End of the Age
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 1 Peter 4:7
As the year two thousand approaches, more and more people are talking about the End Times. Some talk about Revival and a great Outpouring of the Spirit on the Church, others persecution, wars, destruction and chaos. There are as many theories and timetables as there are Churches. But there is only one Body, one true Church, and one true source of knowledge. If we walk in the Spirit then we walk in agreement. So where do all the theories come from and what is the purpose?
Jesus taught that throughout the Church Age there would be false teachers, false messiahs. With them would come false teaching and unsound doctrine. All of these are called, in the Scripture, Antichrists. These "doctrines of devils" draw our attention away from the truth, and send us down paths away from the Spirit of Truth. Then when these theories turn out to be false, we lose faith and falter, as if the Holy Spirit had misled us. GOD Forbid! The Holy Spirit never leads us into error. If we fall into false doctrine, it is because we are listening to the wrong spirit, or our own prideful thoughts.
We began the "End Times" the day Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. We are to live each day in expectation of his return. And as we wait for that day, we are to be led by the Holy Spirit, which Jesus sent as a Comforter to us during this time. If we are being led by the ONE Spirit, then we should be in agreement and walking together in fellowship. Our union, as One Body One Church, is through the Holy Spirit, not through some worldly organization or religion. We are not brothers and sisters because we are "Christian"; we are brothers and sisters, through the Spirit that is within us.
Many claim the title of "Christian", many claim to be the "Church". There are even those who think they are saved by their affiliation with a group calling itself a "Church". But there is more death in the Modern Churches than life. Modern Christianity is apostate and fallen. Its leadership is filled with false prophets, spouting the doctrines of devils. They are simply Antichrists, wolves in sheeps clothing, out to devour the weak. Many are led away by these religions, trying to pass themselves off as The Way, but there is only One Way.
Some may say i am being "hard" and perhaps even "mean spirited". i give no apology for the voice of the Holy Spirit. The so called Church is fallen, and threatens to drag blessed Saints down with it into the Pit. The Scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."
Jesus did not call us to battle the fallen, but to come out from among them. We are to Shine our Light in the darkness. Although we must expect those, whom's deeds are evil, will hate the Light. We can have no fellowship with them without our Light causing them discomfort. Unfortunately, these false Christians fill our Sanctuaries and battle against the Holy Spirit. They use every opportunity to extinguish the Light or drive it from their midst. Our Churches, therefore, have become country clubs for the Lost and inhospitable to the Saints. But we are not to dive into the middle of the contentious. Scripture tells us not to argue with fools, nor cast our pearls before swine.
We shine the Light which GOD has put within us. With those who rejoice in that light, we have agreement and fellowship. The Scripture says, of those who proclaim to be saved yet are fallen, "These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." (Jude 1:12 and 13) And you thought i was being hard. False Christians are far more dangerous and insidious than any Satanist or New Ager. They are destroyers of faith and seek to turn the Truth of GOD into a lie.
But are we to abandon them to their fate? and meekly hide in the shadows? GOD Forbid! We are to continue to Shine our Light. Contend earnestly for your faith. If you are a Pastor or Teacher, be bold in you calling. Do not allow the mockers and scornful to destroy what GOD has given you. As the Good Shepherd, guard your flock against the ravenous wolves that come to devour. Test the Spirit of those who would rule in your church. If you are not called to lead, be careful who you follow. There is only One who leads the Children of Obedience, the Holy Spirit. Any that would dispute with that Spirit is seeking to replace it. Do not go off after men, follow the Lord. Though we are not called to fight these "Christian" wolves, the Lord fights for you, we can not allow them to leisurely pass among the sheep. Shine the Light ... it is the Light that drives away the Darkness from among you.
Nothing i have said here concerns those lost in the darkness. It is Apostate Christians, Antichrists, that i speak of. They have heard the Gospel, they know the way to Salvation and choose to deny it for their own ends. The Lost need our help. They need to hear the Gospel. They need to be shown the Light. Those who are lost in the darkness rejoice in the light, it is to them a beacon of hope. But even they are prey to the wolves. Many have seen so many false lights, being drawn into the jaws of the wolves, they are unsure when the True Light appears. Thinking all "Christians" are the same, they often flee the Light. But with loving patience, they too might be saved. Seek out the lost sheep, do not despise them as the fallen ones do. Go, not in judgement, but in grace and love. Lift them up from under the jaws of the enemy.
Yes we are at the End of the Age. We are at the end of the "Church Age". We have organized ourselves away from the Holy Spirit. The Church is no longer led by the Spirit, but by traditions and the wisdom of men. Christianity is little more than modern Pharisees. The so called Church has become a shattered, fragmented hulk filled with contradictions and contentions. But salted among them are the Children of Obedience. COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE. Stand apart, it is time that the Body of Christ stood up as a beacon. Not to attack the churches, but to stand unmoving, in the True Light of the Gospel.