer’s has taken youth a step further by popularizing a blood sucking vampire, a dark creature of the night and “good” vampirism which Christian ministries approve of. It’s here as the Bible predicted - end time conditioning processes seducing an undiscerning church.
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. - 2 Tim 4:2-5
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