In all of his numerous and varied workings within a society, Satan always begins small while operating in the shadows. He starts his society-changing attack by planting a sin seed in the minds of a few people who eagerly embrace it. Initially the society in general rejects the seed and those few who harbor it. Having taken root, the seed grows, matures and begins to produce more sin. Over time the society reluctantly accepts both the seed and its bearers as an unavoidable aspect of social life. As Satan’s sin bearers become more public, the public eventually embraces both the sin and the sinners. Not satisfied with mere acceptance of his sin-bearing followers and the evil they represent, Satan increases their numbers and places them in all areas of the human society. As God’s influence over society grows weaker, Satan’s influence increases exponentially until it dominates the thoughts, words and actions of a large segment of the society. With God playing an ever lessening part in the lives of the people,  Satan gains ever more influence over them, thereby enabling him to bring forth ever more evil. As God’s Word comes to play an ever decreasing role in the lives of the society’s people, the devil’s word replaces it. Eventually his way of sin comes to be either preferred or at least accepted by the majority of the people. Recent examples of this phenomenon are abortion, homosexuality and heathen religions. Observant people will notice that the three, rarely heard of a generation ago, have now gone mainstream. Anyone who rejects any one of these Scripturally-defined abominations is deemed a “hater,” EVEN BY MANY IN THE CHURCH.

Beginning with Adam and Eve, the success of Satan’s operation is verified by both secular history and Biblical prophecy. In 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 the Apostle Paul, writing about a then present spiritual condition that would become more prevalent in the future said: “And with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they (have not) received the love of the Truth, (so)that they might be saved (in the future). And for this cause (rejection of God’s Truth) God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, (so) that they might be damned who believed not the Truth, but had pleasure in (preferred) unrighteousness” (man’s/Satan’s church doctrines). Just as Simon Magus rejected God’s Word, so have billions of parishioners who have believed and obeyed his false prophets over the years. Their spiritual descendants–both prophets and followers–continue to believe “a lie.” The Lord says they and will all be “damned” by Him because they “believe(d) not the Truth”–the Word of God.

Those who reject God’s Word are rejecting both Members of the Godhead (Jn. 12:44-50). Those who favor Satan’s perverted gospel (Gal. 1:6-9), who embrace professing Christendom’s version of the Christian “walk” (1 Jn. 2:6) are unwittingly being damned (cursed) in this life and will be permanently damned by the very Words they reject (Mat. 7:21-23). Their only hope is to believe and obey God. Since the beginning of the New Covenant Church God-seekers have been attempting to enter God’s end-time church. Speaking of those who believe themselves to be part of the Lord’s church, Jesus warned: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but (only) he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and in Your name have cast out many devils, and in your name done many wonderful works?'” And I will profess to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who work iniquity (Lawlessness).'” The word “iniquity” is also used to describe Gentiles–heathen people who “do not have the Law” (Rom. 2:14), who “are sinners” (Gal. 2:15) who “do not know the Lord” (1 Thes. 4:5). God calls these people “goats”–counterfeit Christians–who are among His “sheep” like tares among the wheat. See The Church, The Gospel And The Goats. Having rejected His Law and His commanded way of righteousness, “Christian” goats have not entered His strait gate and are not walking His narrow way that leads to salvation. Instead, they entered the wide gate and are walking the broad way they believe will lead them to eternal life (Mat. 7:13,14). The ten virgins are a prime example of this universally-believed though deadly error. To be continued. L.J.