First Peter

Verse seven: As the end draws near we are instructed to be vigilant and serious in our prayer life because Satan, knowing that the end is near, is conducting an all-out blitz in order to add to his harvest of souls before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has the unchurched and the churched. His goal is to solidify his hold on these two entities while adding to his fold those who are now following God. Having 99 + percent of the world in his hands is not enough for him. Only at the return of the Lord and his (Satan’s) being cast into the abyss will he stop trying to sway people to himself. Jesus noted this when He said that one must endure in persecution-producing righteousness UNTIL THE END in order to be saved (at the end of the age)–Matthew 10:22. He also said in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that if His people, those who are called by His name (Israel then, the church today), would humble themselves, repent of their sins and seek His face–turn to Him–He would (then and only then) hear their prayers and heal them spiritually and physically (their “land”). Note that He accused His people of pride (needing to humble themselves), evil (being “sinners saved by grace” or geneology) and not seeking His face (presence in their lives). This statement perfectly described Israel anciently and the Counterfeit Church presently. And what is of paramount importance, the characteristics mentioned are becoming more pronounced qualitatively and quantitavely. Things are now deemed acceptable that 50 years ago were not so much as mentioned within the church system. I have predicted in previous postings that the church will become more Satanic with the passage of time as he exerts more and more control over her beliefs and practices. The pride the Lord referred to in the 2 Chronicles statement refers to the belief among both the Israelites and the modern church that they can believe what they want and do what they want and God will still accept them. The Israelites believed this fallacy because they were the physical descendants of Abraham. Modern churchites claim that the fix is in for them because they have “taken Jesus as my personal Savior,” joined the church, been baptized, etc. See John’s baptism and All That Glitters.  The Holy Scriptures make plain the fact that these ruses are as deadly as the one who formulated them–Satan, the god of the church. L.J.