Sunday, October 22, 2017

A Prelude to a Coming Great Deception

As I sit down at my computer to start this post on an unseasonably warm day in October, I'm finding that the sunshine and warm breezes are a stark contrast to the heaviness of heart that I feel as begin to write. However the growing sense of the Holy Spirit is urging me to continue. It's an urge that I haven't felt like this in two years, but two years isn't too long to forget what it feels like.

In the early morning hours of September 16, 2017, I had a quick dream in which I was on the phone with a sister in Messiah who has chosen to live a life that is truly set apart. The friendship she once had with the world has ended. Instead, her greatest desire and focus in life is on the One who created her, gave His life for her, and is coming back for her so that she can forever be with Him in His Father's house. Until that Glorious Day, she picks up her cross and chooses to follow Him, walking as He walked, along the ancient paths.
So hearing what she had to say on the phone, caused me to wake abruptly from the dream and ask the Father if she was okay or if she was being tempted to stray from the truth? His Spirit responded with four words, "If it were possible." What did she say to cause me such concern? Some of you won't like the answer and may be tempted to stop reading, but I hope that you will continue. If for no other reason than because this is the first part to a two part post. So if you are angry, I hope that curiosity will keep you reading to the end.

As we spoke on the phone in my dream, she related to me that she had watched the Kirk Cameron movie, Saving Christmas. She told me that his arguments sounded plausible and that she could understand how people watching it could believe that Christmas and even Santa Claus were given to us by the Father. Her saying that is what caused me to awaken from the dream and question if she was being deceived. However, relieved by the Father's response, I knew that what was taking place in the dream was an example of Matthew 24:24.

In 2013 I wrote a series of four posts on the topic of Christmas, the first of which was an introduction. I will leave them linked below. However even a small amount of study into history reveals that the holiday has nothing to do with the birth of the Son of God and everything to do with the birth of the sun gods. It is a sad reality that must be faced, and once it is learned, individuals are left to make a decision. It isn't just December 25th that is the issue, it is all the pagan traditions surrounding the holiday. His Word is clear. We are not to worship Him in the same way that pagans worship their gods. I honestly believe that one day all of us will find out from Messiah Himself that Christmas and Easter are nothing more than golden calves in Christianity.

Wide spread deception and confusion are here, and more is coming; a fact that isn't remotely hard to believe given the condition of the world and its people. A deception so cunning and vast that even the very elect could be deceived ...if it were possible. Intersecting with that is the knowledge that we are at this place in history where Christians have been woefully taught and pitifully prepared! Given the amount of information that is accessible from our finger tips, each of us, including (and perhaps especially?) ministers and church leaders, are left without excuse. One day we will behold the face of the One who left His Father's side to put on flesh and tabernacle among us. One who was obedient to the point of death ....on a cross ...for us. Beholding His face, what argument do you think will matter? "But...my spouse, my children, my grandchildren, my family, my friends, my denomination, my church! You understood, right?!" Possessing the ability to imagine putting only myself in that place of looking into His eyes, the following words are already forming in my mind. Matthew 10:37-39

The question must be asked, if we're not willing to come out of this deception, how easily will we spot the ones that are yet to come?

Scriptures: James 4:4John 14:3Luke 9:231 John 2:3-6Jeremiah 6:16-19Deuteronomy 12:28-30James 3:1John 1:14Philippians 2:8

Introduction to Christmas Posts
The Beginning - Part 1
The Impostor - Part 2
The Choice - Part 3