Today, I would like us to ask ourselves, as the body of Christ, a question, “Are we being fooled by a fatalistic mentality?” I believe it’s an important question, and depending on the answer, it could affect our future in more ways than one.
This morning, I awoke and peered at my clock to see that it was 3:39am. As I lay there, my mind drifted back to one day in my distant youth that was quite amusing yet also has a more serious element to it. I found a length of thick string, and I got this idea that maybe I could pretend I was a lizard on a leash; so I tied the string into a noose and put it around my neck, wearing it throughout the day. That evening, my older brother Daniel was a participant in a semi-musical performance at his school to which families were invited to attend. I still remember entering the doors of that school, walking beside my mother while a teacher, positioned in the foyer as a greeter, looked at me in shock as I walked by her with that string dangling from my neck.

Once seated in the audience, we witnessed a variety of music and recitations of poetry, but there is only one thing I can vividly remember, and that was a song that brought Doris Day recognition from an Alfred Hitchcock movie, a song that goes like this: “Que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be, the future’s not ours to see, que sera, sera, what will be, will be.”

As I pondered my childhood memory, I thought it was a bit strange that the one day I bore a noose around my neck was the very same day of that musical performance. Indeed, it was all silly, but not anymore “silly” than what all of us have been witnessing over the past few years especially, with perhaps dire consequences in store for us.

What Will Be, Will Be

Is it really true that we cannot know the future and that what will be, will be, meaning that our time here on Earth is entirely fatalistic? Most likely, if you are a Christian, as I am, your answer is “no” to both questions. However, from a day-to-day perspective, I think we can all agree that we cannot know what will come our way today, and in that sense, a lot of what happens in any given day is either unexpected or out of our control. But here lies the problem: Does this mean we are to give ourselves over to a fatalistic posture, or is there a more biblical way to engage ourselves with daily living and facing the future? This is actually a broad-sweeping question that could be extensively examined, but in this short paper, let us look briefly at three specifics whereby the Adversary of our souls has undertaken to place us into a fatalistic outlook— namely in the realms of Calvinism, creation versus evolution, and politics.

Calvinism

Volumes have been written both for and against Calvinism, but in the final analysis Calvinism and the Bible majorly conflict with each other. May I offer just one example here? In perhaps one of his most famous quotes, John Calvin said:

By predestination we mean the eternal decree of God, by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man. All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation; and, accordingly, as each has been created for one or other of these ends, we say that he has been predestinated to life or to death.1

Now, it is important to understand here what Calvin means when he says, “All are not created on equal terms” because he is saying that God has not given mankind a choice concerning our destiny and consequently, we have no free will in the matter. This is “another gospel” than what we find in John 3:16 where “whosoever” may come. It is a gospel of fatalism. But God, in His great mercy and foreknowledge, debunked Calvin’s false teaching centuries earlier through Ezekiel speaking on Calvin’s claim that God does not treat people equally but has already decided every person’s fate:

Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal. When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways. (Ezekiel 33:17-20)

People often confuse God’s foreknowledge with “predestination.” They think that because God knows things in advance, He is forcing those things to happen. But God is not forcing the hands of anyone to do evil because God is only righteous and true, and in Him there is no iniquity at all. By the way, the word for predestined is only used four times in the entire Bible, by Paul, and in each case, it is not referring to salvation but rather of what God has prepared for those who are believers in Jesus Christ, a prepared destination, hence the word predestination.2

Yet, in spite of its unscriptural basis, Calvinism is exploding throughout the church today, and we receive phone calls, e-mails, and letters of its destructive force on families and young people whereby some have departed from the Christian faith altogether. However, it was not actually the Christian Gospel, but fatalism, that they were being taught—many times in Christian colleges and seminaries.

Creation Versus Evolution

The creation versus evolution debate has impacted our lives in more ways than we could imagine; and that is why I have included it in our study on fatalism. While for many this may seem to be a trivial topic, the fact is that if there is no Creator, no God, then there is no hope. Paul expressed what a sad scenario this would be like when addressing the resurrection: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19). Yet over the years (and I still remember it in my youth in the 1950s), we have been fed a steady diet of evolution.

The Bible begins with the words, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). It is in Genesis that we learn of our origin; we learn that God created us male and female; but today, even that is under attack. And sadly, it didn’t take that long in the post-WWII era before God was removed from our schools while students were given drawings of ape-men to look at in textbooks and on posters. An erosion of hope was vaccinated into society as a godless, atheistic religion called evolution displaced the notion of seeking God and giving Him honor. I think of that verse in Micah 6:8 that says, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” If there is one thing the belief in evolution does to a society, it creates people who become unjust, who are not merciful, and who walk proud and boastful, not humbly or with the love of God in their hearts.

In Romans 1, Paul gives a brief discourse of the rapid decline of a society that occurs when it rejects the notion of a Creator God (as found in the Bible) and worships and serves “the creature more than the creator” (vs. 25) with the result being “vile affections” (v. 26). He speaks of cultures who abandoned God: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind” (v. 28). Paul ends that chapter with a detailed list of how corruption avalanches upon a society that abandons God to include “backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters . . .” (v. 30).

Such as this happened in America, which in turn removed hope; because of this a seed of fatalism was planted in the youth of America and contributed to the confusion, unrest, and sense of hopelessness of the ’60s and ’70s.

Politics

The ’70s were years of transition both in my own personal life and that of the country—the Vietnam War was ending, Richard Nixon was president, and I was attending university. Then I received my draft notice in the summer of ’72 whereby I was informed that I would be serving in the U.S. Army for the next two years. I attended Basic Training in the fall, followed by Advanced Individual Training (AIT), then flown to Germany in the spring of ’73. While in Germany, I knew almost nothing about what was happening in the United States, aside from the fact that a newspaper was available to us that I would sometimes peruse through at break time. Then I learned one day that Nixon was facing impeachment and that it had something to do with what was called Watergate. I later heard that he had resigned rather than face impeachment.

Even though I had not been an admirer of Nixon, I was somewhat shocked to learn that the President of the United States was now, suddenly, referred to as “Tricky Dicky.” And I think for many of us, that time period set a new precedent of distrust in the government. Now, fifty years later, those of us who have been around for a while can see how corruption in government has multiplied itself almost exponentially. And, for many, including Christians, a sense of fatalism has grabbed at the heart and shaken it. There is a sense of hopelessness and “what will be, will be” and there is nothing we can do about it. Even many Christians have succumbed to the temptation of hopelessness in thinking about the future saying, we better just brace ourselves for what’s coming, for there is nothing we can do. But is that the posture God wants Christians to take?

During the twelve years our ministry was located in Montana, we would hear various bear stories—as Montana is both Grizzly and Black Bear country. We learned that there are things one can do to be prepared—such as carrying bear spray (though hunters often preferred to depend on carrying a gun). But, if unprepared when actually encountering a bear, the technique of dealing with either of these bears was different: With the Black Bear, we were told we had the best chance of survival by doing what we could to fight him off (such as raising the arms to appear big or picking up a heavy branch to fight with). By nature, Black Bears are timid creatures who are given to fear—unless their offspring are nearby. With the Grizzly Bear, the intimidation approach typically would not be successful. It is better to wrap your arms around the back of your neck to protect it and play dead, we were told, as there is no way one can fight off a Grizzly, which can weigh well over 400 pounds and standing on its hind feet, can be well over eight feet. Better to play dead, they say, and hope for the best after a possible few sniffs and swats. Also to outrun a bear, you would need to be able to run over 30 mph!

The Bible warns about a massive bear-like and fierce enemy that will someday rule the world—the Antichrist, also known in Scripture as “the Beast.” And we have leaders already with an antichrist spirit. The important thing then is to know what to do and when to do it; that is called walking in wisdom. And where does that wisdom come from? Sometimes wisdom comes from life-long experience, but mostly, wisdom comes from walking with the Lord, reading His Word, and asking Him to lead us through His Holy Spirit.

Receiving the Gospel is the way we enter or begin that walk with God: putting our trust in Jesus Christ and believing in Him, that He died on the Cross to pay the penalty for all our sins and rose from the dead to conquer death thus giving to us eternal life. God then gives us the Holy Spirit to be our comforter and guide throughout the rest of our lives. If you have never trusted in Christ, just remember that Scripture says, today, while there is still a today, is the day of salvation. In other words, the condition of our souls is not something for us to procrastinate about.

As I write this [October 30th], the presidential election will be upon us in a matter of days. It is a time when we can do something, or we can do nothing. And subsequent to the election, regardless of whoever wins, we can expect some landmark changes – changes for the better or for the worse, for good or for evil.

Some years ago, a Christian told my wife and I, “I’m not going to vote for either candidate for president because both candidates are bad, and both parties are bad; instead, I’m going to write in ‘Jesus Christ’ on my ballot.” However, there are three problems with this approach: First, the timing is bad because Jesus won’t come to rule in such a manner until the Millennium. Second, when Jesus does come to rule, He won’t need to be voted in. And third, casting a vote like this is really the same thing as casting no vote at all. However, there was really no way of convincing this Christian of the flaw of what he was doing. He said that his conscience would not allow him to vote for the lesser of two evils. But could you imagine if you were living in Hitler’s time and your vote was the deciding vote in Hitler losing such an election what that would have meant for six million Jews and millions of others, even though you voted for “the lesser of two evils.”

We live in a country where voting for our political leaders is still an option. There are countless people in the world who do not have that chance. And it seems very likely that as globalism takes hold of one of the last holdouts to freedom—America—we too could be facing the complete disappearance of democracy and the right to vote. I was somewhat surprised and very disappointed that a very recent poll suggests that “104 million people of faith, including 32 million self-identified Christians who regularly attend church, are unlikely to cast their ballots in the upcoming election.”3

The reasons given by those polled indicated a general apathy and distrust of the upcoming election and overall confusion of the issues as projected by the media. May I suggest that much of the general media has been bought out, and a brainwashing effort is underway for liberal gain while simultaneously discouraging, even shaming conservatives from voting. The apathy among conservatives is the fruit of these efforts and is just another form of fatalism infecting our society and paralyzing conservative efforts (such as protecting school-age children from becoming victims of the vicious transgender agenda). May God help us and be merciful to our nation. And may we, as Bible-believing Christians, walk steadfastly in hope and strength, both which the Lord promises to those who seek and desire Him.

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. (Psalm 31:34)

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Endnotes:

1. John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Vol. 3, (Orlando, Signalman Publishing, from the 4th edition, 2009, Kindle edition), Chapter 21, section 5, Kindle location 17221; also available at Christian Classics Ethereal Library (https://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.v.xxii.html) as cited in Bob Kirkland’s book, Calvinism: None Dare Call It Heresy.
2. Watch an excellent YouTube video by the late Pastor Adrian Rogers on predestination: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBADZEz2n3g.
3. Veronika Kyrylenko, “Low Voter Enthusiasm Among Christians Projected to Impact Election” (The New American, 2024, https://thenewamerican.com/us/politics/low-voter-enthusiasm-among-christians-projected-to-impact-election), as cited from the Roseburg Beacon, Roseburg, Oregon.

(photo from istockphoto.com; used with permission)

The Promised Land series was brought to our attention through a 33-minute DVD critique by The Berean Call called The Promised Land Series: Mocking God and Moses (see photo on right). This excellent DVD by TBC shows numerous clips from the series as well as statements by Dallas Jenkins expressing his admiration for the comedy series.

We have three brief take aways regarding The Promised Land:

1. Both Mitch Hudson and Dallas Jenkins state that the “intent” in making The Promised Land is good and is not to mock God. However, as the saying goes, “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” Or as Ray Yungen put it when he was addressing those who believed mantra meditation is OK to practice as long as one’s intentions are good, “Two men jump out of a 10-story building. One says ‘fly, fly, fly,’ and the other says, ‘fall, fall, fall.'” Both are going to end up in the same place. So just as Dallas Jenkins insists his intentions in making The Chosen are honorable, Hudson’s “good intentions” are meaningless on making a mockumentary (their word, not ours) about Moses, a man who is so highly esteemed in the Bible and which story (the escape from Egypt by God’s chosen people) is so cherished by believers throughout the centuries.
2. Just as we have documented in our own critiques of The Chosen, The Promised Land is slanderous toward Moses, his sister Miriam, Aaron, and the Jewish people in the biblical account.
3. We find it abhorrent that the story of Moses leading the Jewish people in their escape from Pharoah and Egypt has been made into a comedy, mocking the leaders whom God used for the escape. In essence, that time period for God’s chosen people was a story of an Old Testament holocaust of persecution (the Jews were slaves under the most horrific conditions and remember when Pharoah ordered all baby boys to be murdered). To mock, in any manner, this period of time described so accurately and soberly in God’s Word is utterly disgusting.

A 2022 news article about The Promised Land states:

The movie’s organizers stressed that they are being highly respectful of [the] Biblical message.  

 “Rather than looking at these Biblical heroes on stained glass windows, let’s look at them like everyday people,” they [the organizers] wrote. “At the end of the day, our hope is that people watch the show because it’s funny . . . and eventually would desire to dive into scripture to experience God personally.”

That statement is about as delusional as it gets. There is nothing in The Promised Land series that is going to draw the millions of people who watch it to “dive into scripture,” and for the few that may, their minds will have been corrupted by images on a screen that make Moses and the persecuted children of God look foolish and silly. At a time when antisemitism throughout the world has been rekindled (similar to pre-Holocaust days), mocking the Jews in a ridiculous comedy is not going to help at all, but on the contrary, could serve as fuel for the fire of antisemitism—even if that is not the “intention” of the producers and directors.

Just as The Chosen has almost nothing to do with truth (according to God’s Word) by the director’s own admission, The Promised Land doesn’t either and is indeed a mockery of truth.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. (Jude 1:18)

I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand. (Jeremiah 15:17)

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We want to thank The Berean Call for putting together this critique of The Promised Land. The 33-minute DVD is available through Lighthouse Trails and is only $7.50.

Related Articles:

BOOKLET: THE CHOSEN Series—10 Critical Concerns

Jack Hibbs’ Ministry Defense Statement for Promoting The Chosen Has Poor Premise and Is Obscure

Latest Chosen Series Defense—”Not Produced by Mormons”—Misleading, Evasive, and Wrong

Christian seek not yet repose,
Cast thy dreams of ease away;
Thou art in the midst of foes: Watch and pray.
Watch as if that alone were the issue of the day;
Pray that help may be sent down: Watch and pray.
—Charlotte Elliot & William H. Monk

Learn to discern, Watch and pray;
Night’s almost here, Far spent is the day.
Learn to discern, Watch and pray;
Armor on tight, Keeping the enemy at bay.
Learn to discern, Watch and pray;
Don’t be deceived, Narrow is the way.
If you learn to discern, To watch and pray;
Then close to Jesus You will always stay.
—WBS

The following selected verses emphasize the importance of being watchful and discerning.

Watchful

Be Watchful
Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. (Revelation 3:2-3)

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings. (2 Corinthians 6:4-5)

Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield. For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth. (Isaiah 21:5-6)

Watch and Pray with Supplication and Perseverance
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. (Ephesians 6:18)

Watch and Pray with Thanksgiving
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2)

Watch and be Sober
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:3-6)

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. (1 Peter 4:7)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Watch and Pray Regarding Temptation
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)

Watch and Stand Fast
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13)

Watch For Grievous Wolves
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. (Acts 20:29-31)

Watch in All Things
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Timothy 4:2-5)

Watch and Pray Always
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:35-36)

Watch for the Lord
Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:35-37)

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. (Luke 12:37)

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 24:42-44)

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (Revelation 16:15)

Discerning

Ninevites Couldn’t Discern Between Their Right and Left Hands
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand. (Jonah 4:11)

Discernment is a Sign of Maturity
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14)

Discernment is Pleasing to God
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said . . . Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment. Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. (1 Kings 3:5-6, 9-12)

The Word of God Discerns Thoughts and Hearts
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Search the Scriptures Daily
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11)

Study to Show Yourself Approved
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Approve Things that are Excellent
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. (Philippians 1:9-10)

Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1-5)

Love Instruction, Wisdom, and Knowledge
Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. (Proverbs 12:1)

Holy Spirit Will Teach You All Things
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:27)

Trust in the Lord and Acknowledge Him
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Call Unto God
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3)

Pray for Understanding
I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies. (Psalm 119:125)

Ask for Wisdom
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5)

Seek God’s Will
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. (John 5:30)

Prove God’s Will
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Roman 12:2)

Prove All Things
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Beware of Falling From Your Own Steadfastness
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. (2 Peter 3:17)

Examine Yourselves
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Bring All Thoughts Into Captivity
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Love Not the World
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:15-17)

Abhor that which is Evil
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (Romans 12:9)

Walk Not in the Counsel of the Ungodly
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)

Understand the Times
And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. (1 Chronicles 12:32)

Discern the Evil of Today
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6:34)

Discern Between the Righteous and the Wicked
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (Malachi 3:16-18)

Discern Between the Sacred and the Profane
And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. (Ezekiel 44:23)

Overcome Evil with Good
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)

Be Aware of Satan’s Devices
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:11)

Know the Whole World will be Deceived
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)

And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. (Revelation 18:23)

Take Heed that no Man Deceive You
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (Matthew 24:4)

Beware of Men
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. (Matthew 10:17)

Beware of Men’s Traditions
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

Beware of Cunningly Devised Fables
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16)

Beware of Science Falsely So-Called
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. (1 Timothy 6:19-21)

Beware of Those Who Pervert the Gospel
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

Beware of Evil Men and Seducers
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. (2 Timothy 3:13-14)

Beware of Ungodly Men Who Creep into the Church Unawares
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4)

Beware of False Prophets and False Teachers
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15)

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (2 Peter 2:1-2)

Beware of False Apostles
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

Beware of False Christs
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:4-5)

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:11)

Beware of Here is Christ, or There; Believe it Not
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. (Matthew 24:23-25)

Beware of Every Windblown Doctrine
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. (Ephesians 4:14-15)

Not Carried About by Strange Doctrines
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. (Hebrews 13:9)

Beware of Those Who do not Endure Sound Doctrine
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

Beware of False Doctrine
How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. (Matthew 16:11-12)

Beware of Seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. (1 Timothy 4:1)

Beware of Another Jesus, Spirit, Gospel
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2 Corinthians 11:4)

Test the Spirits
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)

Don’t Meddle with Those Who Are Into Change
My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? (Proverbs 24:21-22)

Mark Those Who Cause Divisions
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18)

Remember the Simplicity of Christ
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

Abide in the Doctrine of Christ
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (2 John 1:9-11)

Walk in Truth
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John 1:4)

Keep the Word
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it. (Luke 11:28)

Count the Cost
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? (Luke 14:28)

Be Willing to Suffer
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. (Philippians 1:29)

Know You Will be Persecuted
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)

Know You Will be Hated
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22)

Know You will be Called Beelzebub/Satan
The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? (Matthew 10:24-25)

Be Not Fearful
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Be Not Terrified
And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. (Philippians 1:28)

Do Not Give Place to the Devil
Neither give place to the devil. (Ephesians 4:27)

Shake the Dust off Your Feet
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. (Matthew 10:14)

Gird up Your Mind
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)

Resist the Devil
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Put on the Whole Armour of God
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13)

Hold Fast
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:13)

But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. (Revelation 2:25)

Stand Fast
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. (Proverbs 24:10)

Enter the Strait Gate
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Keep Pressing on
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

The Need for Discernment

Former Moody Bible Church pastor Dr. Harry Ironside wrote an article regarding the importance of discernment titled “Exposing Error: Is it Worthwhile?” It basically echoes and elaborates on what the apostle Paul stated in Galatians 5:9 and Ephesians 5:10-13—that it is incumbent upon believers to expose and repudiate any error (leaven) that arises in one’s life and in the church. Ironside writes:

Error is like leaven, of which we read, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Truth mixed with error is equivalent to all error, except that it is more innocent looking and therefore, more dangerous. God hates such a mixture! Any error, or any truth-and-error mixture, calls for definite exposure and repudiation. To condone such is to be unfaithful to God and His Word and treacherous to imperiled souls for whom Christ died.1

It is not divisive to point out error. We are told in Romans 16:17 to “mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned.” It is a mandate to be watchful and discerning and to expose error when it is in our midst.

Conclusion

Without a watchful and discerning heart, we are too easily deceived by a crafty adversary. While we rejoice, praise God, give thanks, and remain hopeful through it all, we must be alert to the deception that is all around us. Jesus said—“Take heed that no man deceive you.” Be watchful. Be discerning. Keep looking up. Keep pressing on.

Endnote:
1. Harry Ironside, “Exposing Error: Is It Worthwhile?” (public domain; you may view the entire article at www.lighthousetrails.com/ironside-error.pdf).

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This article is also in booklet format, along with several other “Through It All” booklets by Warren Smith.

(photo from bigstockphoto.com; used with permission)

By Bob Unruh
WND News

(11/9/24) In what already is being called a European pogram or Kristallnacht II, antisemitism has exploded in Amsterdam and Israeli officials promptly announced a rescue plan including airplanes being dispatched to retrieve endangered citizens.

A report at United With Israel confirmed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced overnight “he was dispatching two rescue planes to Amsterdam following a ‘very violent incident against Israeli citizens.'” Click here to continue reading.

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(photo of Amsterdam flag from istockphoto.com; used with permission; Jewish symbol from Holocaust/Germany in public domain)

Rapture or Tribulation—Are We Prepared?

When considering the question of the timing of the Rapture, some have brought forward objections including the accusation that the pre-Tribulation view is not preparing people for the time of trouble that is coming. 

It is said by some that those who believe in the pre-Tribulation Rapture will find themselves in time of trouble instead of being raptured away to paradise. As a result, many will lose their faith, deny the Lord, or even take the Mark of the Beast. Therefore, they say, this is a dangerous doctrine which could lead people to Hell. Some go so far as to say that those who teach the pre-Tribulation Rapture are heretics and will leave Christians vulnerable and likely to lose their faith when they find themselves up against the Antichrist in the Great Tribulation while being persecuted for their faith.

Is this the case? I agree there are dangers in some pre-Tribulation teachings if they are implying that we will be whisked out of the way, taken to be with the Lord, before anything really bad happens such as persecution and will be spared all suffering. And we see already that people all over the world are suffering now some terrible things in wars, diseases, famines, natural disasters; and many Christians are being persecuted for their faith.

In my view, we should be ready for both—either a sudden end to our life on Earth (either by death or by the Rapture) or for the possibility of suffering for our faith in the Lord. In either case, the one preparation that matters is that we repent of our sins and believe the Gospel—that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day—and that we commit our lives to following Him, no matter what other people think of us or what happens to us in this life. 

Having Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), we trust Him to help us through our troubles (both present and future), and we look forward to the eternal state in which we will be with Him forever. We are assured of salvation from eternal death and suffering in Hell.

In which case, we can know the peace of God in all circumstances as Paul wrote in Philippians 4:

Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:6-13)

If we learn how to do this now, we will be well prepared for whatever is to come in our lives, for good and for evil.

The big issue with the Great Tribulation is that it is a time when those who believe in Jesus face severe persecution at the hands of the Beast / Antichrist and even death for their faith.

Revelation 7 says:

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Revelation 7:9-17)

Regardless of what camp one falls in on the timing of the Rapture, most pre-, mid-, and post-Tribulation believers can see that current events are leading the world towards the time of the Antichrist (which will be a time of incredible deception, which we see already mounting). So, this is not just an academic debate as we literally see that time approaching.

Facing Such a Time of Trouble

How would we face such a time of trouble? First, the question does not just affect Christians. According to the literal reading of Revelation and the Olivet discourse, the last days trauma will affect everyone on Earth as wars, famines, plagues, and earthquakes devastate the Earth as the world comes under the control of a dictator known as the Beast or the Antichrist.

At least half of the world’s population will die at this time, based on figures in Revelation 6:8 (a quarter of the population die) succeeded by Revelation 9:15 (one third of mankind killed). That’s the very least. It won’t be a nice time to be around (to say the least).

Specifically, for believers in Jesus, at the midpoint of the tribulation, 3 ½ years into it, they will have to make a choice over taking the Mark of the Beast and being able to participate in society or refusing it and becoming outcasts, unable to buy or sell. The Bible says that those who take the Mark will be damned (Revelation 14:9-11). So when it becomes clear what this is, if you are here, don’t take it.

How Will We Prepare for This?

The question came to me and my first wife Nikki back in the 1970s. Suppose we do find ourselves in a time when such evil men have taken over. How would we cope? Nikki became quite worried that under persecution, she might crack and deny the Lord. She was actually a very courageous and bold Christian, and had she lived, I am sure she would have endured. We prayed about it and decided that the Lord’s wisdom was in Jesus’ words:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6:33-34)

In other words, get on with life now, invest in God’s Kingdom, and trust Him for what is to come.

There are enough troubles in the here and now. God will provide what is needed at the right time.

At the time, we watched the movie The Hiding Place, a movie concerning Corrie Ten Boom and her family, their arrest for hiding Jews during WWII, and their deportation to a concentration camp. As they contemplated what was before them, Corrie recalled an incident as a child when she asked her father:

“What is it like to die?”

He said, “When I take you on the train from Haarlem to Amsterdam, do I give you the ticket days before we go or just before you go through the ticket inspection?”

“Just before,” she answered.

“So with our Heavenly Father, He will give us what we need at the time when we need it and tells us not to worry about the future or about dying.” (from The Hiding Place)

Sadly, as it happened, my wife Nikki died at a relatively young age in 1998 from multiple myeloma, a form of bone marrow cancer. So, she did not live to see either the Rapture or the Tribulation. But I am confident that she will be there at the resurrection, when the dead in Christ are raised and met by the those who are caught up in the Rapture event.

Coming back to the question about the Rapture and the Tribulation: Today, there are already many situations where people are facing enormous trials, Christians facing persecution, and people in general suffering from wars, famines, plagues, and dictatorial governments. In the Western world, we see a growing antichrist agenda, woke ideas, imposing itself on every area of society including parts of the church, with a deep hostility toward biblical Christianity. We have to train ourselves now to discern good and evil, truth and error. Primarily, we do this by knowing the Bible and keeping in touch with the Lord by the Holy Spirit within us.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:13)

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:12-14)

Clearly, the Bible and the experience of Christians down through the ages and today shows us that we are not exempt from facing persecution and suffering in these times. But we do have a great advantage over non-Christians in that we have Someone who has been through it Himself—Jesus and His suffering at the Cross. And let us not forget that He has said He will be with us always and that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

As long as we have grasped these principles, no matter what we face in the days to come, we will be overcomers in the days of evil. If we have been hoping in the pre-Tribulation Rapture and we find that it has not happened and we are in circumstances which line up with the description of the Tribulation (Revelation 6-19), we will have to adjust our thinking and get on with it (by God’s power, not ours). It’s not the end of the world (quite).

If we die in the process, then we die in faith, knowing that a glorious resurrection and future awaits us in Jesus. We know from our study of Scripture that we must not under any circumstance worship the image of the Beast or take the Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13), whatever that may turn out to be.

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Revelation 13:16-18)

If we understand the basic principles of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit will enable us to work out and discern what is of Christ and what is of Antichrist. The fact that a lot of the church seems unable to do this is not because of a failure of the Gospel, or God’s Word, or the Holy Spirit but because of the blindness and unbelief of so much of professing Christianity that has not a love of the truth no matter the cost.

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Timothy 4:5; see also 1 John 2:18-22, 2 Peter 2.)

A primary way to avoid the deceptions, which are a feature of this age and leading to the greatest deception of all in the coming of the Antichrist, is to know the truth in God’s Word and believe in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross.

Regardless of our view on the timing of the Rapture, may we always be “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

In closing, let us ponder the words the Lord spoke to the people of Israel, reminding us of the merciful nature of God:

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee. (Deuteronomy 4:29-31)

Epilogue by the Editors at Lighthouse Trails: While the timing of the Rapture is a disputed topic within Christendom (partly because the Bible does not come right out and tell us the exact timing and partly because related verses are interpreted differently), the Bible provides us with many examples of how we are to live, as believers in Christ, in times of great deception upon the Earth and in the church. A few of these examples are:

1. The Word tells us not to become deceived (Luke 21:8).
2. We are to warn others of impending spiritual deception and danger (Colossians 1:28; Acts 20:31).
3. We are to be watchmen on the wall (Ezekiel 33:6)
4. We are to be aware of false christs and false prophets in our midst (Mark 13:22) (and remember to warn).

In Warren B. Smith’s new book, As Night Comes On, one of the chapters is titled “Beware.” The majority of this chapter contains verses that exhort us to “beware” of evil and deception. It’s quite astounding how many verses on this subject there actually are, yet it seems that most pastors today don’t exhort the church to “beware.” Here are a few of the over 150 verses Warren has included:

Beware of Worldly Oneness
And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. (Genesis 11:6)

Beware of Those With Familiar Spirits
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:31)

Beware of Ungodly Spiritual Manifestations
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end. (Psalm 107:27)

Beware of Contrived Unity
Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. (Proverbs 11:21)

Beware of Change Agents
My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change. (Proverbs 24:21)

Beware of Pastors Who Are Destroying God’s Vineyard
Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. (Jeremiah 12:10)

Beware of Serving Two Masters
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24)

Beware of Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15)

Beware of Undiscerning Leaders
O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? (Matthew 16:3)

Beware of a Light That Is Dark
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. (Luke 11:35)

While we wait for our “blessed hope,” let us be like the five virgins with the filled oil lamps who were ready to meet the Bridegroom.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:13)

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Tony Pearce is the founder and director of Light for the Last Days. He is also the author of the Lighthouse Trails book, The Messiah Factor, as well as four Lighthouse Trails topical booklets.

(photo from istockphoto.com; used with permission)