Cedric Fisher: "earnestly contending for the faith."

After the Working of Satan

In Matthew 24:24, Christ warned about an end time deception that would be very effective, even against the believers, if that were possible.  His and other biblical warnings are seldom mentioned in the circles of heretics.  It is like a corporate moratorium has been declared against confronting heresy.  That has at least two effects on discernment.  First, it opens the gates wide so that anything can come in.  I say “anything,” but I mean it is actually anything but truth.  Second, it nearly annihilates any quest for truth.

Heresy has replaced truth as most desirable by professing Christians.  It has become so clever that it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference.  The heretics use, and teach their deluded subjects to use, Christian terms.  In fact, it is nearly impossible to discern between people with the form of godliness, and the ones with true godliness.  The former deny the power of godliness, and the latter embrace it.  Further, the former involve the flesh in everything religious.  The latter involve the Holy Spirit.

Godliness in the Greek, is eusebia, which means, “reverence, respect, and piety toward God.”  The mark of most heretics and their subjects is that they do not possess these qualities.  Consider the way they carelessly handle the word of God, adding words, or leaving words out, to force it to their particular conclusion.  They misinterpret clear verses, misquote God’s word, and then defend the misquote as if it were truth. The major error is, taking God’s word out of context.  This shows an irreverence and disrespect for God’s word.  If they do not reverence and respect His word, how can they reverence and respect God?  Further, how can they love Him?

The apostle Paul also prophesied a coming great deception, delusion, and apostasy.  Consider very carefully his words.  This is essential to understanding what is happening today.

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” – 2 Thess. 2:9-10

The NKJV says “according to” and the KJV says “after the working of” Satan.  The implication is the same.  It means that the lawless one, who is the Antichrist, will not manifest until after the working of Satan with all power, signs, lying wonders, and unrighteous deception.  First, it sounds like the time we are living in right now.  Second, it means that the Antichrist will find the religious realm prepared for him.  Professing Christians obsessed with signs and wonders are primary targets.  The ones who flit about chasing every heretic with a new twist, and every false prophet that glibly spills out his prophesies, will already be completely prepared to accept the Antichrist.  They will have no clue that it is him!   That time is now!

Will they not recognize pure evil?  No!  They do not recognize the working of Satan today, although it is having devastating consequences.  They do not recognize books, such as those by Sarah Young, Ann Voskamp, and Rick Warren (to name a few) that are heretical and damaging to Christianity.  In fact, by the millions they buy books by Rob Bell, Rick Warren, and other heretics.  They attend conferences and other events that use major heretics as speakers.  They join in ecumenism with false religions.  They love the false prophets and their lying signs and wonders.

They cannot recognize a false prophet or prophecy, and sit by the thousands under ministers who are incredible heretics.  Even when their heretic is caught in homosexual pedophilia, they may give him a standing ovation and crown him as a king (see Bishop Eddie Long).  Their heretic commits adultery, consorts with male or female prostitutes, uses drugs, and lives in complete luxury, yet the adulaters never cease to adore him or her.

They worship with demons during worship services being led by unrighteous people, using music written by unrighteous people.  They throw off all the restraints on their flesh, and call it a “move of the Holy Spirit.”

One more factor is, they have no genuine scriptural standard and are taught to abhor one when it is presented.  Their standard is to accept and defend the working of Satan.  Anyone who opposes it will be rejected and even personally attacked.  It is a very common and repeated paradigm.

What can be done?  Sadly, we are in the last days.  There is nothing in God’s word that says we can get through to them and deliver them.  We should try.  We do not know the depth someone may be toward accepting the working of Satan.  We should also never underestimate the power of the word of God when used by the Holy Spirit.  God’s word indicates that many will not be delivered.  I have witnessed clear evidence of this fact when reaching out to them.

The factor that will cause them to accept truth is love for truth.  They reject it.  When that occurs, it is clearly indicated by their disrespect for God and His word.  It is also indicated by their reaction when truth is presented against their heresy.  They have no scriptural response.  Heretics have convinced an entire generation or more to venture outside of God’s word for their “evidence” or premise.  By removing the restriction to using extra-biblical knowledge for the establishing of doctrine and practices, they have consigned their followers to a path without a compass.  Satan will be very happy to provide directions.

To avoid this fatal snare, one must first be committed to the word of God.  One must pray, and not just a few minutes each day.  He or she must be willing to endure rejection, verbal harassment, and ostracization by friends and possibly family. One must avoid everything new.  Avoid the crowd.  The crowd today is the broad-path group.  Reject everything that troubles the Holy Spirit.  Cultivate the spiritual eyes and ears by studying God’s word.  Recognize that you are in an unprecedented battle.  Find a group of like-minded believers, no matter how small it is.  Finally, don’t become obsessed with anything in the world system.  Make your greatest love Christ Jesus and His truth.

26 Comments

  1. Emanuel galea

    All I can say is amen brother, I’m old enough to remember the moves of God back in the 60’s and its nothing even close to what’s going on today, false prophets have invaded the church and Christian broadcasting as well, thank you for not being afraid of speaking the truth…

  2. Friend

    Amen! Those caught in the deception still have time to repent. We do not know for how much longer, though. We bring them the truth and then pray for them. Thank you for this message.

  3. john

    Thank you. Much needed. Linking.

  4. john

    Hi, is there supposed to be an “in” in this sentence?

    His and other biblical warnings are seldom mentioned the circles of heretics.

    • C.H. Fisher

      Lol, yes. I guess my editor missed it.

    • GG

      I have to laugh. Another grammar nazi.

  5. David Tiffany

    I’m glad you wrote this blog post. My wife and I were talking this morning about how it has become more and more difficult to find a place to worship with other believers as the result of what’s been going on. We travel the country because of my work, and we have attended many “churches.” We’re finding more and more of them have been infiltrated. We’ve pretty much made the decision to just listen to someone like Alistair Begg on the internet.

    The problem we’re having is finding fellowship. How do you find fellowship if the places where you used to find it are no longer places of truth, but are better described as a trap? We know there are others out there like us, and have maybe prayed the same prayer, “Father, help us to find fellowship.”

    I have a suggestion. It might sound simple, and maybe Lighthouse Trails doesn’t think it would work. But what if Lighthouse Trails sold t-shirts with something like “Acts 2:42” printed on the front. Then, whether we were in Walmart, a coffee shop, wherever, we would be able to recognize other born-again believers and have the opportunity to say hi and perhaps have some fellowship.

  6. Patti

    Enjoyed the article very much, thank you.

  7. Mary VonEiff

    Great article and wise reminders at the end. Glory to the Lamb!

  8. Faith

    Hi,

    That is totally the case and what is happening right now. A few thoughts; 1. The word says that there will be lying signs and wonders accompanying satan, but there are still God’s true gifts that are active today and I am finding that some want to lump all these under satan’s umbrella (denying the power of God in yet one more way) and I find that to be sad. It occurs by a very twisting of Scripture itself since there is no biblical basis to state that the gifts are ‘over.’ They twist 1 Cor. 13 when it is not talking about the completion of the Word, but about seeing God when we are with Him in heaven. Big and clear difference!
    2. I have tried to reach out to many in the churches and it is like they are caught in cement or quick sand, they simply won’t see the danger and it is practically no use when I warn them.
    3. I would love to get together with just a small group who is of the same understanding, I don’t care if it is even one person, but sadly I can’t find even that. I have no Christian friends, no family that is Christian, literally I have one family member (unsaved and elderly) and two unsaved friends who think they are saved (but are either unsaved or backslidden, it’s hard to tell). I cannot give them the boot and they haven’t given it to me yet either, but the gap is growing as they are drifting into apostasy also. If I have a problem, there is literally no human to go to at all in my case. I envy those with a Christian family, they can just hold church themselves, or with friends who left a church together, but I have no one. I covet anyone’s prayers for me in this matter. Thanks and God bless!

    • FaithHopeGraceJoy

      I will surely pray for you Faith, and remember, it won’t be long until we are all together in the Father’s house with Jesus, and NO, NOT ONE of HIS CHILDREN will EVER be alone again.
      I don’t know if you happen to be in the South, but if you are, there are many others like you – that remnant that God always promises to have. Seek and you will find.

    • Marilyn Mockett

      Hi just seen your message on editorslightrails. Don’t feel isolated, God will provide someone to support and encourage you. You are welcome to email me, I live in UK.
      Marilyn

      • Noel Wood

        Hi, Where in the UK are you, we are in Derbyshire bur fellowship in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

    • Linda

      Hi Faith, I’m in exactly the same position. The only thing I have to hang onto is that God knows our situation and I believe He must be doing something in me that I will likely find out later.

      I do know that I have learned so much during these times of isolation even though I am desperate for real fellowship. There have been wonderful episodes of communion and evidence that He is with me. I hope you find the same.

      I am in West Sussex, England.

  9. Sherry Meyer

    AMEN, CH!!! We see this happening all around us—and still after warning numerous times: No one cares! It is so sad. God surely must be sad as well. His Son Jesus Christ gave his life so we could be set free—but evil has taken over this ole world and especially America. We knew this would happened, and still—it hurts because those who don’t care have no idea what is waiting for them after they take their last breath. Blessings abound to children of God who love and love Him in the holy name of Jesus!!!

  10. Sue

    Excellent article!

  11. Kris McMillen

    This was meant to be at the end of my comment. Psalms 138:2 (KJV)
    I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

    Thanks so much for your work
    Kris and Bonnie.

  12. Kris McMillen

    Now it seems my comment got lost, Here it is again, In Dec 2014 My wife Bonnie and I prayed, “God whatever you don’t want in our house, get rid of.” Since then He has brought us new people to talk or listen to as, Yourselves, Lighthouse Trails, Roger Oakland, Warren B. Smith etc.
    Which also gives one new prayer direction. It has been fast and fascinating. He is so good, No church per se, but lots of good people to both communicate with and to receive from. God bless and keep you all in His work, Until His return for His Church, Made Glorious by Him.
    Without spot or blemish.
    Kris and Bonnie.

  13. Dave

    Satan is working behind the scenes to bring about a global government and one world religion. Part of his plan is to convince Christians to turn in their King James Bibles for “new and improved” (NKJV, NIV, ASV, et al) versions that have been systematically corrupted to advance a New World Order. Once God’s people have been disarmed of their spiritual weapon, they will be powerless to stand against it.
    The changes being made in the modern versions are not incidental. They are part of a satanic agenda to undermine key Biblical teachings and prepare the population for an all-inclusive one world religion.

  14. Eileen Thompson

    I agree with every word and can identify so much with the comments made. I get encouragement from the fact that I am not a ‘lone’ Christian in these matters, and although modern technology has many faults and failings, it has been a lifeline for fellowship and knowledge for me and I thank the Lord for the many on line discernment Ministries and Blogs that I’ve signed up with – in particular Lighthouse Trails, Chris Lawson, John Haller and JD Farak. I also write my own Blog.
    God bless you, Eileen

  15. FaithHopeGraceJoy

    Very good, timely article and that last paragraph needs to be printed out and hung on the bathroom mirror! 🙂

  16. GG

    This is such a good article, and I can so empathize with everything said. This is the time when families are set against each other, because the true Christian is found offensive to the siblings or parents. You share, you warn, you take a stand but to no avail. It hurts to have a loved one, or in my case loved ones, caught in heresy and absolutely blind and deaf to any truth. Thanks for writing this. Obviously, very timely.

  17. Alex MacDonald

    Excellent message ….. keep them coming …. we need more of these warnings, especially here in Canada.

  18. dee money

    i attend a non denominational church that used beth moore and Priscilla shirer for the womens bible studies which i do not attend. i am torn about leaving the church as my only friends are there and i need fellowship. also i am older and a widow. need advice.

  19. Kathleen

    We too are without much fellowship. All the churches seem to be so apostate as to be unbearable. We have been praying for fellowship too. Is anyone else in Maine?

  20. Dawn

    I was involved in leadership in a church I thought was strong in Word. I had been told by some others that they did not want to study prophesy because they were afraid of it, but … I was wanting to teach a class in prophecy. Then it was announced in church council in Jan. 2015 we would be studying Purpose Driven Life and the Sunday School teachers would be teaching it. I objected strenuously and was criticized for my stand. My class decided to go to a church wide class to study it so I took a sabbatical until they were finished with it. Then this past summer It was announced that Wed. night prayer meetings were being discontinued for “cottage Bible studies” where they would be studying a book by Richard Fuller. I wound up in the hospital due to the stress and grief and we have left the church and are looking for another one. We live in a rural area so not easy to find a Bible teaching church. We are visiting one now and so far so good.

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