We Are Not Ignorant of Satan’s Schemes: Part 6 :: By Ron Ferguson

[20]. SELECTED AND PREPARED MEN OF MASS DESTRUCTION – SATAN’S PRIME OBJECTIVE

One of the wicked schemes Satan has is the selection and nurturing of certain individuals he is going to use for great harm and destruction upon the human race. Discerning Christians look out for these men in the world today, and I could name a few names that are identified, but I won’t do that here.

Looking back through the past 130 years, we see Hitler was such a man, but even worse than Hitler is Marx and Engels. The Communist League commissioned Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels to write a pamphlet explaining the principles of communism. This became the Manifesto of the Communist Party, better known as The Communist Manifesto. From that, misery, repression, hate, torture, totalitarianism, subjugation, death of hundreds of millions, poverty, atheism, and destruction have spread worldwide to subjugate maybe two billion people.

Communism, with its humanist base, is an enemy of all and any “faith.” It would be the most evil governmental system the world has known. Socialism, which is the lesser brother of communism, is almost as bad, yet more than half the world is under communism and socialism. They are vile enemies of God. There is the devilish move to install socialism in all our Western democracies, and Australia is well down the track, as are parts of the USA and several nations in Europe.

Socialism is at the heart of globalism and, in my opinion, will be the driving force for the dictates of the future. Very powerful bodies are striving for that implementation, among which are the United Nations, The World Health Organization, the World Economic Forum, and the large climate conventions. There are certain triggers for this, and Covid helped these demonic people enormously, but their greatest weapon now is the use of “climate change.” I will speak on that one separately later on.

Satan develops his dedicated men for one purpose only. He hates human beings and hates God, who created human beings and who threw him from heaven, and Satan contrives his schemes to overthrow God and to take men and women to hell. Communism outlaws the Bible and destroys churches, as can be seen in the Chinese repression of people of faith, not just Christians. China, North Korea, Russia, and the fundamental Islamic nations are the most repressive on earth against Christians.

Satan’s selected and prepared men will share the greatest wrath of God in punishment in the lake of fire for all eternity. As Judas did, they surrendered themselves to Satan to do his bidding. Way in the past, I tried to research the very best statistics for the deaths caused by these henchmen and operatives of Satan. Though numbers vary enormously among researchers and historians, they are still horrific.

The greatest criminals of the world are the mass murderers, and the worst of them lived in a period of 50 years in the 20th century. We do only three of them. Adolph Hitler’s estimated victims numbered 11 to over 30 million, even to 37 million in the context of the whole war; Stalin’s murderous numbers are 20 – 55 million, including 5 million Ukrainian farmers he deliberately starved to death.

They were called “enemies of the people,” as well as swine, dogs, cockroaches, scum, vermin, filth, garbage, half animals, apes. Activists promoted murderous slogans: “We will exile the kulak by the thousand when necessary – shoot the kulak breed.” “We will make soap of kulaks.” “Our class enemies must be wiped off the face of the earth.”

A Christian who is converted through the Holy Spirit just cannot conceive or appreciate the deep satanic hate these possessed agents of Satan have. In fact, Christians are very sheltered people when compared to the gross wickedness, the evil that permeates every quarter of this world. We thank God we do not understand those deep things of Satan.

The greatest murderer of all time is Mao Zedong at 35-70 million, and that is a conservative number according to some historians. The last two centuries are stained with the blood of hundreds of millions because of vile, hellish men. The sad thing is that millions followed these men and did their commands. Today, in China, the world’s vilest criminal ever is honored and revered constantly, the great Chairman Mao. He is idolized, even worshipped. Men worship death and hell. Such is the utter deception of Satan, which is why citizens in Western nations are running after the same brand of government as China and Russia, just on a lesser scale.

Let us be starkly realistic here. Note these verses from the Bible – Luke 16:23-24 “and being in torment in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. He cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue for I AM IN AGONY IN THIS FLAME.'”

The rich man was not in hell because he was rich but because he was proud, sensual, conceited, and lacked any form of mercy. Great was his punishment in hell, as indicated by this story. (This is not a parable because proper names are not given in parables. This was an actual incident.) Can you imagine just for a second what it is like for these mass murderers now in hell, whose crimes are a million times worse than the rich man? What about the time they are thrown into the lake of fire? That will be for all eternity. God is not mocked. Everyone who has lived will be judged according to their deeds. These mass murderers will be in utmost agony, and not to believe that is to reject the Bible’s teaching.

The average man and woman must wonder sometimes when and how the wrongs are going to be righted. We live in times when these evils remain evident among us. In fact, they increase. The faces have changed. We see Islamic fanaticism on the rise. The Old Testament prophets also saw these evils, decried injustice in their times, and spoke of the coming judgment and the overthrow of Israel by the Assyrians and of Judah by the Babylonians. Israel was crushed at the hands of their enemies, but they had played into the enemy’s hands by their foul sin and idolatry against God. We are living on the brink of God’s just judgment, and it will most certainly come, and the crimes and stored-up evil will meet headlong with the stored-up judgment of God.

Satan’s schemes promote discord, disharmony, division, hate, vengeance, poverty, and hurt among people. That is his aim, the evil one who always opposes the things of God. We are not ignorant of his methods and need to be on the alert.

I am going to share a wonderful few verses with you, one that is well deserved, and we may think, overdue – Revelation 20:9-11 “They came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them, and THE DEVIL WHO DECEIVED THEM WAS THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are also, and they WILL BE TORMENTED day and night forever and ever.”

Satan is the third one to be thrown into the lake of fire, but after that, all the unsaved after the great white throne judgment will join him – Revelation 20:11-12 “I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” Revelation 20:15 – If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.”

[21]. SATAN’S AGGRESSIVE CANCER – HIGHER CRITICISM AND LIBERAL THEOLOGY

The move in the 1800s of destructive Higher Criticism of religion in Germany and liberal theology, especially in the latter 1900s, is Satan’s scheme to destroy God’s word. If the Bible is undermined, then it becomes nothing more than fables and people’s views. Cancer begins with one mutant cell, which grows, and only one mutant cell of doubt of the Bible and higher criticism or liberalism will grow to destruction. It ends up with the Bible being undermined and discredited.

Satan is not only content with bringing his own evil people into prominence in places of “biblical” learning so that it spreads from the top, but also he will attack and weaken all that pertains to God. All born-again Christians know how important the Bible is, God’s word to the world. Satan does not rest, and his demons work toward the destruction of the Bible.

Many men standing in pulpits today are liberal in their theology and beliefs. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They are paid and are no more than hirelings. It might be a career move for some, but how honest and true are they to the truth of God’s word? Is the sincere gospel preached with the sincerity of God? Is the preacher sold out to God and a bondservant of the truth? How many are men pleasers appealing to itching ears and popularity?

Liberal theology is everywhere. On my last visit to England, speaking at Boston, I took a series of talks on liberal theology, and those who attended from the Methodists were quite sincere and worried about the encroachment of liberalism in the Methodist church. Sadly, after some time, I got an email telling me that what I had been speaking about had come to pass. The acceptance of homosexuality in the churches, of so-called gay marriage, and homosexual ministers, and the stepping away from the divine inspiration of scripture. It was all so sad.

Liberalism pervades all major denominations. Even though we have known for ages that liberalism is rife in Catholicism, it is now present everywhere. Not being an American, I used to think that the 30 million Southern Baptist organization was always traditionally sound, but I was shocked about 12 months ago when some fellow writers from the USA began sharing with me that the range of beliefs in Baptist affiliations is astounding right through the spectrum from conservatism to full liberalism. That disappointed me.

I found in England that many who are true to the Christian faith are leaving the denominations, especially the Methodists and Anglicans, and joining smaller, more fundamental churches. Personally, I believe that is the way to go. I suppose it is in line with the biblical command, “Come out from among them.”

A lot of this satanic undermining of the Bible, which is the cause of liberalism, traces its roots to Germany and the Higher Criticism movements. It was the unconverted man’s examination of the Bible, applying human intellectualism and reasoning to the Bible instead of accepting it as the literal, fully inspired word of God, whose truth is revealed by the Holy Spirit only.

I attach this explanation from Matthew Slick from Carm in Nampa, ID:

Higher criticism, which is also known as the historical-critical method, is a method of examining the Bible that seeks to discover what was originally meant in the various documents as they were penned in their culture and time. This approach assumes a secular perspective and denies the supernatural inspiration of Scripture. Therefore, its conclusions MUST be in harmony with a secular, non-supernatural worldview. This automatically negates the possibility of prophecy and inspiration from God. Higher Criticism is in contrast to Lower Criticism, which is the examination of the physical texts, their origin, the reliability, and the transmission.

What must churches do to combat those great scourges of Satan? God says we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices/schemes, so therefore, if we are not aware of them, then something is wrong with us. Maybe you don’t read or study the Bible enough. Maybe you are too lazy or lackadaisical? Firstly, they need to ensure their ministers, elders, and teachers are godly men who hold unconditionally to the inspiration of the word. Secondly, they need to remove those who are promoters of liberal theology. Thirdly, churches need to begin strenuous biblical teaching of their young people. Prophetically, we know that sound teaching in the last days of the Church age will decline –

2 Timothy 3:1 “Realize this, that IN THE LAST DAYS DIFFICULT TIMES WILL COME…” 2 Timothy 3:5 (and) “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power. Avoid such men as these.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and WILL TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH, and will turn aside to myths.”

Satan attacks the head. What better place to destroy God’s work than planting liberals and non-Christians as heads of Bible colleges and seminaries? Then, the head and Board will import liberals and people with agendas into lecturing positions. That flows through into churches that have ministers by appointment and not by calling.

[22]. THE DARK PATH FROM PENTECOSTALISM TO THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT TO THE PROSPERITY PREACHING

I have no interest in presenting a history lesson here but to look at the movement. Please don’t attack me, for that is not the purpose of these comments. Renditions of the early history vary a bit, but this is generally true – “Historians trace the movement back to Topeka, Kansas, in 1901, when student Agnes Ozman received the gift of tongues during a prayer meeting at Charles Fox Parham’s Bethel Bible College.”

This neo-Pentecostal movement has a lot of flaws, and I know some will condemn me for saying that, but much has been written to support that claim. Those within the movement itself express concern about excesses and related problems. However, I do not want to start examining that statement. Suffice it to say that eventually, it led to the Charismatic movement, and associated with these two, we have what is called the “word of faith.” Speak your blessing, and God honors it. Give more to God, and He gives more back to you. It is all very faulty, but it has caused so many people to become disillusioned. God does not do that, but Satan uses his charlatans to do enormous damage to people’s emotions and their finances.

As for these spectacular “Pentecostal gifts,” they ended with the completion of the foundation of the Church at the end of the first century, for the Church’s foundation was laid by the Apostles and Prophets, and then the prophetic gifts ceased. Ephesians 2:20-21 “having been BUILT UPON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.”

Arising from these movements has come The Prosperity Doctrine, a satanic gospel of greed. The more you give to God, the more He will give you in return. It is very similar to the Cargo Cult from Papua New Guinea, if you know what that is. The reality is, what you think you are giving to God, you are actually giving to these Balaams and wicked men and women who live in absolute luxury at the expense of desperate souls hoping to get healed. God’s judgment on these men and women in hell will be severe. They are as bad as Judas.

I am going to recommend an exposé of these false teachers’ greed and Satan’s men ripping people off everywhere; the great mansions they live in. It is really worth watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfr8Y8H7LZU

Once a church begins practicing stuff that is not strictly biblical, it will lead to thorny pathways of internal problems and fully lack God’s approval and blessing. Examine everything in the careful wording of the Bible. Satan loves to lead every Christian astray.

So much discredit has come upon the church because of people like Benny Hinn and so many more I won’t name. That is Satan’s ruse – bring dishonor upon churches of God’s people because of Satan’s men.

Satan will play on people’s greed and on the desperate ones seeking blessing and healing. Banish these men and women from your view and seek only the purity of the Bible.

Part 7 will come at a later date.

ronaldf@aapt.net.au

Anticipation of Home :: By Dennis Huebshman

In 1971, singer Carly Simon wrote a song called “Anticipation” as she waited for her date, another singer of that day, Cat Stevens, to pick her up. While this particular song has nothing to do with the end of this era, we can relate to that feeling as we await our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to come and take all true believers for our “ultimate date.” For those who have received and accepted His gift of eternal Salvation, this will absolutely be the most joyous occasion that we will ever have here. (ESV – all emphasis is mine)

Far too many people are looking for the ultimate gift, the ultimate joy, the ultimate personal satisfaction, and even the ultimate love through what this world supposedly has to offer. This would best be described as; “Looking for Love In All The Wrong Places”, as the song title states in a song by Johnny Lee in 1980.

The truest form of love we will ever experience is given in one of the most popular Bible verses ever: John 3:16; “For God so loved the world, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Our one and only true creator could have been totally different and ruled over us with an iron fist and with absolutely no tolerance of our feelings at all.

There are stipulations that He has made for us to be able to receive our eternal home with Him, and to some people, they seem very difficult to follow. John 3:17-18; “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

While believing is one of the elements, another is admitting we are all sinners, and without a true Savior, we deserve eternal punishment. This is clarified in Romans 6:23; “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.”

Finally, we have to call out to our Savior to forgive us, come into our hearts, and be our eternal Shepherd. Three verses that state this fact are Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, and Romans 10:13.

Combined, these three actions on our part make up the ABCs of Salvation (Romans 10:9-13). Admit we’re sinners; Believe Jesus is the true Son of God and His sacrifice was to conquer eternal death for all who Call on Him to be their eternal Savior. What’s hard for some is believing that we can personally do no works or deeds or pay for any part of our way into Heaven.

Jesus came here willingly to be our perfect sacrifice (John 10:18), and He could have stopped the process at any time. However, as John 10:16 states, He came not only for God’s chosen people, the Jews, but for all other sheep as well. This included every living, breathing soul of His day and everyone who would exist from then on. This includes you and me.

Our Heavenly Father is a perfect God and could accept no less than perfection as payment for our sin debts. He allowed the blood of animals and birds for a time until the permanent sin-free sacrifice could be made. Hebrews 10:4 is very specific; “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

Jesus is a part of the Triune Godhead, and as such, was a part of our creation. His actions on our part are given in Philippians 2:5-8; “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped; but emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Because of His gift to all mankind, is it any wonder that Philippians 2:9-11 follows this perfectly with; “Therefore, God has highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”?

When we realize Ephesians 2:8-9 is complete, we can finally receive and accept Jesus as our Shepherd and be a part of His precious flock of true believers. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.”

For those who have received and accepted Jesus, as long as we are in these human forms, we will still slip and sin. Our Heavenly Father knows this and has made provisions for our redemption while we are in this fallible state. In 1 John 1:8-10, we read, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

This world is getting more evil each and every day. We are witnessing events that were spoken of in God’s word, telling of signs near the end of this age. Instead of the wasted anticipation spoken of using Ms. Simon’s song in a Catsup commercial, would it not be better to gain positive anticipation through the reading of our Father’s love letter to us?

Some will refuse to read and accept the true word of God, which is indicated in 1 Corinthians 1:18; “For the word of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” Those perishing souls are purposely accepting the lies of Satan, and Jesus knew there would be more of them than those who would follow Him (Matthew 7:13-14).

For someone who has never read the word of the Father in a true interpretation of the Bible, the best way to find one would be through a Christian bookstore. Sadly, there are false prophets who have taken to the pulpits of previously evangelical churches and are tweaking the word to fit their causes. Personally reading the true word for oneself can make a difference to each individual.

Romans 8:1 states, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” John 14:6 tells us, “And Jesus said to him; I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”

First-time readers would do well to read the book of John and then Romans. After that, start with Matthew and read through Revelation. Just before starting to read each day, I have found it helps to ask the Father to provide more understanding of what He wants me to know. By doing this, I have found His word becomes clearer and more understandable.

Catchy tunes can be fun to hear, but true understanding is that our Father loves us completely and wants us to know His word is true. Titus 1:2 specifically states that God cannot lie.

No one can say the Rapture will be at a specific moment. Only our Heavenly Triune Godhead knows the exact day, hour, minute, and second. Rest assured, it will happen just as described in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.

Meanwhile, we sit in anticipation, and one day, we will suddenly be in the presence of the Savior. Please don’t miss His call to rise up to meet Him in the air. Your eternal home is your choice, and the Father will force no one to accept His Son. It will either be Heaven with Jesus or hell with Satan. There is no other choice available.

Once you take your last breath on this earth, your eternity is set for one of the two places mentioned above. If you end up in the line at the Great White Throne, there will be no forgiveness or pardons there. The purpose of that judgment is to determine the degree of each person’s eternal punishment.

If you end up at the Judgment Seat of Christ, you will gain or lose rewards for whatever you did on this earth, but the end result is still eternity in paradise with the Savior, just as He promised the thief on the cross.

Call out to Jesus today to forgive you and to be your eternal Savior. From that moment on, you, too, will be in Anticipation of Home with Him forever.

Maranatha! (Come, Lord Jesus!)

Huebshman46@gmail.com