ARCHIVE NUMBER NINE
JAN 2002

Changes All Round

(all spelling and phraseology is UK English)

We have embarked on another New year. At this time it's traditional to look back over the previous year and ahead to the next, thinking about the challenges that lie ahead.

Changes to Website

The Cross+Word website is now showing its age. It's been around since 1994/95 and many of the articles date from that time - which doesn't make them any less relevant, but I think it's time for a change.

As you know from my previous News Updates, the focus and aim of the discernment ministry is changing, too, and the site changes will reflect that new focus.

I intend to start overhauling the site and tidying up its many pages. This is a huge project and will take a lot of time, so you will not notice changes overnight. I'm working entirely on my own, coping with the demands of this ministry as well as creating and maintaining this website and one or two others, so the work will progress only as I find time for it.

However, if things go well, I hope that a cleaner, neater and more accessible site will emerge.

The need for preparation

As each year passes, we draw nearer to the coming of the Lord! Now, with the world changing all around us, that Day seems closer than ever, but it brings along with it new pressures and new opportunities. It also means that we have to be sure that we are ready.

One prominent leader in the revival said that he saw the White Horse of Revelation straining to come onto the world scene in 1982. He identified the rider as Christ, but I believe he was the Spirit of Antichrist! - a false "christ" who would woo the Bride and cause her to commit spiritual adultery with him. (See my study "The Beginning of Sorrows")

There is good reason to trace the start of the present wave of apostasy to 1982 (although its roots go further back) and now that we are in the year 2002 we see that God has graciously allowed twenty years for Christians to reject this heresy and return to Him.

But despite this, the error has persisted and grown. There has been a hardening of hearts as more and more Christians REFUSE to listen to the voice of God, and angrily turn their backs on correction. They have freely chosen to continue in heresy!

Because of this, another change has come. I believe that the Lord is preparing to pour out judgement - they will be given over to what they desire! None will be able to stay God's hand in this - not the discernment ministries nor apologetics teachers, nor the prayers of the saints.

The Mystery of God's Plan

In one sense, the very reason for God's sending out of prophets to speak against apostasy is to firm up the error and bring it to fulness!

Although reaching out to those going astray IS an act of mercy by God at the same time it's a necessary preparation for judgement. God already knows those who will reject him, and in some cases sends out prophets in hopeless situations (Ezek 3:4-7) knowing that no good will come of it, and the prophet will be not only violently rejected but killed.

So why send a prophet whose voice is not going to be heeded? In order that God can righteously and justly judge those who defy him!

Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth...Matt 23:34-35

Without a warning voice, people could argue in their own defense that they had not been warned. But once they have heard and acknowledged correction, their refusal to comply is taken by God as a confirmation of their error, and judgement can follow.

Look at the statement of Jesus here:

Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains. John 9:40-41

By their own admission, the Pharisees said that they SAW the truth and UNDERSTOOD the scriptures. Therefore they were self-condemned, because they would not obey the Living Word. If they had been blind to truth, they would not have been judged for wilful disobedience.

Similarly, by making the apostate churches aware of their error, and telling Christians who attend such churches that they are violating scriptural norms and grieving the Spirit of God, their blindness is removed and they SEE. Having seen, if they wilfully continue then they are judged for disobedience.

It is the task of those who are called to be Voices of Correction to the Church, to make known the word of God, the plumbline of truth, and allow people to measure themselves by it. Those who do not measure up have the responsibility to correct themselves and repent. If they do not, we must leave them there. We can do no more.

Ultimately, because of sin, the 'voices' will be drowned out, thrown out or removed. It is an indication that the hardening of hearts is reaching its peak, and judgement will follow.

And now, because you have done all these works," says the LORD, "and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer, therefore I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brethren--the whole posterity of Ephraim. Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you. Jer 7: 13-16

That time is fast approaching - although in my opinion the "judgement" will take the form of an apparent upsurge in activity and power for the Apostate Church!

That would appear to be a vindication of the revival and its prophecies and I'm sure it would be taken that way by its supporters. But getting your own way is not always a blessing.

They soon forgot his works; they waited not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. Ps 106:12-15

And also when they demanded a king to rule over them (instead of God!) See 1 Sam 8:6-20.

The only reason God would take his foot off the brake and allow the apostasy to run free would be to bring disobedience to the full, (thereby demonstrating its nature to any who truly love God).

God hardens the hearts

Some argue that God will never stop trying to change a person's mind. Not so. God will always grieve that a man or woman has chosen the wrong path, but there is a time and a season for all things.

Sometimes when we determine to go a certain way, the outcome is inevitable and there is no turning back:

Esau - he gave away his inheritance for a stew; later he realised what he'd done and changed his mind, but it was TOO LATE. "For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears." Heb 12:17

The Israelites - they came to the land God promised them but refused to enter it. They "believed an evil report" and were afraid. God therefore told them they would return to the wilderness for forty years, whereupon they changed their minds! But it was TOO LATE.

Then Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, "Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the LORD has promised, for we have sinned!" Then Moses said, "Now why do you transgress the command of the LORD? For this will not succeed. Do not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the LORD is not among you". ... Num 14:39-45

"So I spoke to you; yet you would not listen, but rebelled against the command of the LORD, and presumptuously went up into the mountain. And the Amorites who dwelt in that mountain came out against you and chased you as bees do, and drove you back from Seir to Hormah. Then you returned and wept before the LORD, but the LORD would not listen to your voice nor give ear to you. Deut 1:43-46

Free Will and Predestination

But we are balancing two eternal truths here: the will of man and the foreknowledge and predetermined plan of God. We can never hope to understand these things fully, but we see glimpses in scripture of both these truths in equal measure.

In the opinion of some believers who see only love, mercy and forgiveness in God, he must continue to reason with and argue and warn the most hardened reprobates - for ever! For they believe that by much prayer and hard work everybody can be won round eventually.

In the bible we see a loving God who went so far as to send his only Son to plead with mankind, to the laying down of his own life! YET this loving merciful God WILL call the apostates to account when he knows the time has come - and no one will stand in his way. Then prayer will be rejected:

Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, Because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. Prov 1:24-31

And at that time he will even harden their hearts to reason, to give them over to error. Disagree? The bible says so!

And the LORD said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. Ex 4:21

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth."
Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? Rom 9:14-21

When God decides that a man or nation is ripe for judgement, he makes sure that judgement falls, and no man can prevent it.

And the LORD said, 'Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?' So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, 'I will persuade him.' The LORD said to him, 'In what way?' So he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And the LORD said, 'You shall persuade him and also prevail; go out and do so.' Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you. 2 Chron 18:19-20

In the endtimes, despite all his lovingkindness, patience and warnings, when the time comes and people will not listen, "God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thess 2:11-12)

God's Will Prevails

On the one hand we see God raising up voices to warn people about the perils of false teaching; on the other hand we see God hardening their hearts! To us this seems like a contradiction, but not from the viewpoint of God, who knows all things. He knows already who is destined to stay the course and who is not. (That does not remove from them the obligation to obey God, nor our obligation to warn them).

It was God who closed the door of the Ark and sent the flood. It is God who closes the door of heaven in the last days, and those who remain outside are told TOO LATE! You had your chances to obey God and now like Esau, like Pharoah, and like the fearful Israelites you must endure God's decision and bow to His will in the matter.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Matt 25:10-13

When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,' then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.' But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. Luke 13:25-28

In allowing Adam free rein, God foreknew the plan of salvation. In choosing Jacob over Esau (Rom 9:10-23), God was putting in place the bloodline that led to the birth of Jesus; in hardening Pharoah's heart he was ensuring that a generation of Egyptians were removed from power so that the Israelites could be established in their inheritance.

God is the Master Potter and man is the clay, but at the same time man has free will that God will not violate! If that is too mysterious for you, the join the club. We are not asked to understand it, but believe it.

God will respect your freewill choice, even if it's the wrong one! He will not force anyone to obey Him, nor stop anyone disobeying him, though he will move heaven and earth to convince them of the right choice.

God gave Adam the gift of freewill and self-determination, and would not violate that principle even though Adam made the wrong choice and blighted his life for ever.

Therefore, how painstaking and diligent we should be to make sure that we DO heed the voice of the Lord, especially at this time.

Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Heb 10:28-31)

Changes in the Global Church

God is changing the Church, and that, in turn, will change the world. Millions of Christians around the world are aware of an imminent reformation of global proportions...In rediscovering the gospel of salvation by faith and grace alone, Luther started to reform the Church through a reformation of theology. In the 18th century through movements like the Moravians there was a recovery of a new intimacy with God, which led to a reformation of spirituality, the Second Reformation. Now God is touching the wineskins themselves, initiating a Third Reformation, a reformation of structure. ("15 Theses towards a Reformation of the Church" by Wolfgang Simson)

According to the thinking of today, the main or only task left for the Church is to 'change the world' into a God-fearing, christianised kingdom into which Jesus can return as Lord. This is not in fact what the bible says about the latter days, but the biblical scenario if often viewed as "doom and gloom" and defeatism, whereas creating a glorious kingdom on earth and promoting the Church to renown and glory is seen as a worthy goal. (Despite the fact God has not promised any such thing!)

For this to happen, it is said that we need A THIRD REFORMATION, and this one will be an APOSTOLIC Reformation in which a "foundational role is given to apostles and prophets" and the five-fold ministry.

In this scenario, the cleansing and reformation of the Church will be organised by creating cells that link to one another in networks, headed by elders submitted to apostles, all of whom join to create the City Church, a longtime dream of the Latter Rain Movement.

To that end, the cell-church movement is becoming more popular and more prominent, as many believers look for an alternative to dead denominations or abusive mega-churches in the revival and are attracted to the home environment and small-scale fellowship and freedom such cells appear to provide.

Changes in the Church are in fact sorely needed and we could all do with a genuine renewal of doctrine, love, holiness and power - BUT the plan for renewal is in God's hands and none can achieve this but the Holy Spirit himself - in God's own way and in his own time.

I see a great danger here; that those who have escaped from the revival and are thirsting for fellowship will be gathered into part of the SAME movement but by a different net - the cell-church movement operating under the leadership of the New Apostles such as Chuck Pierce and Peter Wagner.

Third Day Church

Allied to this move is the teaching about the THIRD DAY. So-called third-day churches are springing up as "alternatives" to denominations and again they seem to provide a haven from the revival manifestations.

I am reminded of the scripture:

As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Amos 5:19

Just when Christians have fled from the revival and think they are safe, in their own houses, there is still a serpent lurking! We cannot afford to drop our guard simply because the revival seems to have gone into a lull. The first phase is dying away, but the second and more deadly phase will follow, and this time discernment ministries will be unable to stem the flow - the tide is coming in fast and it is a flood that can only be withstood in the power of the Holy Spirit and by absolute trust and faith in God. (See Isa 59:19 and Nahum 1:7-10)

These are things that no "discernment ministry" can teach you - you find these things in your own prayer room, at the feet of Jesus!

The third-day concept is yet another popular movement that is vying for attention in the chaos and confusion. Its aim is identical, however, to all the other moves:

On several occasions, history has provided the needed critical mass and the synergistic inertia to thrust the church into breaking out of its box and becoming the force in culture and society that God intended it to be. [my emphasis] The first occasion, obviously, was the birth of the church at Pentecost...... The second occasion, was the 16th Century Reformation......Today, the church, at the dawning of the 21st Century, has once again reached this “critical mass.” It’s something so big and so obvious that the winds of change demand we look hard at our forms and face the reality that a different church must provide a different response to a post-modern age.

This Third Millennium (“a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day”), or this “Third Day” requires a “Third Way” of being the church. For too many years, form and tradition have led the way, with the form(s) remaining painfully constant from generation to generation. The forms of the “first day church” must now be reevaluated, and lifeless programs and traditions of men be allowed to die in the “second day church” so that the resurrected “third day church” can be expressed and enjoyed.

Remember "...on the third day, anything can happen.” It now appears that a growing fraternity of churches, leaders, and ministries across the nation are ready to obey the wind of the Spirit. They are ready to obey the wind of change and to welcome, no, beckon, an experimentation of radical, new, and creative ways of “doing” and “being” the church in the third millennium.

The Winds of Change references above refer to prophecies and visions, including one by Bob Jones in which he supposedly saw a huge angel called "Winds of Change" that had been released to bring the winds of change to the Church, aiding it in the transition imminently ahead. These winds will "fill the sails of the Church to aid her on her spiritual journey and the restoration of her great heritage". (Spirit of the Nicolaitans)

So we see already the connection between the Third-Day Church and the false prophecies of the dominionist movements.

Although those who write publicly about these things rarely spell out the roots of their doctrine, the origins of the "third day" go back several hundred years to teachings about a golden age for the Church on earth and its role as God's Government during the millennium.

In 1995 I did a series of presentations about the Gnostic roots of all this revival heresy, and one of the major planks of the antichrist doctrine, in my opinion, was the "third day" teaching of Joachim of Fiore, a 12th century monk who proposed a future third 'day' of spiritual renewal for the Church.

At that time, I had no idea that there would ever be such a thing as a "third-day church" movement in reality, as my series was a speculation on the roots of the error and its possible outcome.

Even I was surprised at the speed with which all this heresy about which I had surmised sprang into life and took shape in reality.

Rather than repeat it all here, I urge you to read the background information on the Third Day concept in this article: "The New Thing" sections 3a and 3b.

Joachim of Fiore, a Cistercian monk, proposed three "ages" for mankind, roughly relating to the Ages of the Father, Son and Spirit. After the first two ages had run their course, Joachim proposed a new age, the Age of the Spirit, when the Church would be transformed, become powerful and perfected, and receive the knowledge of all things by direct revelation.

Joachim saw the Age of the Father as carnal, the Age of the Son as partly carnal and partly spiritual (a soulish age), but the Third Age would be pure spirit; people everywhere would have inner light and wisdom.

Now we can go to the Third Day Church website and be told: "Welcome to the "Third Day!" - does that give anyone chills?

Some research links:

• http://members.ozemail.com.au/~rseaborn/apostles.html
• http://www.thegreentree.org.au/issachar.htm
• http://www.thirddaychurches.com/

Changes All Over Europe

January 2002 saw the introduction across Europe (apart from the UK) of the Euro as the Single European Currency. The UK is under great pressure to accept the same currency.

The last time Europe had a single currency was during the days of the Roman Empire! Now we are returning to the days when a single political, financial, social, legal, military and religious force is taking centre stage ready for its role in the endtimes.

As one observer says: "An end of an era, and the beginning of a new one ... the United States of Europe (with German domination) is coming into being, where the harlot religious system gains more power riding on the back of the Beast. What Hitler could not achieve militarily and with brute force, is being done by stealth, subterfuge, and diplomacy, five to six decades down the road, in accordance with the Treaty of Rome. What can we expect in the near future? The US of A's dismissal as the great world superpower, with the rise of the new great world superpower of the US of E!"

Changes in Israel

Things are coming to a head in Israel, and that means, for Christians, we know that the prophetic timetable is near to completion. It is reported that Arafat is now in an untenable position and there is open talk of either removing him or sending him into exile. He is hemmed in both politically and physically and has not only lost control of his own people but has lost their trust and respect as well.

This report (unverified by me) just in:

Arafat Burns Last Bridges to Oslo, Declares War

23 January: DEBKA file’s military sources report that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has ordered his 20,000-man police force to take to the war field – a drastic step that moves his confrontation with Israel into the realm of full-scale belligerence. Militarizing his police force is more than just another blatant violation of the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords, which established the Palestinian Authority and allowed it to establish a police force confined to civilian duties; it is their death blow.

Arafat fully comprehends the international, diplomatic and legal consequences of his action. Wednesday, the Palestinian Authority’s secretary, Abdul Rahman, clearly declared all Palestinian accords with Israel null and void.

Throughout his 15-month Intifada, Arafat held back from burning his last bridges to Oslo. By and large, he kept the Palestinian Authority’s police force clear of Palestinian terrorist operations against Israel, aside from logistics support for terror squads.

...On Monday January 21, a top Palestinian police officer, Gen. Abdel-Razek al-Majaydeh, announced over Iranian television that “Palestinian forces” would henceforth be taking full and active part in the war against Israel.

...DEBKAfile’s military experts note that the Palestinian police force is not an irregular militia like the Tanzim or a terrorist gang like the Aqsa Brigades, but an organized regular corps with a command hierarchy, an operations arm, intelligence, an advanced communications network and considerable mobility. It is equipped with hundreds of vehicles, some armored, donated mainly by the United States, the UK, Germany, France and Italy, as well as being amply armed with automatic weapons, including heavy machine guns.

From 'messinews' e-mail group.

Some Changes Considered

Violence never again!
War never again!
Terrorism never again!
In God's name,
may all religions bring upon earth
justice and peace,
forgiveness, life and love!

"[In coming to Assisi], we will show that genuine religious belief is an inexhaustible wellspring of mutual respect and harmony among peoples; indeed it is the chief antidote to violence and conflict" (From the Message for the 2002 World Day of Peace, No. 14).

Fears and dangers, economic troubles, and social disorder is already uniting the political powers; and the desire to oppose terrorism has drawn the monotheistic religions into an uneasy pact. Therefore the stage is being set for the New World Order of united humanity - but united against God himself!!

Just as the bible says, in the latter day man will worship idols of money, sensual pleasure and above all himself, losing sight of the basic norms of human nature in the process. Unspeakable crimes increase, while the conscience grows numb, inoculated against blood and gore by computer games and movies, taught to hate, kill and oppose anything that stands in the way of their desires.

Obedience to God, knowledge of the bible and adherence to the Ten Commandments is being wiped away by another creed - the Luciferic adage: do what you will! Discipline and self-sacrifice is out - along with courage, loyalty, honesty, fidelity and every good human trait.

Man who cannot get what he wants, resorts to anger and violence - road rage, aircraft rage, domestic abuse, child abuse and all kind of violence is on the increase. I believe that we will see street riots, and uncontrollable outbursts of anger amongst ordinary folk in ordinary circumstances such as the workplace, cinema, restaurants etc.

As a result, another and more dangerous trend will appear, that of abandoning national laws that protect the rights and privacies of the individual, in favour of quick-fix solutions to try and "fight evil with good". The "good" will in fact be a humanistic ideal, not biblical doctrine, but nonetheless Christians who are tired of the dangers and problems of everyday living will welcome such moves with open hearts, and persecute any who oppose them. Especially as many of these solutions will be proposed by religious leaders!

Increasingly, therefore, we will see a divide between true believers and the Global Church which is set on a dominionist agenda, and veering towards unity with the World. True believers, like Lot who was daily grieved by what he heard and saw in Sodom, will seek out like-minded fellowship even though it may demand great personal sacrifice.

True believers will despair of the greed, hype and glory-seeking of the current churches, and long for purity, holiness and simplicity. They will once more know themselves to be a persecuted minority and will turn to their heavenly hope rather than worldly achievements and pleasures.

Some will take steps to develop their faith and grow in grace; while others will throw off even the appearance of restraint and indulge themselves in full-blown spiritual manifestations and heresies without a check.

The two camps will come into sharp dispute, leading to greater and greater persecution. No longer will the Christian path be soft and easy, but we will know it as the Narrow Way that is costly and demanding.

The choices will be stark - laying down one's life to go the way of the Cross, or being incorporated into the apostasy. However, in such a climate of darkness the light of truth shines out even brighter for those who look for it. God will have his way amongst his remnant people, and powerful evangelism and renewal will take place, I believe, bringing genuine miracles - though at a time of great spiritual danger and pressure.

Years ago I saw the flood tide coming in, and what it left behind were corpses washed up on the beaches like flotsam and jetsam. These lifeless bodies are the ones God will care for in the latter-day, setting up inconspicuous centres of teaching, renewal, healing, deliverance and counsel, as well as fellowship. All who cry out to God for help will be reached one way or another. But this is something that CANNOT be 'organised' and no man will be in control or get the glory.

It will take place in an atmosphere of great opposition, intolerance and anger, with lies, rumours, accusations and slanders abounding. It will require great courage and steadfast faith in the Lord to walk on.

Yet God stands ready to provide ALL we need in the days to come!

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