Self-validation: The New Gospel

THIS is the Condemnation

I had mentioned previously how the CD player in our car is broken and, as a result, we have been listening more to the radio.  As we do, it is becoming increasingly apparent that much of the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) and Gospel scene is nothing short of poison.  The music is often so unbiblical that I have to literally turn it off because it offends the Holy Spirit within me.

It makes me wonder, "What is worse?  Downright raunchy, profanity-ridden secular music or 'Christian' music which promotes 'another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel'?  Which is more damning?  To be an outright sinner or a hypocritical Christian?"  Jesus would say it is the latter (Matthew Chapters 6 and 23).

My children would often be bewildered when I turned the station.  In their eyes, if it is on a "Christian" radio station then it must be "Christian" music.  So I told them, "You know, this is not Praise & Worship music."  When they asked what the difference was, I had to consider that myself.

What was it that was so offensive about much of what was being played on the radio?  While perhaps not a technical definition, I told them, "Praise & Worship focuses on the Lord: His majesty, His mercy, His grace, His power, etc.  It glorifies Him.  Most of this music on the radio focuses on man and what God can add to man."  In a nutshell, one comes from a place of God-consciousness and the other self-consciousness.

Quite honestly, I have never heard such gobbledygook & psycho-babble as what is being passed off as the truths of God in music these days.

There could never be a more beautiful you...you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair are perfect just the way they are.

You gotta believe that you are someone worth dying for...You're worth it, you can't earn it. Yeah, the cross has proven, that you're sacred and blameless.

Everything that I see draws me...How do I sense the tide that's rising? De-sensitizing me from living in light of eternity...Lord what we gon do,We're relying on you...Lord forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world.

He is with you when your faith is dead and you can't even get out of bed or your husband doesn't kiss you anymore. He is with you when your baby's gone and your house is still and your heart's a stone.

Tonight’s the night, for the sinners and the saints, two worlds collide in a beautiful display. It’s all love tonight when we step across the line. We can sail across the sea to a city with one king.

When a heart is cold as ice, you can't melt it with advice. No one wants to listen to a list of things they shouldn't do. So I build a city on a hill and I light a candle on the sill. Knowing you'll be always knocking at the door. Oh God I just want to love on everyone.

Some might look at these lyrics and say, "What's the big deal?"  I say it is a subtle, subversive attack of the enemy to make us believe that Christianity or even salvation is all about us.  It is a deceptive promotion of humanism as Christianity.

humanism: any system or mode of thought or action in which human  interests, values, and dignity predominate.

The BIG truth of which many Christians are ignorant is that salvation and indeed even our creation by God is not primarily about us (Revelations 4:11)!  We are not the center of God's world; His ways and His will do not revolve around us.

Believe it or not, this is a shocker for many people - even professing believers!  Too many people falsely believe that God created man so that He can sit back and enjoy granting our every desire like a big Sugar Daddy in the sky.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  We were created to accomplish God's purposes in the earth and until we realize that, then we will keep a self-centered (and erroneous) view of God.  I will be going into this more as I continue posting sections of the book, but I feel that I must address this here as well as it relates to the false views of salvation permeating the landscape (as reflected in much of the music).  Look again at the lyrics quoted above.

Are we perfect just the way we are or is God perfecting us to be more like the One who is perfect (Matthew 5:48; Romans 8:29; Titus 2:11-14; I Peter 5:10)?  Do we have to validate our image of ourselves & our physical appearance in this world before we can appreciate who we are in God?  Are we not encouraged to consider all in this world - and even our own lives - as dung so as to win Christ (Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 64:6; John 12:25; Philippians 3:8; I Peter 3:3-4)? 

Did Jesus die for us because we were "worth it" or did He die for us while we were lost in sin and the enemies of God (Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:20-21)?  Does the cross "prove" that we are sacred and blameless or does the cross provide a way for us to become sacred and blameless (I Corinthians 1:8; II Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 2:14-16; I Thessalonians 4:3-7, 5:23; I Timothy 3:10; I Peter 1:13-16; II Peter 3:14)?

Is it normal for everything we see in the world to "draw" us or are we called to mortify our members on the earth so that the lusts of this world do not draw us? Are we to just depend on the Lord and His forgiveness when we allow ourselves to be consumed with the things of this world or does He tell us to sanctify ourselves so that we are not consumed (Genesis 19:15-17; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:26-27; Colossians 3:1-2, 5-7; I Thessalonians 5:23; James 4:4; I John 2:15-16)?  What is impetus behind, and outcome of, being "drawn" after that which is unGodly and is it possible not to be so drawn (James 1:12-16)?

What does it mean for God to be "with us"?  God is everywhere; He even shows grace and mercy to those who are His enemies (Matthew 5:45).  God's faithfulness is surely not dependent upon the things of this life.  However, His being faithful does not mean that we can walk around in dead faith or with stoney hearts as we are also called to be faithful to Him (Luke 19:17; John 14:15; Romans 12:1; I Corinthians 4:2; James 2:17-26; Jude 1:3; Revelation 2:10, 17:14).  God is always faithful, it is man who is not.

Is God bringing "sinners and saints" into a "beautiful" collision as they are all brought together in service under one King (Joshua 24:15; Luke 16:13; Romans 6:16-19, 8:5-8; James 4:4)?  Is the definition of "love" to eradicate the "line" that distinguishes sinners and saints or is this even a line which will be acted upon by God Himself at the Judgment Throne (Matthew 3:12; 13:30, 25:32-41)?

Is it "love" to not tell people about sin (Proverbs 17:15; Isaiah 5:20; Malachi 2:17; Matthew 6:23; Luke 11:35)?  What does Scripture say about those who despise correction (Proverbs 1:30, 10:17; 12:1, 13:1, 15:10; John 3:20)?  Does Jesus promise to always be knocking at the doors of our hearts (Jeremiah 7:26, 11:14; John 17:9; Romans 1:24-28; II Thessalonians 2:10-12)?

I am asking you to step away from the nice melodies & the inspirational words (as well as any idolatry of the artists themselves) to take a BIBLICAL look at the messages being portrayed.

Salvation is not about how you feel about yourself, what has happened to you or even what you have done.  Jesus is not the means to help you feel good about yourself.

We must get our eyes off of ourselves if we are to ever truly walk in fellowship with the Lord.  In the world, fallen man is completely self-conscious; driven by what he likes, what he wants, what he thinks...  We live our lives for ourselves and then we bring this attitude into salvation and call it "Christianity".

You can discern this mindset even in how people talk about coming to faith in Jesus Christ.  They will make comments such as, "My problem was that..."

• I was never loved
• I never forgave myself for things I have done
• I never felt accepted by others
• I never fit in anywhere
• I never thought I was beautiful

They then turn to Jesus as a means to "right" those perceived wrongs.  They seek Jesus because He will love me, He will accept me, He will forgive me, He will see me as beautiful...Me, Me, Me, Me, Me.  While it is true that Jesus loves us, forgives us, accepts us...the purpose of His coming was not to sign-off on our self-image.

The revelation of salvation is not that we can now finally be somebody, but the realization that we are in fact nothing apart from Him.  It is not to finally believe that we are worth something, but to understand that He alone is worthy.  It is not to be convinced of our own beauty & greatness, but to perceive how wretched & small we are in comparison to One so holy & mighty.

Let's not deceive ourselves.  The reason people don't come to Jesus is not because they don't have a positive view of themselves.  According to the Scriptures, there is only one reason why men do not to turn to faith in Christ:

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." John 3:19-21

THIS is the condemnation: we loved darkness more than light.

Your problem (and mine) was not that you were mistreated & abused in the world.  It was not that we were searching for love, but unable to find it.  Our problem was that we loved darkness more than light.  Unless we are prepared to deal honestly with that love for darkness, then Jesus will never be more than a "Dr. Phil" for many.  He will be a tool to help me be happy with me, love me, and be content with me.  He becomes the way towards self-validation because we falsely believe that learning to love ourselves is the "greatest" love of all.  Such is delusion for appealing to man's self-worth will not lead them to repentance from sin.

Notice however that anyone then who speaks of sin or repentance becomes the enemy to that type of message.  Instead of showing the way of righteousness, the Christian is supposed to simply embrace all and "show love" by leading people to believe that they are fine just the way they are. 

No song seems to make these issues more clear then one by Casting Crowns entitled, "Jesus, Friend of Sinners."  We have written before about the errors in promoting Jesus as a friend to sinners, but what also comes across in this song is how this message makes the real Christian out to be the obstacle to another's salvation.  The things which God commands us to do become those things which are considered "unloving".  In order to show love according to this thinking, we must turn a blind eye to sin.

I have loved a number of Casting Crown's songs and have often posted them here, but again I ask: truly examine these lyrics.  Is this the Gospel message? And if not, then what is being promoted here?  My comments appear in brown below.

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

[Who is the "we" who have strayed so far from God and are cutting people down?  Is this supposed to represent all Christians?  While I agree that the word of God can be used unrighteously, is there not a rightful use of the sword to cut between that which is soulish and that which is spiritual in order to make plain the way of righteousness (Habakkuk 2:2; Psalm 149:6; Isaiah 30:21, 49:2-3; Acts 2:37; Ephesians 6:17; II Corinthians 2:17, 4:2, 10:4-5; Hebrews 4:12)? 

Is the "truth" that the "world" is really on its way to Jesus, but being tripped up by those who serve Him (Matthew 7:13-14; John 15:19, 17:9; I John 2:15-16, 3:1)?  Is the main calling of Jesus' disciples to make sure that they don't get in the way of the "world's" salvation or is it to preach the Gospel?  Are all Christians double-minded, hypocrites?  To whom does God command to clean their hands; is it the saint or the sinner (James 4:8)?  Who does God really command not to judge, and why?]

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

[It is unmerciful and hard-hearted to point out sin (Matthew 9:13; Luke 5:32; II Peter 3:9)?  Is God's heart broken about sin or does He have righteous indignation about it (Psalm 7:11; Nahum 1:2-3; Romans 1:18; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6; Revelation 14:10)?]

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

[Did the "righteous" turn away from condemning the woman caught in adultery or was it the "self-righteous" (the scribes & Pharisees)?  Isn't there a difference between the two?  Did Jesus' "love" mean He ignored sins or did He tell people to "go and sin no more"?  When Jesus & His disciples brought the reality of man's sin to light, were they "judging the wounded" (Matthew Chapter 23; Mark 11:17; John 4:16-29, 5:14; Acts 2:14-37, 6:8-7:54)?]

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

[Yes, Jesus came for those who were lost and leprosy in Scripture is symbolic of sin.  However, Jesus didn't just leave lepers in that condition.  Neither did He just overlook their leprosy and pretend it wasn't there or that it didn't matter.  Jesus healed their leprosy (Matthew 8:3, 10:8, 11:5; Mark 1:42l Luke 5:12-13, 7:22, 17:12-19)!  He will do the same with our sin, cleansing us from it and giving us victory over it so that we are no longer lepers; or as the Scriptures say, no longer "unclean" (Leviticus 13:3-59, 14:44-57, 22:4).  If we are still unclean lepers after having come to Jesus, then we have not yet been healed, delivered, saved; we need to be born again.]

Jesus is not out to make us "feel good", but to change our hearts and minds so that we can be like Him and do the works His Father has commanded of us.  It is only when our eyes are on Him that we can have a right self-image because in Him is where our identity is found (Acts 17:28).

The way that Jesus heals the brokenhearted is by giving us a new heart: one not focused on ourselves.  The way that Jesus heals our wounds is by getting our focus off of them so that He can work through us to tend to the wounds of others.  Let us never use the Gospel or a right relationship with Jesus Christ as a psychological crutch to prop ourselves up or make us feel better about our existence in this world.

Even in our "salvation", are our eyes on ourselves or on Jesus?

UPDATE: Brother Seeker_of_Truth has recommended the following video by Min. David Wilkerson called, "Counterfeit Christianity", so I am posting it here for your edification.

Shake OFF the Snakes

The Spirit of Divination

"And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour." Acts 16:16-18

Sometimes you read things in Scripture which you think you understand, but through life experiences God shows you how cursory your understanding really was.  Such is the case with me recently and the spirit of divination. I thought I understood this spirit, but did not realize until I saw it in action how little I knew. 

While this post is not a part of the book, this understanding has indeed helped in that regard as well.  The word for "divination" here is actually the word for python. This references the Oracle of Delphi (also called the priestess Pythia) which was one of the most important temples in all Greece and a focal point for intellectual inquiry.  It was dedicated to the god Apollo, who was believed to have the gift of prophecy and was able to impart this "gift" to his oracles. It is this serpent spirit which is referenced in the text above.

Scripture says that the serpent was more subtle than any beast the Lord had made (Genesis 3:1a).  There is a reason why Satan chose this creature to try and deceive man in the Garden of Eden.

subtle: not immediately obvious or comprehensible; difficult to detect or analyze; cunning or wily; operating or executed in secret: a subtle intrigue

Many times, people operate in this spirit and are not even aware of it.  Yet there are certain things about this spirit that we can discern from the Scriptures.

• Religious - It is a religious spirit, purporting to speak for God and about the things of God.  In this way it can deceive, as the outward appearance is one of being in line with God.  Additionally, it likes to manifest in religious settings.  Notice that it began to "prophecy" as the men of God committed themselves to prayer each day. 
• Wrong Spirit - It is important for us to understand why this woman's actions grieved Paul so.  This spirit claimed to know certain truths of God and to "prophecy" about them, but it was the wrong spirit.  Someone can say something that is true, but still be demonically inspired.  Taking her words at face value may not have caused much concern, but Paul was able to discern the spirit operating behind those words.  This is why God tells us to test the spirits (I John 4:1). Even truths spoken in the wrong spirit grieve God.
• Idolatry of Man - One way in which this spirit was in error is that it tried to get the people focused on the disciples instead of on the Lord.  The disciples were preaching Christ and drawing the people's attention to Him. Yet she followed them around, constantly trying to direct the people's attention to "these men".  Whether it is man himself or the life of man, any message that has you focusing on the things of this world is not of God. God admonishes us to always set our affections on things above, not below.  Even if a man is preaching the Gospel, the focus should always be on Christ.  Men must not take glory that belongs to God for themselves and must be aware of those trying to sow to their flesh.
• False Gifts - This spirit also attempted to use the Lord to validate its occult, psychic powers.  Seeming to speak truths about God gave the appearance that the woman's ability to "see" was of the Lord or sanctioned by Him.  Now, there are actual gifts of the Spirit which provide a word of knowledge or discernment, but that is not what was operating in this woman.  When this spirit is in operation, you will often see false spiritual gifts, which again can be deceptive if you cannot see the spirit operating behind the "gift".
• Pride - There is also an element of pride in this spirit.  Not only did it try to get the disciples puffed up about their obedience to God, it also operates from a position of self-pride in the one who carries it.  It deceives them into thinking that they are the "one" with the answers; they alone can "see" what others cannot.  Consider this.  The disciples were actively preaching Christ (Acts 16:10).  Anyone who could hear them knew they were showing the way to salvation.  Yet, the spirit in this woman felt led to proclaim this obvious "truth". It presents itself as being one with access to hidden or secret knowledge upon which others are dependent.  God did not need the validation of this spirit to confirm those He had chosen.  This is why pride in the Scriptures is often associated with Leviathan, a large serpent.

Some may ask, "Did this woman intend to deceive others?  Was she trying to speak & act against God?"  I would offer that such is unimportant.  What we intend or consider our motives to be has little to no bearing on what spirit we are operating in.

Consider Peter in Matthew 16:21-23, when he spoke against what Jesus stated must happen in His death & resurrection.  Did Peter intend to entice Jesus into disobeying God?  Was Peter trying to get Jesus to cherish His life in this earth more than His eternal life with the Father?  Probably not.  Yet nonetheless Jesus said to him, "Get thee behind me Satan!"

Can you imagine what Peter may have thought in response to Jesus' words?  "Lord, why are you calling me Satan?  I didn't mean anything by my statement.  I think you have misunderstood what I said or what I meant."  But did Jesus misunderstand?  No.  It is just that man does not know his own heart.  Peter did not know what spirit he was manifesting...but Jesus did (Luke 9:55).

I post this message in the hopes that it will lead each of us to examine our own hearts before the Lord.  If that spirit is in operation within, then we need to repent and seek God for deliverance.  If that spirit is in operation around us, then we need to sanctify ourselves from it.  Failure to do those things will allow that spirit to crush the spiritual life in us and in those around us.  It grieves the Lord and He will not bear with it, no matter how much a religious veneer it walks in.  Jesus is a faithful Deliverer, if we would just humble ourselves before Him.

Lastly, the following is a series of messages from Ron Phillips Ministries dealing with this spirit and its various manifestations.  As with all things posted on this blog, I am trusting the Spirit of God to lead each person in receiving what is from the Lord and dismissing anything else.  However, this is a very important message for the church to hear as we will encounter this spirit even more in the last days (II Thessalonians 2:9).

Videos:
Python: Coiling Cords of Wickedness
Leviathan: The Twisting Spirit
Jezebel: The Controlling Spirit
Absinthe: The Bitter Spirit
Cain: The Killing Spirit
Snakes: Shake off the Snakes

Preparation for Damnation

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" Numbers 23:13

I am still working on the book, but wanted to share the following video from The Ministry Is His.  It features an excerpt from Pastor Gary Price entitled "Preparation for Damnation" which discusses how people deceive themselves about the judgement of God.

• God's judgment is sure and His word promises that judgment will be executed in righteousness
• The Bible is not given to debate or quibble about, but to obey
• Religious dogma or data is not salvation
• Colleges & Universities try to indoctrinate you with the humanities so that you will have a mind that is the antithesis of God
• Anything you obtain in life is just an avenue to save souls, a tool to accomplish God's purposes
• Two things people do not like hear about: 1). The finality of death and 2). Eternal damnation in Hell
• God has an out-stretched hand to save, but who will come?
• It is important to truly know the voice of Jesus Christ and not just assume that the voices which tickle their ears are the Lord.  The serpent is subtle and able to deceive if we are not careful.  Man is able to deceive himself about God; we must examine ourselves.
• No one can save themselves.  We need to each be purged and cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ

The entire message can be heard here:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

The following article may also be helpful for those who watch the video: Does God Love Those He Sends to Hell?

Exposing the Mystery of Iniquity

In the previous post, we included a sermon from Pastor Gary Price as he teaches on "Exposing the Mystery of Iniquity".   Excerpts of this sermon have been made available in video form and I wanted to share them here:

• Lucifer, the Praise Leader
  Who was Lucifer and why should we care?  How is he at work today?
   
• What Happened in the Garden of Eden?
  Did all of mankind become bound by sin because Adam & Eve ate an apple?  What type of fruit was actually eaten and is this important?  What is the seed of the woman?  Why is there contention between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman?  How was man changed by what happened when they sinned?
   
• Who or What are the Nephilim?
  What does the Bible have to say about angels marrying women and having children by them?  Where do the myths in many cultures about supermen or superheroes come from?  Where are the nephilim now and why should it matter to us?
  
• What is a "Fallen Nature"?
  What does it mean for man to have a fallen nature?  What are the character traits of men and women when they are in this fallen state?
   
• Who is the King of Sodom?
  Who is the King of Sodom?  What is his modus operandi?  How is he in operation today?
   
• Goddess Worship & Baal Peor
  What is the impact and evidences of goddess worship around us?  Why do many celebrities continually pay homage to Satan in their clothes, styles, words, and expressions?  Have they made a deal with the devil?  Why are women being held up as idols of lust while men are depicted as controllable weaklings?
   
• What is MDNA?
  What is MDNA and why has Madonna chosen this title as the name of her 12th album?  How does Madonna's ties to Kabbalah and occult mysticism influence this selection?  How are the plans for a new world order hidden in this acronym?
   
• Who is the Baphomet?
  What are the objectives of this entity and how does he affect us today? What does he have to do with androgyny?  How do many false religions (including the beliefs in chakras) work to bring about the Baphomet's goals?  What is spiritual evolution?  What are some of the ways in which celebrities show their allegiance to the Baphomet?
  
• Satan is After Your DNA
  What does it mean for man to have a fallen nature and what is Satan trying to do within man to alienate him from God?  Why are those who ascribe to the New Age belief system saying that our DNA needs to be "upgraded" for us to transition to a higher form of living?  What does the third eye have to do with DNA? 
  
  How is it that many think man will develop supernatural abilities in the near future?  What does the promotion of indigo children have to do with Satan's deception for the end times?  Why is this theme being pushed so much in the media?
   
• A Woman Rides the Beast
  How do you recognize the systems of harlotry referred to as Babylon in the Scriptures?  How does Babylon entice?  Why does a woman ride the beast?  Why is it that a self-centered person is a prime candidate for Babylon?  What does it mean to be the mother of abominations?  How do we see fallen Adam & Eve reflected in the depiction of the woman & The Beast?
  
  Why is man's only answer regeneration?

The Aeon of Horus

Ushering in the Age of Aquarius

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves..." II Timothy 3:1-2a

When I initially did the article on Beyonce, Sasha Fierce, and Demon Possession, I didn't quite understand the significance of she and Jay-Z promoting the false god "Horus" nor why they were embodying these entities before the masses.  Yet, God kept leading me to look more into Horus, and specifically, the "Aeon of Horus" predicted by occultist/satanist Aleistar Crowley. 

According to Crowley, an "Aeon of Horus" was soon coming in which mankind would become devoted to self-rights & liberties as we usher in a universal utopia united by a collective consciousness under one rule of law - his Law of Thelema called, "Do what thou wilt",  It is in this way that we would then become gods ourselves.

Of that age, Crowley writes:

"There is no need to develop the ethics of Thelema in detail, for everything springs with absolute logic from the singular principle, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." Or, to put it another way, "There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt." And, "thou hast no right but to do thy will." 

This formula itself springs ineluctably from the conception of the individual outlined in the preceding section. "The word of Sin is Restriction." "It is a lie, this folly against self." The theory is that every man and every woman has each definite attributes whose tendency, considered in due relation to environment, indicate a proper course of action in each case. To pursue this course of action is to do one's true will. "Do that, and no other shall say nay."" Aleister Crowley, Chapter - THE ADVENT OF THE AEON OF HORUS, Confessions

According to Crowley, in this Aeon of Horus there is no such thing as "sin".  Even the very concept of something being sinful is a lie and an obstacle to self-fulfillment.  Instead, each person will be governed by their own self-will and self-interest.  We will allowed to truly be "lovers of our own selves"...and no one else will be able to say anything about it.

Many in the world believe that we are now entering the much awaited Aeon of Horus or what others have called the Age of Aquarius.   It is said to be a time of great spiritual awakening.  A time of visitations from "ascended Masters" who will lead mankind in its evolution into a higher form of self.  You can see this message being pushed in the music and broader entertainment industries, in politics, in education, in religion...in every worldly system.

What is the main obstacle holding back all of mankind from these great advancements and supernatural revelations?  Those who are still 'stuck' believing in that their way to God is the only way, i.e. Christianity. The closer we move to this anticipated age, the more we will see concerted efforts to discredit Jesus Christ in every arena as well as a sharp increase in the disavowing of Christian principles - even by professing believers.  The new agers call this our "awakening" as we transition out of the Age of Pisces into the Age of Aquarius; the Scriptures call it the great apostasy (II Thessalonians 2:3).

In the following video entitled "Aquarius: The Age of Evil", researcher  Keith Thompson delves into this new "age" and how it is taking shape right before our eyes. He discusses in part:

• The History of the Theosophical Society
• The Freemasonry & Theosophy Connection in bringing about the new world order
• Zeitgeist Movement as vehicle for Theosophical Indoctrination
• What or Who is the Illuminati?
• The Goals of the Venus Project
• Lucifer as the admitted Leader ("god") of the Ascended Masters
• Supposed visitations of the Maitreya
• Demystifying Lucis Trust
• World Socialism as the linchpin of success for the new age
• The December 21, 2012 deception

Some might ask, "Why are you posting this type of information?"  Well, because "It is written..."   Jesus instructed us to be wise, sober, and watchful so that we can redeem the times and not be caught unawares, for we are the children of light (I Thessalonians 5:4-6).

In response to our Train Up A Child series, someone recently asked, "What does being a believer or unbeliever in Jesus Christ have to do with the decline of education in America?"  It is precisely because of this type of perspective that this is being posted.  I don't agree with everything stated in the video, and it is not necessary for us to know all of this information.  However, we need to realize (if we do not already) that the whole world lies in wickedness (I John 5:19).

As quoted in the video, the official Freemasonic Scottish Rite magazine wrote in its article God's Plan for America:

"Great God our King has chosen the great American Public Schools to pave the way for the new race, the new religion, and the new civilization that is taking place in America." New Age Magazine

Satan is the god of this world, and nothing is occurring by happenstance (II Corinthians 4:4).  The education they extend to your children, the music they produce, the shows and movies they distribute, the books being written, the news being reported...it is all done with the objective of conforming the mind to this new "age".

We are in the midst of a spiritual war and every move being made in this world is calculated.  Everything boils down to God's will and the unfolding of His master plan for humanity.  There is no neutrality; if something is not  for Christ, then it is against Christ.  If we are ignorant of this fact, then that does not mean that we have been spared; it simply means that we are deceived.

Someone once asked me whether I believe in conspiracies.  I asked, "How can you claim to be a Christian and not believe?"  The Scriptures themselves document Satan's attempt to conspire against the God of Heaven and to ensnare mankind in his evil schemes.  This is not theory, it is biblical truth.

"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. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure." Psalms 2:1-5

According to this text, the "kings of the earth" (the world leaders) are collaborating to set themselves in direct opposition to the Lord.  They are meeting together and making specific plans to not only defy God, but to come against His anointed.  What is their goal?  To free themselves from the restraining influence of God's righteousness.  They want to "do what thou wilt" with no interference from, or knowledge of, God.  They know what they are doing and they are doing it purposefully, according to their diabolical schemes.

Regarding the end times specifically, we are told:

"And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast." Revelation 17:12-13

"And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army."  Revelation 19:19

Is this not a conspiracy???  The kings of the earth (again, the world leaders) work together and align themselves with the beast for the express purpose of making war against God and His people.  Do we really believe the Scriptures???

How can we claim to be saved and yet at the same time be ignorant - or worse, ambivalent - to the very nature of the spiritual war being fought around us?  Again, I am not saying that we each need to be researchers in the actions of elite world leaders; but we should at least not be ignorant of our adversary's devices.  Be girded up and prepared for these are the times in which we live.  If this was true in the days of the early church, it is even more so now.

There is a new age coming, but it is not what they think. Just when they believe they have achieved peace, there will be sudden destruction (I Thessalonians 5:3).  May we each be ready, for the time is at hand.  It is going to take more than a "sinner's prayer".  It is going to take lives laid down in sacrificial obedience to the Lord.  Those who do will be God's battle axe as He takes His vengeance on these satanic forces and redeems whosoever will take freely of the water of life (Jeremiah 51:20-24; Revelation 22:17).

"...but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." Daniel 11:32

FYI - It may just be my computer, but the volume of this video was pretty low to me. However, in listening by headphones, the volume was fine.