The Charismatic Movement is focused on an expected final “revival” that is expected to commence at any moment accompanied by unprecedented “signs and wonders.” Billions of souls will be won, and revival will pave the way for Christ’s return. The predicted displays of the supernatural have become the rallying cry, the raison d'être of the Movement with its self-appointed “apostles” and “prophets.”
I remain
unconvinced. Jesus began to “draw all men” to himself when he was “lifted
up” on the Cross, not through his supernatural powers. The “power and
wisdom of God” are found in the proclamation of a “Crucified Messiah,”
and hearts are won by disciples living lives conformed to his Cross. He was the
“Suffering Servant of Yahweh,” not a conquering warrior king who intimidates
his enemies into submission.
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These expectations of revival are based on relatively recent “prophecies” often issued by disgraced “prophets,” and their “prophetic” track record does not instill me with any confidence.
The assumption
that “signs and wonders” will convince millions of men and women who Jesus is
and awe them into submission stands in sharp tension with the story found in
the four gospel accounts of the New Testament.
Jesus performed
many “signs and wonders,” yet by themselves, they failed to convince
anyone that he was the Son of God and Messiah of Israel, including his closest friends.
Even after he calmed the violent storm on the Sea of Galilee, his dumbfounded disciples
could only ask, "Who is this man?!" Only after his
resurrection did they begin to understand.
In Mark's
gospel, the only human who recognizes Jesus as the Son of God is the centurion
in charge of his execution squad, and at the very moment when he died. Despite
performing deeds that, “if they may be written one by one, not even the
world itself would have place for the books written,” he died
alone on the Cross, abandoned by his closest associates even though they had
witnessed his greatest miracles.
Nowhere in the
New Testament do I find any prediction of this final super revival
characterized by mighty “signs and wonders” that will win the world to the Faith
or empower the Church to take over the “Seven Mountains of Culture.”
What I do discover
are REPEATED warnings about coming deceivers, a final APOSTASY,
and the arrival of the MAN OF LAWLESSNESS, and the latter two events that will transpire before the saints are gathered to Jesus.
The New Testament warns that these coming deceivers will use “signs and wonders” to deceive especially the very “elect.” That scriptural emphasis ought to give us pause when questionable prophets insist that God is about to pour out “signs and wonders” through their “ministries.”
In his Discourse
on the Mount of Olives, Jesus warned that “many deceivers” would come in
his name and “deceive many.” In the version recorded in Matthew,
both times in the Greek sentence the term “many”
is emphatic.
Jesus was not
talking about the occasional false teacher but a coming horde of charlatans and
liars. This group would include “false anointed ones” and “false
prophets” who propagate false information about his return and use “great
signs and wonders” to deceive believers - (Matthew 24:5, 23-27).
LYING SIGNS AND WONDERS
In Revelation, the “False Prophet” performs “great signs” that deceive many, causing
them to give their allegiance to the “Beast.” Satan’s “war” is NOT
waged against Israel or other nation-states, but against the “saints,” those
who have the “faith of Jesus,” his “testimony,” and who “follow
the Lamb wherever he goes.”
This final “war” does not just include
persecution, but also deception in the assemblies by “false apostles,”
the Nicolaitans, “Jezebel,” and the teachings of Balaam, all of whom teach
saints to “eat things offered to idols” and otherwise compromise with
the surrounding society.
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| [Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash] |
Paul is especially specific when writing to the Thessalonians. The “Day of the Lord” will not come until two inextricably linked events occur – the “Apostasy” and the “revelation of the Man of Lawlessness” when he “seats himself in the sanctuary of God.”
Consistently in the Greek scriptures, the term “apostasy”
or ‘apostasia’ refers to the abandonment of the true faith. When Paul
warns that this “Lawless One” will deceive those who “refuse the love
of the truth,” he is referring to believers who apostatize, and this is
borne out when he defines the “truth” as the “tradition you have received”
from him and his apostolic coworkers.
This is what I find predicted in Scripture for the
days ahead, and any “revelation” received from angelic visitations, dreams,
visions, prophetic pronouncements, ascents to the “third heaven,” or “monthly
prognostications” that is contrary to it is NOT from God.
The only question remaining is whether this “Apostasy”
is yet future or is already underway. Considering the plethora of false
prophecies from today’s supposed “apostles and prophets,” the more important
question is whether the “Man of Lawlessness” is almost upon us, and if
we are approaching the day of his “revelation,” look for him to appear in
the Church.
We are not without hope. The very fact that
Jesus and his apostles warned of this coming storm means we can avoid being
overwhelmed by deception by heeding their words. Specifically, Paul assured the
Thessalonians that they would not be overtaken by the “Lawless One” so
long as they “held fast” to the Apostolic Tradition, the same one that is
preserved in the pages of the New Testament.
In short, learn the Word of God and cleave
to it with everything in you regardless of what anyone else does or says,
including any so-called “prophet” or “apostle.” Therefore, we must discover and restore
the original Apostolic Faith while there is still time.
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- House of Cards - (The history of the failed expectations in popular preaching is causing many to begin grasping at prophetic straws)
- Spirit of Antichrist - (The Spirit of Antichrist is at work in the church even now using deceivers and false prophets)