THE LAST DAYS

Anita Clark

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth...If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness” I Timothy 4:1-3, 6-7.

Note that the Holy Spirit “speaks expressly” which means in the original Greek, “to describe, show in out spoken or distinct way.” The Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Paul is warning us of conditions and errors of the last days. In one respect the Church Age is the “last days,” the sixth of the dispensations in which God has dealt with man. We are getting close to the seventh dispensation of The Kingdom Age, also called The Millennial (one thousand year period) in which Jesus Christ reigns.

In the “later times” Apostle Paul says, the Spirit speaks that “some will depart from the faith.” This departure began in Paul’s day. He stood against legalism in his epistle to the Galatians. In another place he spoke of the error of some saying, “resurrection is past already.” He spoke another time of some who had “made shipwreck of the faith.” However, error is more and more rampant today than in Paul’s day. We are appalled at some of the events of the last month, which show compromising of some who claim to be Spiritual.

Paul’s description of this falsity which would come in the last days leaves little to the imagination as to of whom he is speaking. The apostasy of the false church is recorded here in such plain language, speaking loudly that we need not be mislead. In verse one he says there will be a “departing from the faith.” First came legality - salvation by works instead of faith only, to obtain salvation. Despite the council of Acts 15, many continued to believe that you had to do certain good works to be saved or keep saved. “Seducing spirits” began to get a foothold in many of those who proclaimed themselves to be ministers of God. Paul spoke of Satan’s false prophets being “transformed into angel of light.” Also, verse three, speaking of “forbidding to marry,” and “abstaining from meats” is exactly the doctrine of having to abstain from certain meats on certain days, doctrines taken partly from Judaism but distorted somewhat. Also, forbidding priests to marry, which was never part of the true doctrine of the Word of God. The Apostle Peter, whom the Catholic Church says is their first pope, had a mother-in law as recorded in the Gospels.

Over time many false doctrines were added to the Romish church, such as using prayer beads as heathen idolaters use, praying to idols, trusting “saints” for protection instead of trusting in the Lord God, praying to Mary, which contradicts Scripture since the Word of God says, “For there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Doing Penance is another false teaching, for we receive nothing from God by human effort or works. All forgiveness is by grace through faith. Even to this present time “indulgences” so called benefits for special works are given. At one time these were given out for anyone who made known to Church Authorities if someone was not following all the Church doctrines or beliefs. Many true believers in Christ were tortured and slaughtered because of this.

The first three hundred years, after Christ died, the church suffered great persecution at the hands of the Roman government. But, in the time of Constantine the Great, about 313 A.D., he legalized Christian worship. Then, he felt his place as Emperor of Rome was to enforce Church policy for the “Spiritual health” of his subjects. Daniel 7:25 speaks of “wearing out the saints of the Most High,” is certainly what happened in history as to the persecution of believers in Christ who did not follow the edicts of the church. Read church history to verify what I am saying.

The Roman Catholic Church instituted the high office of the Pope, calling him the Vicar of Christ. The term “vicar” comes from the Latin word vicarious, which means “instead of.” to call the pope the “vicar of Christ” implies that he has the same power and authority that Christ has over the church. Hebrews 7:16-17 speaking of Jesus Christ, “Who is made not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For He testifieth, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.” And verses 24-26 say, “But this man, because He continues ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.”

POPE FRANCIS - A JESUIT - He is the first Jesuit Pope. Some in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church are concerned about this. One of those said, “Jesuits aren’t supposed to be in positions of authority.” They are sort of like another branch of the Catholicism and have a history of being the warriors of the Church. They are responsible for much persecution of true Christians in centuries past. There are 18,000 members at the present.

Jesuits take an oath recorded in the Journals of the 62nd Congress, 3rd Session of the United States Congressional record (from which it was subsequently torn out). One part of the oath is, “I have been taught my duty as a spy, to gather all statistics, facts and information in my power from every source; to ingratiate myself into the confidence of the family circle of Protestants and heretics of every class and character, as well as that of the banker, the lawyer, among the schools and universities, in parliaments and legislatures, and judiciaries and councils of state, and be all things to all men, for the Pope’s sake, whose servant I am until death.”

POPE FRANCIS MEETS WITH TELEVANGELISTS – In July several Charamatic Televangelists made special visits to Pope Francis. These ministers expressed the Church need to be reunited with “the Mother Church” so made their trip to Rome to visit the Pope. Joel Osteen went a week before the Copeland group made up of Kenneth Copeland, James Robison, and other charismatic believers. The meeting was held very informally around a wooden table, where they ate with the Pope. We note that these ministers are all of those who teach so called “prosperity teaching.” The essence of this teaching is that if you have faith you will be wealthy and also healthy - that lack of these things shows a lack of faith according to their doctrine. These leaders are being greatly deceived, citing Jesus prayer in John 17:21, where He prayed, “That they may be one; as Thou Father, art in me, and I in Thee...” The Church is already one through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Kenneth Copeland played a recording at his church, where the Pope spoke from earlier this year where Francis spoke on a smart phone camera and called on Christians to set aside their differences.” This shows the subtlety of Satan at work. The vow Pope Francis took as a Jesuit, quoted above says, that he will ingratiate himself, and become all things to all men,” this in order to deceive many.

The Pope’s predecessor, Benedict XVI, regularly bemoaned the decline of Christianity (Catholicism) in his native Germany and across Europe. In contrast, the Argentine Francis comes from a region where competition from Pentecostalism is one of the biggest challenges facing the Catholic Church. It seems that he is moving to deceive these believers, by pretending to go along with them. Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians share much in common. Together they make up at least 584 million people in the world, one in four Christians world wide, according to the Pew Research Center.

Recently, the Pope met with 50,000 charismatic Christians in Rome’s Olympic Stadium. He said, “In the early years of the charismatic renewal (as the movement is called) in Buenos Aires, I did not have much love for charismatics.” Seemingly, now, since Catholicism is losing so many thousand members, he is willing to compromise, which appears to be a ruse to draw “lost sheep” back into the fold.

In this large stadium in Rome on June 2, 2014, the Pope knelt on stage, while the crowd prayed with their hands raised toward him that the Holy Spirit would fill him. Many spoke in tongues during this time. The Pope invited them to come to the Vatican to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary reunion of the Charismatic belief, which began in 1967 on the Feast of Pentecost in 2017. This is Satanic deception. We pray that no true believer will be deceived.

Ecumenicalism (meaning ‘representing the whole Christian world) started several years ago, and has grown into two great bodies - the World Council of Churches (W.C.C.) and the National Council of Churches (N.C.C.). The main aim of these movements is to bring churches of all denominations and cults, and ultimately, all religious organizations together as One Ecumenical World Church. Bible Prophecy of a Super church is now being fulfilled. For many years, there is much courtship between the WCC and Roman Cat holicism is moving along. Gradually mainline churches have compromised the truth for unity’s sake. This will create one great super church, which will be “hand-in glove” with the Antichrist during the tribulation. This will completely come together after the true church is resurrected and translated to heaven in its ranks. The One World Church will be in full sway during the tribulation period and many will be deceived. Even now many are deceived.

Revelation 17 & 18 speak of the judgment of the False Church - The true Church made up of every believer in Christ will be in heaven with the Lord, when the false system will be judged during the seven years of tribulation with all the error of this false system. Revelation 18:4 implores, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not her plagues.” We have the privilege to stand for the Truth now. We rejoice in the precious dynamic truth of the pure Word of God. Make your stand against this error of the last days.


HOME WITH THE LORD

Pastor and teacher, Brother Ben Morgan, went to be with His Lord, whom he loved and served faithfully in the ministry of the Gospel since his youth. He will be greatly missed, his life was certainly poured out for others. He was faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10) and the promise is a crown of life. He fought a good fight, finished his course, keeping the faith, loving the Lord’s appearing like the Apostle Paul - II Tim. 4:6-8.