How does he do it? How does Satan continue to hold power over the church? How does he convince God-seekers to turn to him instead of the God of the Bible? to enter his wide gate and walk the broad way of traditional Christianity instead of entering the Lord’s strait gate and walking His narrow way? The answer to these questions can be summarized in one word: DECEPTION. The main theme of the apostles’ epistles comes in the form of a warning to the church: DO NOT BE DECEIVED. The New Testament used some form the word “deceive” 56 times in their letters to the churches and individuals. Jesus Himself issued this warning six times in the four gospels.

“Deceive” is defined as misleading by falsehood. We are deceived when we are led to believe a lie. The deceived do not know they are deceived. Such is the case with Satan’s control over professing Christendom–he presents himself as someone else and deceives billions of parishioners into believing him. This describes how he replaced Jesus Christ in the hearts of church people. THE CHURCH BELIEVES THAT SATAN IS JESUS. How can this be? How does he convince 99% of global Christianity that he is their messiah? The answer is summarized in one word: IGNORANCE. The vast majority of church people do not know God’s Word. They know only what Satan’s prophets tell them. These “ministers of righteousness” tell them what they want to hear, which is what the “angel of light” wants them to hear (2 Cor. 11:14,15). As Jesus warned, the devil’s false prophets profess that He (Jesus) is the Christ, then deceive the people into following them (Mat. 24:4,5).

Jesus warned us about this deception in Revelation 6:1,2 where we find Him revealing to the Apostle John what would come to pass in the last days of this age, which began on the Day of Pentecost, 31 A.D. See Acts 2:16-21. We are living in the last days of this world (aion–age). The first end-times sign Jesus showed John was a white horse (heroes always ride in on white horses). White signifies purity. Sitting on the horse was a rider wearing a crown–signifying rulership–and carrying a bow–signifying war. Jesus told John that this crown-wearing being would go forth throughout the world “conquering and (continuing) to conquer” (men). The rider was Satan masquerading as Jesus Christ. The Lord knew that God-seeking men, like Adam and Eve, would choose the rider’s self-pleasing way over His God-pleasing way. By offering them an easy, only believe, do what you want way to eternal life Satan would deceive them into following him. As did their ancient ancestors, modern church people believe the same self-serving, ear-scratching, ego-soothing words spoken by the same serpent who deceived the inhabiters of the Garden of Eden. In the garden, Satan presented himself as the true god who overruled the lesser God they had been dealing with. He does the same thing today by convincing church people that he is their god and savior, and that they are to listen to and obey him while dismissing what the Biblical God tells them. Because of their choice of masters, church people have made themselves children of a lesser god who, rather than conquering evil, are conquered by evil.

The above answers the question as to why God does not answer church people’s prayers–THEY REFUSE TO OBEY HIM, which also explains why church people believe false doctrines such as “Love conquers evil.” LOVE DOES NOT CONQUER EVIL–OBEDIENCE DOES. God repeatedly demands that we prove our love for Him by OBEYING HIM, saying such things as: “If you love me, keep My commandments,” and “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments,” and “The only thing that matters is the keeping of the commandments,” and “If you would be saved, keep the commandments.” Without obedience to Him, our profession of love for Him rings hollow in His ears. Evil can be conquered only by obeying the Supplier of evil-overcoming power–the Biblical God. Only those who overcome evil will sit with Jesus on His throne in the Kingdom of God. The end time church, referred to as the church at Laodicea, has gone her own way, which in reality is Satan’s way. Read Christ’s Words to the Catholic/Protestant religious system of today in Revelation 3:14-20. L.J