The Final Deception and its Antidote

Copyright © Marc Rasell 2010

All Rights Reserved

Acknowledgements

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the King James Version, 1611 (Authorized Version) Copyright status: Crown copyright (UK).

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Nature of the Final Deception

Chapter 2: Rebellion against God

Chapter 3: A State of Darkness

Chapter 4: Delusion

Chapter 5: Apostasy

Chapter 6: Destruction

Chapter 7: The Antidote

Conclusion

Bible Memorisation Verses

Further Information

About the Author

References

Introduction

Behind the scenes of this world spiritual forces are fighting over the souls of men in the great controversy between Christ and Satan[1] (Ephesians 6:12). The Scriptures reveal the play and counter-play of these forces throughout sacred history until the return of Christ and the setting up of His kingdom (Daniel 2:44). It is important for us to know where we are in the scheme of things and be prepared to take our stand on the right side. Those who do nothing but sit on the fence are in danger of being swept away by the spiritualistic delusions that are to come upon the world (Matthew 24:24). God has given us light in His Word to guide our steps and light our path (Psalm 119:105). The deceptions and philosophies of spiritualism will increasingly infiltrate the church and take on a holy garb, until one day the church will become a haunt of demons (Revelation 18:2)! God has given us warnings in His Word to protect and guide us; none will be deceived without first hearing and rejecting the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). If we sincerely desire to know the truth then we will know the doctrine and be safe (John 7:17).

Spiritualism is essentially rebellion against God. People are often attracted to it with some promise of worldly wealth, fame, power, happiness or special knowledge. However, when one turns from God it actually leads to a state of darkness. The spiritual forces behind spiritualism are themselves chained in darkness and in rebellion against God (2 Peter 2:4), so it is natural that those who enter their territory also become chained in darkness. This leads to a state of delusion where people believe right is wrong and wrong is right (Isaiah 5:20); they think they can live as they want to and at the same time cheat death and the final judgement (Isaiah 28:15-18). But the judgement hour will come, and as though in a dream Babylon will suddenly fall before their eyes (Revelation 18). By then it will be too late to escape destruction; there will be no healing balm for those who by their own actions have destroyed themselves. We need to study carefully what the Scriptures say about the end time delusions so we are not caught in its net. Whatever promises the road to Endor makes, it ends in nothing but trouble, emptiness, darkness and destruction. The broad road may seem to be better (Matthew 7:13-14), but it lacks the vital companionship of Christ who gave His life and shed His blood for sinners. He trod the narrow path which does not promise wealth, fame or power, but nevertheless leads to an eternal city and a reward beyond computation (Hebrews 11:10). The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23); this is what the narrow path offers, companionship with God and an eternal existence in paradise (Revelation 21:3-4).

In His Word, God has outlined a final message of warning to the world before this final deception appears (Revelation 14:6-12). This message (the three angels’ message) is the perfect antidote to the end time spiritualistic deception. All that the one denies the other message affirms as outlined in this book. The lawless doctrine of devils is ultimately a denial of Christ as our Saviour (1 Timothy 4:1; 1 John 2:22-23). Jesus is the true God, the Saviour of mankind, and the only name under heaven by which men may be saved (Acts 4:12).

Sometimes people get ensnared in spiritualism and it is impossible for them to escape without divine aid or in some cases the intercessory prayers of a righteous person(s)[2] (James 5:16). It is far better not to get involved in such things in the first place (Proverbs 28:26). I hope this book will help to steer people away from the dangers and make readers aware of the issues at stake. As the saying goes, look before you leap!

We need to be careful in how to approach spiritualism; our steps need to be guided by God’s Word and prayer; this will be ever more important as we near the end of time. Some Christians have lost their way by entering into enemy territory, thinking they were strong enough to combat the forces of darkness[3]; they rushed into places where angels fear to tread. When we move with Jesus at our side, we have nothing to fear because He has conquered the forces of darkness:

“¹⁵ And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)

Chapter 1: The Nature of the Final Deception

“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;” (1 Timothy 4:1)

In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he warns of a future apostasy in the latter days. Its precepts were already being manifested in the teachings of the Gnostics. They were forbidding their followers from getting married or from eating certain types of food which God had given man to eat (1 Timothy 4:3). The Gnostic philosophy originated with the pagan belief that the material world was inferior[4]. When mixed with Christianity it degraded Christ from His divinity and role as our only Saviour. Salvation according to the Gnostics was to be achieved through the intercession and worship of angels (Colossians 2:18); Christ was viewed as just one of these mediators. Paul made it clear that there was only one mediator between man and God, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). The Gnostics saw Jesus as too holy to be material and yet not holy enough to be equal to the Father. They believed that God the Father was too pure to get involved in the creation of a material world[5], contrary to what is recorded in the Scriptures (Genesis 1:1). To counteract this philosophy, Paul had to emphasise that in Jesus dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). Jesus is fully God yet also a real human being. The Gnostic teaching struck at who Jesus really is, and His pivotal role in the atonement. In effect it was a denial of Jesus and as such was also a denial of the Father (1 John 2:22); this is the spirit of the antichrist. Today, it is popular to say that there are many ways to God, but the Scriptures acknowledge only one name by which men may be saved (Acts 4:12).

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul expands on the nature of this falling away:

“¹ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, … ⁵ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:1-2, 5)

This apostasy would lead Christians to have an outward form of godliness but without the power to live a godly life, which can only come from a relationship with Jesus, the living Son of God. By degrading the status of Jesus, one cuts oneself off from the source of eternal life (John 15:1-8). The emphasis was on head knowledge rather than practical godliness; they were forever learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7). The only way to guard against such false teachings was to be conversant with the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We can expect that a similar type of teaching will arise at the end of time, before Christ returns:

“⁸ And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: ⁹ Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, ¹⁰ And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10)

This time however the false teachers will have at their aid the powers of darkness and will be able to perform signs and miracles to deceive people. In effect it will be the ultimate form of Gnosticism. This event is connected with the return of Christ who puts an end to these false teachers and the antichrist.

The reason why these deceptions will be so misleading is that the devil can appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14-15); he even has ministers who appear in a holy garb but are under the devil’s power. People expect the devil to appear as a hideous monster, but in reality he masquerades as an angel of light.

The Apostle Paul was once troubled by a slave girl possessed by a demon, who kept on calling out and disturbing his ministry:

“The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.” (Acts 16:17)

This shows that demons can speak the truth in order to deceive people. In the Book of Revelation we are told that evil spirits perform miracles so they can gather the kings of the earth to the final battle (Revelation 16:14). Such will be the power of these miracle workers that they will even be able to bring fire down from heaven (Revelation 13:13) as Elijah did on Mount Carmel, but their purpose is not to save but to deceive people. Many false miracles and signs will abound and the only way of discerning truth from error will be a knowledge of the Scriptures and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus warned those who say “Lord, Lord,” who perform miracles, and cast out demons that they would not enter God’s kingdom if they are workers of lawlessness (Matthew 7:21-23). This implies that the source of their miracles was not Christ but some other power. Before the true Christ returns many false Christs and prophets will arise to deceive if possible even the elect (Matthew 24:24). The fact that someone can perform miracles, or appears to be an angel of light does not confirm that they are what they claim to be. The vital clue is given in Matthew 7:23, they are workers of lawlessness (Gk. anomia). While claiming to be from God, they actually break and teach others to break God’s laws! Every kingdom has laws which govern its subjects and one shows allegiance to the king by keeping his laws. The laws of God are not burdensome; they are there for our own happiness and safety (1 John 5:3). Those who break the laws of our heavenly King thereby show that they are not genuine citizens of heaven.

The reference to spirits in 1 Timothy 4 suggests that the final apostasy is linked to spiritualism. Ancient pagan religions sought to discover the future, or learn the will of the gods through various meaning including astrology, examining animal parts, omens, casting lots and communication with dead spirits[6]. Today we have the modern counterpart in diviners, astrologers, mediums, and faith healers[7] as well as those who use tarot cards and crystal balls. No matter how the modern forms of spiritualism are dressed up, it is still a form of witchcraft which is an abomination according to the Bible:

“¹⁰ There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, ¹¹ Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. ¹² For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

The spirits that communicated with those of old are the same today, and are identified as demons (1 Timothy 4:1). This is further confirmed by the fact that when the pagans offered sacrifices to the dead (Psalm 106:28), thinking that their ancestors were deified beings[8], the Scriptures identifies these beings as devils (1 Corinthians 10:20). Psalm 106:28 refers to the time when Israel was enticed into a pagan feast on the borders of the Promised Land with tragic consequences; those who were ensnared and did not repent, ended up losing their lives when they had almost reached their destination.

The whole system of spiritualism is a grand deception, so that demonic powers can gain control over human lives. The evil spirits can masquerade as saints, departed loved ones[9], angels or even Jesus in order to deceive people; they are able to perform miracles and counterfeit healings. A story is told of a lady whose son was reported as missing in action, presumed dead. In her grief she consulted a medium, and soon a ghostly figure of her son began appearing and speaking to her. Then one day her real son returned home having been found alive. It was clear then, that the being that had appeared to her was a counterfeit!

God would not permit his angels or saints to communicate using a practice described as an abomination! The prohibition was so strong that anyone in ancient Israel caught practising spiritualism was put to death (Leviticus 20:6, 27; Exodus 22:18). The prophet Isaiah warned the people of his day to turn from such things to the living God; to His Word and His prophets:

“¹⁹ And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? ²⁰ To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:19-20)

The “law” (Hb. Torah) is a reference to the Books of Moses, and the “testimony” (witness) are the words of God’s prophets who witness for Him. Put simply, any message that contradicts the Bible does not come from God; His light is not in such things. We are counselled not to regard wizards or those with familiar spirits otherwise we will become defiled by them:

“³¹ Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:31)

Another way of verifying the authenticity of these mediums is to check to see whether their prophecies always come true (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). If you examine the claims of many so called prophets, you will find that some of the prophecies have failed and others are very vague. If a prophet is truly from God there will not be any mistakes, because God knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).

In summary, the final deception will involve a denial of the divinity of Christ and His role as our only Saviour; its teaching will leads to godless behaviour and lawlessness. The infiltration of spiritualism into the church under a religious garb will be accompanied by signs, miracles, and healings; all of a spectacular nature. You may ask how can we be protected from this final deception. The only way to be safe will be from a thorough knowledge of the Bible.

An hour of temptation is soon to come upon the earth (Revelation 3:10) and devil knows his time is short (Revelation 12:12), but if we commit ourselves to prayer then we will not fall into temptation (Mark 14:38). In the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter learned the hard way that it does not pay to sleep when we have been counselled to be watching and praying (Matthew 26:41). His own strength was not sufficient for what was to come and he ended up denying his Lord three times (Matthew 26:69-75). After the resurrection the boastful Peter became the humble and gentle Peter (1 Peter 5:1-7) who eventually died for his Lord (John 21:17-19). He had learned the lesson of submission to God in all things.

Chapter 2: Rebellion against God

The true nature of spiritualism is rebellion against God. This is clearly seen in the downfall of Saul. Although chosen by God to be king, he began to reject the guidance the Lord had given him through the prophet Samuel. When commanded to wait for the prophet for seven days (1 Samuel 10:8), he became impatient at the increasing numbers of Philistines who had gathered to attack Israel and the desertions from his own forces. So he decided to offer the burnt offering himself instead of waiting as instructed (1 Samuel 13:11-14). This disposition to follow his own will contrary to the Lord’s commands continued when Saul was asked to slay the wicked Amalekites and not to take any prisoners or cattle as booty (1 Samuel 15:1-3). The sentence on the Amalekites had been delayed for four hundred years to give them time to repent, but their debasing idolatry, their defiance of God and the fact that they were the first to attack Israel had made them ripe for judgement[10] (Deuteronomy 25:19). Contrary to the command given, Saul decided to keep the best of the cattle, and excused this by saying he was going to sacrifice them to the Lord. The Lord was displeased and the prophet Samuel rebuked Saul:

“²² And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. ²³ For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23)

Here we see that rebellion is linked to witchcraft, because it is in effect turning from God to do one’s own will. This is further illustrated in Saul’s final battle with the Philistines when in desperation he sought out the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28:7). This was his final act of rebellion against the Lord, for which he lost his life (1 Chronicles 10:13-14). Had Saul genuinely repented, the Lord would have forgiven him, but he was beyond counsel. He had become obsessed with hunting down the man chosen by God to be his successor[11]. He had become paranoid, slaying the priests of the Lord when he suspected them of being in league with David (1 Samuel 22:13-19). In his pursuit of David he recklessly left the realm unguarded and the Philistines had invaded in large numbers. In desperation Saul went to the witch of Endor and this sealed his own fate; he had chosen Satan over the Lord.

Another example of rebellion was when the children of Israel were on the borders of the Promised Land (Number 22:1; 25). They were led into a pagan festival by the Moabites and Midianites at which sacrifices were made to the dead (Psalm 106:28), which are in fact demonic beings (1 Corinthians 10:20). The people were led into immorality and idolatry when they should have been preparing to enter the Promised Land by praying and reciting the sacred writings. This apostasy is a warning to us (spiritual Israel) today (1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 9:6; 11:25) who are also on the borders of our Promised Land – the New Earth (2 Peter 3:13). A similar apostasy will arise in an attempt to stop God’s people from taking possession of their inheritance. Once more in a repeat of history, it will involve demonic forces and disobeying God’s laws.

Spiritualism may seem harmless but it is in fact a turning away from the Lord which is why it is so serious. People may think faith healing is good, or that consulting the stars is a bit of fun, but they are entering enemy territory and are in danger of being ensnared. The better alternative is to turn to the Lord and walk according to His statutes which alone can bring true happiness:

“⁸ The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Psalm 19:8)

Impatience to get wealth or learn about future, or seeking to find a cure from a disease from a faith healer can arise from a lack of faith in God. Consulting spiritualistic forces is a dreadful blunder; the end is separation from God. To wait patiently on the Lord brings the blessings we truly need (Psalm 27:14; 37:7, 9, 34). God’s people are counselled to wait patiently for the coming of the Lord (James 5:8).

King Ahaz is another example of someone who rebelled against the Lord when advised to submit to the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar by the prophet Jeremiah, as a punishment for the sins of the nation (Jeremiah 25:6-7). The king’s false prophets prophesied lies to him and to the people (Jeremiah 27:9-10), telling them what they wanted to hear. But the result would be that the kings’ fears would come upon him, and the nation would be taken away to Babylon. Had they heeded the Word of the Lord and turned from their false gods, they could have remained in their own land. In the end, the promises of the spirits came to nothing. Only God’s promises are sure and worthy of trust, even if we have to wait for them (Isaiah 55:11). The earthly man wants his wealth today, but the spiritual man waits for his reward in the life to come. The reason many turn to spiritualism is the desire to be wealthy in this life.

Covetousness is at the heart of rebellion against God. Simon Magus the sorcerer thought he could buy the Holy Spirit with money (Acts 8:18); Balaam wanted to use divination to get rich (Number 22:7) even though he had once been a prophet of the Lord! At the end of time the church is pictured as having become materialistic and infiltrated with sorcery:

“…for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.” (Revelation 18:23)

Any who seek to become rich in this world are looking for trouble, and will pierce themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10). Ultimately the love of money leads people to reject God (Matthew 6:24). If we wait patiently, God will give us riches beyond our imagination in the world to come; the New Jerusalem is paved with gold and is a place of perfect peace and happiness with no sin, suffering, sorrow or death (Revelation 21:3-4). God wants us to love Him and accept the great sacrifice made on our behalf by His Son (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10). The true way to heaven, the narrow way, does not offer riches in this life but leads to the eternal city (Hebrews 11:10). The broad way, down the road to Endor, may promise wealth and happiness but ends in disappointment and destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus is calling us, showing His great love and sacrifice for us, which paid the price for our sins (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 2:24). He wants us to be part of His kingdom, based not on selfishness but unselfish love for others. Not accumulating wealth for ourselves but ministering to others is the basis of heaven (Luke 12:13-21).

A story is told of someone being shown a picture of heaven and hell. In one room the people were skinny and hungry; they all had bowls of soup but their spoons were too long to feed themselves. In the other room the people were well fed even though they were in the same situation, the difference was that they were feeding each other!

Chapter 3: A State of Darkness

The result of rebellion against God and turning to evil spirits is a state of darkness as described in Isaiah chapter 8:

“²¹ And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. ²² And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.” (Isaiah 8:21-22)

As the people of Isaiah’s day turned from God, they sought the advice of idols and demonic forces to guide them. The advice of these beings was more in harmony with what their sinful hearts wanted to hear. But these forces are themselves chained in darkness because of their rebellion against the Lord:

“⁴ For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;” (2 Peter 2:4)

Peter is using symbolic language; the fallen angels are chained by their rebellion, they can no longer repent nor have any desire to do so. They are not literally chained, but are in spiritual darkness awaiting the final judgement. Were God to give them a million years they would not change. Therefore those who consult them will also end up in rebellion against God and in a state of darkness also.

When I was living in student accommodation, on one particular evening they decided to turn off the electricity for a short time. I remember the place being in total darkness and wondering if there was a fire whether people might struggle to find their way out of the building. I had never realised how dark the place could be. Living with artificial lighting makes it hard to appreciate total darkness. Where I live it is never truly dark unless there is a power cut which takes out the street lighting. Only then, in the absence of light do we really appreciate what we take for granted every day. In a spiritual sense, we are greatly privileged to have the light of God in our lives, but if we turn from God we inevitably end up in spiritual darkness.

Those who seek after the spirits also turn from the law of God. As a consequence of this they reject the Word of the Lord and live sinful lives. People prefer the messages of false prophets who prophesy smooth things to them (Isaiah 30:10); at the end of time people will no longer endure sound doctrine but find teachers who will tell them what their itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The Book of Ezekiel is full of excuses the people made to ignore the unpopular messages of the prophet; they said the days were prolonged and the visions failed (Ezekiel 12:22), they tried to blame their fathers for the calamities that had befallen them (Ezekiel 18:2), and they preferred to listen to false prophets who gave them a false sense of security (Ezekiel 13:3, 10-11). The sinful heart rebels against the law of God (Romans 8:7-8) and is naturally evil (Jeremiah 17:9). Throughout history, people have tended to ignore the true messages of God which called them to repentance and warned of a coming judgement day. The reason for rebellion against the Word of the Lord is that it rankles with the sinful heart and disturbs the conscience; people want to be told they can do as they please without suffering any consequences. They want an easy gospel which has a get out of jail card to excuse their way of life. In the days of Noah, the people would not heed the preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5) who called them to repent, and as a result they perished in the flood. The result of disobedience to God’s law is destruction because it is a rejection of the Author of Life (Acts 3:15).

We should not think of God’s laws as restrictive; they were made for our benefit. Think what society would be like if everyone followed the Ten Commandments! Or imagine what the roads and highways would be like if no one followed the rules. How long would it take for the streets of a town to become blocked if there were no parking restrictions?

Like the people of Isaiah’s day, we also have a choice to make. Jesus the Sun of Righteousness has risen with healing in his wings for His people (Malachi 4:2). We can walk in the light if we choose to because the Light of the world has come to enlighten us (John 8:12). Jesus came not only to heal physical blindness but also to heal those who are spiritually blind. We don’t need to stumble about in the fog of error or the darkness of unbelief; ample help has been provided to guide us on the path to eternal life (John 12:35-36). Without Jesus we can never find our way back to our eternal home; we cannot save ourselves without divine assistance.

Being lost can be a frightening experience, I heard of a walker who got lost for days in a dense forest. When he finally emerged he was ecstatic to meet other people! Many travellers have perished near to help in snow storms, sometimes only a few feet away from help. In this world God has provided a Guide, it’s up to us how we respond; our eternal life depends on that choice. We don’t need to get frozen in the storms of this life, or stumble about in darkness until we perish.

One of the greatest obstacles to spiritual restoration and choosing the path of life is the love of money. Jesus linked darkness to serving mammon:

“²³ But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! ²⁴ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:23-24)

The love of money chokes the soul as weeds choke a growing seed (Matthew 13:22). Those who turn to mammon also turn away from God; we cannot serve two masters. The love of money is an overpowering force than turns into a god. This is often the motivation for turning to spiritualism: to become rich, famous or powerful in this life. These were the very same temptations that Satan used to try to get Jesus to give up His mission of self-sacrifice for mankind (Matthew 4:1-11). The result of trying to serve God and mammon is that a bitter root grows up in the soul[12] (Hebrews 12:15-16). In the dark places of the soul, roots of bitterness grow up and finally blossom into open rebellion against God.

A story is told of a beggar who won a million dollars at a gambling casino; his whole life could have changed, but within a week he had gambled it all away and returned to his homeless life. Spiritualism is a bit like that, promising millions but leaving the soul destitute. It is often said about some bargains that, “it’s too good to be true”. Financial advisers who claim that the credit boom will never end, or that the money markets are on a new platform and cannot crash, or that your investment will grow at 500% each year, are making claims that are too good to be true and inevitably the bubble bursts; too many greedy people get on the treadmill hoping to get rich but see the whole structure collapse under their weight. In the time of Amos the people were described as an overloaded cart, ready to collapse (Amos 2:13). Spiritualism is like that, its sounds great in the beginning, premonitions of danger are ignored because so much has already been invested and the promises sound so great, but it ends in tears.

The people of Isaiah’s day ended up in perplexity, hunger, darkness and anger because they were suffering the results of their own disobedience[13]. In anger they tried to blame their leaders and God, but their own choice had led them into this condition. They were like people searching for something they could not find, like the teachers of Paul’s day who were ever learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth. In this world people search for something better, but they don’t know what they are looking for. The good news is that a light has been kindled to guide us through the darkness, like a lighthouse amid a storm or stars that shine in the night sky (Daniel 12:3). If the deceived are willing to follow the light before it is too late, it will guide them safely to the heavenly shores and avoid the shipwreck of their souls on the rocks of apostasy.

A story is told of a lighthouse keeper who was asked if he could be sure that none of his lights would go out. The man replied that he would be sure to know about it because he would get a letter from a far off port telling him that the lights were burning dim or that ships were put in danger[14]. Christians have a duty to let their light shine in the darkness of this corrupt world; it is not safe to put out the light for even a moment, for who knows whether a lost soul may be following it on the storms of life. As the light of the sun shines in every corner of the world, so the light of God must shine everywhere[15]. We have no right to hide our light under a bushel (Matthew 5:15-16).

Chapter 4: Delusion

As people are enticed by spiritualism, perhaps hoping to gain happiness, fame, or fortune, they end up in a deluded state. Paul described their condition as having their consciences seared by a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:2). They can no longer discern between truth and error and believe what is evil to be good (Isaiah 5:20-21). Perhaps in some way their souls are also marked by the powers of evil[16]. When you do the ironing and burn something, it’s obvious; you can see the burn and smell it. Jesus said that by their fruits ye shall know them (Matthew 7:20). None need be deceived when they see the character of these false teachers who claim to be holy but live immoral lives and are greedy for gain.

It is a fearful thing when people believe that good is evil and evil is good. In their deluded state, they inevitably come to think that those who uphold God’s laws are the cause of their troubles. When Ahab met the prophet Isaiah, he accused him of being a troubler of Israel (1 Kings 18:17), even though it was his idolatry that had caused the problem (1 Kings 18:18). It is often the case that when the wicked bring calamity onto a nation, they then seek to blame those who reproved them for their actions. Such was the case with Jeremiah who was accused of being a traitor even though it was national idolatry that had caused the calamity (Jeremiah 38:4); Jeremiah was just giving the warning sent from God to turn them from disaster. Sadly the people preferred to listen to their false prophets who eased their fears without requiring any change in their behaviour (Jeremiah 27:9).

Sometimes people can become so rebellious that no message will awaken them; the Scripture speaks of those who have become joined to their idols (Hosea 4:17). If people keep on sinning and resisting the Holy Spirit, eventually they will become hardened to any pleas for change (Ephesians 4:30; Matthew 12:31). Such was the case of Korah and his followers who rebelled against the God appointed leadership of Moses (Number 16:1-3). Even after the judgement of God had fallen on Korah and the leaders of the rebellion, his followers were so deluded that they blamed Moses for it, accusing him of killing the Lord’s people (Number 16:41)! When people stubbornly resist the Holy Spirit they can reach a point where no amount of miracles or Scriptures will convince them that they are wrong (Luke 16:31). Some of the Pharisees and Sadducees eventually reached that point, because they kept on opposing Christ and attributing His miracles to demonic forces (Matthew 12:10-37). The truth of Jesus’ teaching, in harmony with the Scriptures, and the fulfilment of Messianic prophecy was evidence enough that His ministry was from God (John 5:39). The Pharisees were too proud to repent or admit that they were wrong.

The deceptions of the last days will involve counterfeit signs and miracles of such a nature as to ensnare people. Yet the people will not accept these delusions without first hearing and rejecting the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12); it is because they refuse to love the truth that they believe a lie. They come to believe they can escape God’s judgement (Malachi 2:17). They have become like the people in Isaiah’s day who thought they had made a covenant with death:

“¹⁵ Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:” (Isaiah 28:15)

This goes back to the original deception when Satan told Eve that she would not die (Genesis 3:4), and implied that her disobedience would make her happier (Genesis 3:5). This is the lure of spiritualism that we will gain some knowledge or power and can get away with disobeying God. But in the end it turned out to be a bitter disappointment. Adam and Eve were told that they would return to dust. However, their case was not hopeless because they had been deceived and tempted rather than making a deliberate decision to reject God as Satan had done; a promise was given to them of a future Deliverer (Genesis 3:15). To the people of Isaiah’s day, God said He would annul their covenant of death (Isaiah 28:18), it was an invalid contract! The only way to escape eternal death is through repentance. There is only one way for mankind to be redeemed and inherit eternal life, by repentance and faith in Christ (Acts 2:38; 16:31).

Satan’s offer to Eve appeared to be good, but it was a mirage. Travellers through the desert are often tricked by these illusions which can be fatal, leading the thirsty traveller from one place to another until they become hopelessly lost and discouraged. People sometimes get the idea that they can get away with their reckless or unlawful actions, such as smokers who ignore health warnings; or drivers who think they can break the speed limit and never get caught. But sooner or later reality catches up with them. It was said of some Nazi’s leaders that when their Reich began to crumble they felt as if waking up from a dream. Their delusions of grandeur were being broken by reality. It would be far better for people to heed the warnings given for their welfare rather than to suffer the consequences; today, smokers are given clear warnings about the dangers of tobacco, so they have no excuse. No one will be able to blame God on the day of judgement; they chose to ignore the law of God (Romans 2:12-16). Even those who did not know God nevertheless in their conscience knew right from wrong. Spiritualism on the other hand is like a packet of cigarettes that claims you will never get sick, it’s too good to be true!

Soul Sleep

One of the reasons why people believe obedience to God is not important is the concept of the immortal soul which they suppose goes to heaven or some other place after death. Even though this concept is widely accepted in many churches it lacks a Biblical basis and is a remnant of the errors that crept into the church during the Dark Ages.

The Bible often refers to death as a sleep[17]. This concept was used by Jesus; when Jairus’ daughter died, He said she was sleeping (Matthew 9:24) and proceeded to call her back to life. On another occasion when told of the death of Lazarus He said he was sleeping, but would go to wake him up. (John 11:11-13). The disciples did not understand the real meaning of His words so He had to tell them plainly that Lazarus was dead.

It is clear that Martha believed that Lazarus would be raised on the last day (John 11:24); she said nothing of Lazarus already being in heaven. Why would she ask for Lazarus to be resurrected if she thought he was already in heaven and enjoying paradise? It would be rather a cruel thing to be called back to this sinful world from heaven!

Jesus spoke of the day when the dead would come out of their tombs (John 5:28-29) and said not to be amazed about this. The Apostle Paul went as far as to say that if the dead don’t rise then neither did Christ and our faith is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:13-14). In his first letter to the Thessalonians he said the dead in Christ will rise first and described them as sleeping (1 Thessalonians 4:15-16). If the soul has already gone to heaven, there would not be much point in a resurrection on the last day!

On the day of Pentecost, Peter said that David had not ascended to heaven but was still in his tomb (Acts 2:29, 34), clearly showing that there is no existence after death until the resurrection. A number of other Bible texts support this concept:

“⁵ For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5)

“⁴ His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (Psalm 146:4)

“²⁰ Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. ²¹ His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.” (Job 14:20-21)

These texts show that there is no consciousness in death; it is like a dreamless sleep. The next thing a dead person knows will be the resurrection either to life or damnation. Perhaps one of the best Scriptures comes from the Book of Daniel which shows that the dead sleep until the resurrection:

“² And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2)

In our sinful condition we are not immortal, this is a gift bestowed at the return of Christ to the righteous (1 Corinthians 15:53), when the mortal will put on immortality. Jesus made it clear that we will not be taken to heaven until He has prepared a place for us and returned to take us to heaven:

“¹ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

It is interesting that Job hoped to be resurrected after death, and see God in his own flesh (Job 19:26-27).

Eternal Torment and Annihilation

There are verses in the Scriptures which suggest that the lost will suffer in torment forever. This is where the principle of a little here and a little there, line upon line, and precept upon precept is important (Isaiah 28:10). We need to weigh one text with another to get the true meaning when studying a Bible doctrine. The verses which speak of torment need to be balanced with those that speak of annihilation. You might ask, how can someone be annihilated if they are tormented forever, the answer lies in the meaning of the Greek and Hebrews words which we translate as “forever”.

The Greek word “aion/aionios” and its Hebrew equivalent “olam” are usually translated as “forever” but are sometimes used in the Bible with a non-eternal meaning[18], similar to our English word “always”[19]. For example, if I say that I’ve always lived here, it does not mean eternity. The context determines how long “always” is. A look at some relevant Bible verses illustrates this:

-Revelation 20:9 the wicked are consumed (Gk. katesthio). [In Matthew 13:4 the birds eat up (Gk. katesthio) the seeds that fall on the path]

-Revelation 20:10 the wicked are tormented forever (Gk. aion)

-Deuteronomy 15:17 the slave was to serve forever (Hb. olam) = for life

-1 Samuel 1:22 the child Samuel was to abide in the temple forever (Hb. olam) = for life

-Philemon 15 Paul counselled Philemon to receive Onesimus forever (Gk. aionios) = for life

We can see that these two words are not always used in the sense of eternal, but can mean a limited duration until some event has been completed. Therefore we can conclude that the wicked are only tormented until they are consumed by the fires of hell. This contrast is seen in Revelation 20:9-10 where verse 9 says the wicked will be consumed, but verse 10 says that they will be tormented “forever”. The only way to reconcile these two verses is that the wicked are tormented until they are consumed. This interpretation is backed up by other Scriptures such as Malachi 4:1 which says the wicked will be burned up root and branch. However, the destruction of the wicked is eternal in the sense that they will never return to life.

It is part of Satan’s plan to portray God as tormenting sinners for all eternity[20] (John 8:44; Revelation 12:10). The truth is that God loves all people and wants none to be lost (2 Peter 3:9; Ezekiel 33:11). Those who persistently refuse His grace will one day lose their soul but God will not allow them to be in torment for eternity. Jesus said that God has the power to destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28) which shows that the soul is not indestructible. The Epistle to the Hebrews says that Jesus’ death provided the means for the devils’ destruction (Hebrews 2:14); contrary to popular belief, the devil himself will be destroyed in the fires of hell!

In God’s kingdom and the earth made new, there will be no more sin, suffering and death (Revelation 21:3-4). There will be no burning torment to spoil the happiness of the redeemed.

Having seen that the soul is not immortal, this leaves the question, where did this idea of the immortal soul come from? It appears to have come from Greek philosophers[21]. This was based on a dualistic philosophy which viewed material things as inferior, the same philosophy that led to the Gnostic heresy.

The Genesis account of Creation describes man as being made up of the dust of the ground and the breath of life and so becoming a living soul (Genesis 2:7). Death is simply the reversal of this process when the dust returns to the ground and the breath to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7); at that time the soul ceases to exist except in the memory of God until the resurrection. Although the resurrection of the dead is a mystery, we can be thankful that God has a perfect memory, and nothing is impossible for Him (Luke 1:37). When God promises that the dead will be raised we can be sure it will come to pass (Isaiah 55:11). By the power of His word was the world made (Psalm 33:6), and by the same power He will call the dead back to life.

The belief in an immortal soul is a weakness which will allow Satan to infiltrate the church in the last days with his spiritualistic philosophies[22]. Modern forms of entertainment such as television and computer games contain camouflaged concepts and messages that are subtly being imprinted on the mind without a person being aware of it. Gradually over time these concepts begin to be accepted by society. One message of the media is that ghosts and spirits are interesting and good. The rise of interest in such things is the result of the workings of demonic powers who seek to draw others into a similar state of darkness and rebellion against God. They are subtly preparing the world for the final crisis.

Another example is the theory of evolution which has eroded people’s confidence in the one Book that can save them from what is coming on the earth. This is an example of brainwashing; so many people believe that the theory of evolution is fact, when it has never been proven scientifically that an animal of one species can evolve into another species[23]. The fossil records have failed to yield any proof that such a process has ever occurred; the missing links are still missing, yet multitudes believe it! The eroding of people’s confidence in the Scriptures leaves them vulnerable to the final deception. In my first book “Exploring the Heavenly Sanctuary”[24] I’ve outlined how Bible prophecies have been fulfilled in history, which gives irrefutable evidence that the Bible is the Word of God. It is important to learn the Scriptures and memorise important texts to prepare for the final deception:

“¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Chapter 5: Apostasy

As people are deluded in the last days by the final deception, the church will fall into the great apostasy predicted by Paul in his letters to Timothy and the Thessalonians. We have already looked in chapter one at the nature of this apostasy, how it will deny the divinity of Christ and His role as the only mediator, and will also sanction lawless godless behaviour. We will now take a closer look at the theological implications of the final apostasy.

The Apostle Paul clearly taught that those who live godless lives will not inherit the kingdom of God:

“⁹ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, ¹⁰ Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

Being a Christian does not in some magical way exempt us from the same moral standards that are used to judge the world (Romans 3:19). While it is true that those who believe in Christ do not come under the condemnation of the law (Romans 8:1); it is equally true that those who live a sinful life are not in Christ; the carnal mind is at enmity to God and cannot obey His law, but a converted person has the Spirit of God abiding in them (Romans 8:7-9). To claim that one has the Spirit and at the same time live a sinful life is a deception and a delusion:

“⁴ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. ⁵ And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. ⁶ Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. ⁷ Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. ⁸ He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. ¹⁰ In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1 John 3:4-10)

The Epistle of John was written in the context of Gnostic type heresies[25]; these false teachers were deceiving people into thinking that one can be a Christian and yet live in sin. John is not here saying that we are absolutely sinless, because earlier he states that no one can claim to be without sin (1 John 1:8-10); what he is speaking about are those who keep on sinning, living a bad life without repentance. Unless one repents there remains no sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:26).

The concept that Christians are under no law but their own spirit is gaining ground in the Christian world, but ultimately this is a denial of Christ. It is a subtle form of spiritualism under the garb of Christianity, for if there were no law, there would be no sin and therefore no need for a Saviour[26] (Romans 5:13; 3:20). A shallow Christianity with no roots will not bear the test of time (Matthew 13:5-6); such a faith does not bring conviction of sin and consequently one feels no need of repentance. The mega-churches of today often downplay sin because it is unpopular, and so swell their membership to gigantic proportions. The Holy Spirit was given to convict men of sin and judgement (John 16:8); yet many Christians claim they will not be judged, even though this is clearly stated in the Scriptures (Matthew 16:27; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:31-46). While it is true that genuine Christians are not under the condemnation of the law because they are covered by Christ’s righteousness, this cannot be made into a cloak to cover evil and a sinful life. The doctrine of lawlessness is a denial of Christ as our Saviour and hence is a doctrine of devils:

“¹⁶ As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)

God gave us laws because He is a God of love and knows what we need to be happy, we show our love to God by keeping His laws. As an example, God gave us the laws of health so that we would be healthy, but if we don’t follow them we pay the penalty. Another law for our benefit is the Sabbath; without it we would always be working, and become self-centred and eventually forget God. Our Creator in His wisdom knows what is best for us.

Jesus stressed the need for a living connection with Himself in order to grow in holiness and have spiritual life. Those who abide in the Vine will bear fruit, but if severed from the Vine they wither up and are cast into the fire (John 15:1-8). If we try to use a mobile phone but never charge it up, we will soon find out that we cannot make any calls. The danger of the Gnostic teaching is that it devalues Christ and cuts one off from the Vine. Without a proper understanding of who Christ is, as the divine Son of God who alone can redeem us, we cannot benefit from the plan of salvation or live a holy life. The appearance of holiness without Christ is a sham, like the fig tree that had leaves but no fruit on it (Mark 11:12-21).

The Trinity

Because the final apostasy will call into question the divinity of Christ, as part of our study it is important to establish the Biblical basis of the Trinity. The Trinitarian controversies of the early church were complex and lengthy, often involving complex words and formulas. The root problem seemed to be trying to understand the Trinity from a pagan philosophical background rather than a solid Biblical foundation. As mentioned in chapter one, the Gnostics thought of God as too holy to create a material world. Therefore they viewed Jesus and the Holy Spirit as beings created or generated to perform this work of creation which implied an inferior status to the Father.

The problem with this approach is that it denies two fundamental concepts about God and our salvation. The first is our basic understanding that God is love (1 John 4:8). The picture we get in the Bible is of three equal Persons existing throughout all eternity in a unity of love. Love cannot exist unless there are others to be loved[27]. The second is related to the first: the sacrifice of Christ showed us that God loved us so much He was willing to give His Son, an equal member of the Godhead to die for us[28]. Once we begin to undermine this doctrine, the whole basis for the atonement is damaged. In the Gospel of John the unity of the Godhead is revealed: the Son glorifies the Father, and the Father glorifies the Son (John 17:1). Jesus also said that He and the Father are one (John 10:30) and the Father Himself loves us (John 16:27). The Father loves the Son (John 10:17) and the Son the Father (John 14:31). In this unity of love and glory, the atonement takes on a new light, God Himself is willing to pay the price for our sins because He loves us, and that love is equal to the Father’s love for His Son (John 15:9). It is hard for us to comprehend such love:

“¹⁸ May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; ¹⁹And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:18-19).

There are many proofs that Jesus is equal to God; Jesus is referred to as the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:10-18; 22:12-13) as well as the first and the last, a title which can only be given to God:

“⁶ Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6)

The Book of Hebrews gives clear evidence for the divinity of Christ, it says that the angels worship Jesus, and also refers to Jesus as God:

“And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. ⁷ And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. ⁸ But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:6-8)

In the wilderness, when tempted by the devil, Jesus made it clear that we should only worship the Lord thy God (Matthew 4:10). Yet Jesus was worshipped by His disciples (Matthew 14:33; 28:17). According to the Epistle to the Philippians, one day every knee will bow at the name of Jesus (Philippians 2:10-11). This is clear proof of His divinity.

Jesus referred to Himself with the expression, “I AM” (John 8:58); this not only referred to his pre-existence before Abraham, but it is also a title that can only be used by God:

“¹⁴ And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3:14)

Jesus also said that I AM the bread of life, I AM the light of the world, I AM the gate, I AM the good shepherd, I AM the resurrection and the life, and I AM the true vine (John 6:48; 8:12; 10:9; 10:11; 11:25; 15:1). Clearly Jesus not only existed before He came to earth (John 17:24), but He is equal to God (Philippians 2:6). Even though He was equal to God, He was willing to humble Himself and become a human being in order to pay the price for our sins and save us from eternal death. This demonstrates the depth of God’s love for us that Jesus was willing to descend so far, and suffer so much to save us (John 3:16).

The Holy Spirit is also presented as a divine Person; He is another comforter (of the same kind) as the Father and the Son:

“¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” (John 14:16)

In the Greek, the word “allos” means another of the same kind rather than of a different kind[29]. Therefore the Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son; He is another being like the Father and the Son[30].

The Holy Spirit has a personality: He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30), gives gifts as He chooses (1 Corinthians 12:11), speaks and directs people (Acts 8:29), He can be lied to (Acts 5:3) and can be resisted (Acts 7:51).

The apostasy of the last days will subtly deny the divinity of Jesus and put Him on a par with angelic or other “spirit” beings[31] as the Gnostics did. Rather than being the only one who can save us (Acts 2:21), many saviours or mediators will be presented. Man will become his own saviour, going back to the original deception that “ye shall be as gods” (Genesis 3:5). People will claim to have powers within themselves to heal[32] and do miracles, and Jesus will be reduced to the status of a faith healer[33]. However, the power of these healers originates not within themselves but from demonic forces according to the Scriptures. The result of this teaching will be a severing of their life from the true Vine, a withered spirituality and ultimately darkness, confusion, delusion and destruction. However, that is not so say that there cannot be genuine healings from the Lord as happened at Pentecost, in such cases the power is not attributed to self but to God (Acts 3:12). The disciples never claimed to have power within themselves to heal people; it was always attributed to God.

The philosophy that we are somehow divine is appealing to the natural mind because it is flattering to think of oneself as possessing superhuman powers and being holy. But this is a contradiction of what the Bible says about mankind, that the human heart is wicked and in rebellion against God (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18), not to mention that to think of oneself as divine is blasphemy (Acts 12:22-23)! Unless we realise our true condition we cannot be saved. In the Book of Revelation, the Laodicean church represents the final phase of the church in the last days[34]. They think they are rich and in need of nothing, but God says to them you are poor, blind and naked (Revelation 3:17). God offers to give us eye salve so we can see our true condition, and white raiment to cover our nakedness and gold to make us rich (Revelation 3:18). He can help us discern truth from error, to see that we need a Saviour; He can give us the robe of Christ’s righteousness and the gold of love and faith[35] in contrast to worldly wealth which perishes (Matthew 6:19-20).

Jesus stands at the door and knocks (Revelation 3:20), waiting for us to answer and let Him in. He waits patiently, knocking with His nail pierced hands and a crown of thorns on His head. If we let Him in, we must also be willing to let Him clear out the rubbish in our lives. This is one of the most touching appeals in the Scriptures, will you let Him in?

Chapter 6: Destruction

The final step in the decent of spiritualism is destruction! Although promising many things, ultimately it delivers nothing, and turns out to be empty. The Letter of Jude describes such false teachers as empty clouds that have no rain, fruitless trees and wandering stars reserved for darkness (Jude 12-13). If people were told where the road to Endor ended, would they still travel on it? Perhaps they still would, deceived into believing it was not as they had been warned, lured on by the prospect of worldly treasure. Sadly, those who reject God’s peace and truth will one day be destroyed, and their gold will turn out to be fools gold. When Christ returns many people who have made money their god will at last realise that it is worthless and throw it to the moles and the bats:

“²⁰ In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;” (Isaiah 2:20)

King Ahaziah was destroyed by sorcery after accidentally falling through a lattice in his palace (2 Kings 1:2); his injury was serious enough to call into question whether or not he would survive. He sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron to find out if he would recover. But God sent the prophet Elijah to tell the messengers that because the king had inquired of Baalzebub rather than the Lord (the God of Israel), he would die (2 Kings 1:3-4). There is no indication that the wicked king repented. He sent three lots of soldiers to seize Elijah; the first two groups were consumed with fire, and only after the captain of the third group politely asked Elijah to come did he consent with God’s approval. But Elijah did not change his message and the king died.

The case of Balaam was a sad one, once a prophet of the Lord (Numbers 22:9-12), he was consumed with covetousness. Balaam hoped to become rich through divination but ended up dead in battle sometime later (Numbers 31:8). His money did not profit him at all, he got what he wanted but in the end he perished with his money.

When Israel was about to invade Canaan, Balak the Moabite king (together with his Midianite allies) was afraid because of Israel’s success in conquering other nations through the power of God. Having heard of Balaam’s reputation as a prophet, he sent elders to invite him to curse Israel hoping that this might stop the Israelites (Numbers 22:1-7). He did not understand that the power of the Israelites was not some sort of magic but came from a relationship with the living God and keeping His commandments (Deuteronomy 28:7). Balaam should have known better, but the prospect of a rich reward tempted him and he offered to ask the Lord about it (Number 22:8). Clearly the Lord would not curse His own people, but the chance to become rich was too much for Balaam. The Lord told Balaam not to curse Israel and the messengers went home (Numbers 22:9-14).

Disappointed, Balak then sent princes with greater offers in the hope of persuading Balaam, and again Balaam asked the Lord about it (Numbers 22:15-19). God had already him he was not to curse Israel, so there was no need to ask the Lord about it again. God told the prophet only to go if they came to him in the morning, which they didn’t (Numbers 22:20-21)! Nevertheless Balaam was determined to get the money and went after them anyway! Even the intervention of his donkey speaking to him could not seem to shake him from his delusion (Numbers 22:22-33). When he arrived he was not permitted to curse Israel but was only allowed to bless them under the control of the Lord (Number 22:35; 23:8, 20; 24:10). Humiliated he returned home without his reward. Having been given ample evidence that he was not to work against Israel, he nevertheless went back and threw in his lot with the enemies of Israel[36] and of the Lord, where he was later slain when Israel under divine guidance attacked the Midianites for their perfidy. Balaam became a figure of those who love money and forsake the Lord (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14). It is interesting that the term Balaam is applied to the false teachers of the last days, giving a further link between sorcery and covetousness.

The fall of the ancient city of Babylon, has something in common with Balaam’s downfall; it is also linked to a trust in sorcery and materialism:

“⁹ But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. ¹⁰ For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. ¹¹ Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. ¹² Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. ¹³ Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. ¹⁴ Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it. ¹⁵ Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.” (Isaiah 47:9-15)

We know that the Babylonians relied heavily on their astrologers, wise men and enchanters from the Book of Daniel (Daniel 2:2). The Babylonians had been given ample evidence in the time of Nebuchadnezzar that these things were false. Repeatedly Daniel under the power of the living God was able to reveal dreams and omens which the wise men were powerless to understand. Nebuchadnezzar eventually acknowledged the true God, but in later years his grandson Belshazzar called a feast and mocked the living God by using the goblets taken from the Temple in Jerusalem for his feast. They praised the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood and stone (Daniel 5:1-4). Shortly afterwards an omen appeared in the form of a hand writing on the wall (Daniel 5:5). Belshazzar’s wise men could not interpret the writing and Daniel had to be called. It was a message of doom, the king had been weighed in the balances and found wanting, that very night he was slain by the invading Persians and his kingdom came to an end (Daniel 5:6-30).

Babylon fell because they should have known better, but chose to trust in their sorceries. They were focused on accumulating riches but suddenly in one day all was lost and the city fell. In a similar way, the Book of Revelation describes how spiritual Babylon will become the haunt of demons (Revelation 18:2) and materialistic (Revelation 18:11-14). She too will fall suddenly (Revelation 18:17) having been deceived by sorcery (Revelation 18:23). Here we see a clear link between covetousness and sorcery, which ends is destruction. It was covetousness that led Judas to betray his Lord, despite all the efforts Jesus made to save him[37] (John 13:12-21). Sadly, he chose money over Jesus, but his money did not profit him at all (Matthew 27:5).

These things were written as a warning to us (1 Corinthians 10:11) who are living in the last days that we might observe and be wise. The broad road to Endor although promising gold and silver ends in destruction, and those that travel on that road are not wise. In the book Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian passes a silver mine put there to tempt travellers from the narrow way. Those who go down into its depths get lost while hoping to get rich, or are smothered by the poisonous air. The few that manage to escape are so weighed down with silver that they cannot finish their journey to the Celestial City! Thankfully God has an alternative and an antidote to these deceptions which appear to be so attractive.

Chapter 7: The Antidote

When the people of Israel fell into Baal worship and turned from the living God, the prophet Elijah was sent to save them. The worshippers of Baal believed that their god sent them rain[38], so at Elijah’s word there was no rain until a severe drought and famine occurred (1 Kings 17:1, 12; 18:5). This was to show the people that it was God that provided the rain rather than Baal, so they would come to their senses and avoid eternal destruction.

The king tried to find Elijah but nobody knew where he was (1 Kings 18:10)! It was felt that if they could but get rid of Elijah all their troubles would end[39]. Failing to find Elijah, the queen, Jezebel took out her wrath on the prophets of the Lord. However, a servant of the king saved a hundred of them by hiding them in a cave (1 Kings 18:13). Eventually a final showdown between Elijah and the false prophets of Baal occurred on Mount Carmel. Before all the people Elijah proposed a test, the prophets of Baal would call on their god and he on the Lord, the one who answered by fire was the true God (1 Kings 18:21-24). The people had been faltering between two opinions and no one dared to answer him or reveal loyalty to Jehovah[40]. However, they liked the suggestion of a trial and so the scene was set. The prophets of Baal called on their god, chanting, and cutting themselves in a frenzy but no one answered. When Elijah’s turn came, he prayed a simple prayer of faith, then fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice as well as the altar! The spell over the people was broken and they acknowledged that Jehovah is the true God (1 Kings 18:39). Then God sent the rains to water the parched land, now that the people had repented and been saved from apostasy (1 Kings 18:44-45).

In the last days the church will again fall into an apostasy involving spiritualistic deceptions. Then a similar message will be given in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the people back to God:

“⁵ Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:” (Malachi 4:5)

Only this time it will be the false teachers calling the fire from heaven using demonic powers as well as healing the sick with the power of Satan to deceive the multitudes[41] (Revelation 13:13-14). Unfortunately the majority will not repent but will choose to follow the false teachings of spiritual Babylon, the fallen church[42] which is likened to the apostate Jezebel (Revelation 17:5; Jeremiah 4:30); they will choose the mystic wine of Babylon rather than the living water which God offers them (Revelation 14:8; John 7:38). A remnant will heed God’s end time message which is summarised in Revelation 14:6-12 and is known as the three angels’ message. This will be God’s last call of mercy before the close of probation and the return of Christ. From chapter 15 onwards the Book of Revelation generally deals with events occurring after probation has closed[43].

The close of probation is an event similar to when Noah preached to the people for over a hundred years before the door of mercy swung shut on the ark (Genesis 6:3; 7:16). God does not arbitrarily bring judgement upon people. First they have an opportunity to repent and be saved, but God cannot allow sin and suffering to go on forever, He has to bring it to an end. In Noah’s day man’s heart was corrupt continually and the earth was filled with violence (Genesis 6:5, 11); things could not go on like this forever. Jesus said that before He returns, conditions on earth will be similar to the time of Noah (Matthew 24:37-39). People were eating and drinking and then sudden destruction came on them, showing that they were absorbed in material things and had ignored the warnings of coming judgement. So it will be before Jesus returns, the world will be absorbed in their amusements, having chosen to believe the final deceptions which allow them to live contrary to God’s commandments.

The interesting thing about the three angels’ message is that it is the perfect antidote to the end time spiritualistic deception:

Spiritualism	Three Angels’ Message
Lawlessness	God’s commandments
No judgement – soul immortal	God’s judgement hour has started
Worship yourself – ye are gods	Worship your Creator
A false gospel	The everlasting gospel
A denial of Jesus	The faith of Jesus

This is the perfect antidote because it counteracts the basic tenets of the counterfeit message. One denies the law, sin, judgement and salvation only in Jesus, the other affirms these things. If there were no law there would be no sin either (Romans 5:13), therefore there would be no judgement and no need of a Saviour. The lawless doctrine strikes at the heart of the atonement and is a denial of Jesus. A person cannot repent if there is nothing to repent of. When the deception comes, its antidote will also be available for those who will avail themselves of its benefits. This time it will be trust in God’s Word that will save people rather than a demonstration of power because there will be so many false miracles and counterfeit signs going on.

Whenever God does something, Satan has a counterfeit[44]. As God has His three angelic messengers (Revelation 14:6-12), Satan also has three demonic messengers (Revelation 16:13-14). God has a throne and is worshipped in heaven (Revelation 4:9-11; 5:13-14); Satan also has a throne and is worshipped on earth (Revelation 2:13; 13:4). As God is a Trinity of three Persons (Revelation 1:4-8; Matthew 28:19); Satan also has his counterfeit trinity: the Dragon, the Beast and the False Prophet (Revelation 16:13). Side by side people will be able to see the reality and the counterfeit and make their choice, whose side they will be on. The whole world will be brought into one of two camps, either to worship the image of the beast (Revelation 13:15) or to be loyal to Jehovah and His commandments (Revelation 14:12).

On one occasion when Israel was in the wilderness, their camp became infested with poisonous snakes as a result of their grumbling against God (Number 21:5-6). However, God provided them with a cure; a bronze serpent on a pole so that anyone who looked at it would live (Numbers 21:7-9). When speaking to Nicodemus, Jesus used this as an illustration of His own mission (John 3:14-15). The bronze snake was a symbol of Christ; all who look to Him in faith can be cured of the snakebite of sin. It is interesting that antidotes for snake bites are usually made from the venom. Only by taking upon Himself the sins of the world could Jesus provide a remedy to save sinners (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24).

Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients of this antidote taken from Revelation 14:

“⁶ And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,”

The everlasting gospel as presented by Jesus and the apostles will be preached in its purity all over the world before the end comes (Matthew 24:14). This is not the counterfeit gospel of cheap grace but the real one which has power to change people. The speed of the angel represents the rapidity and breadth of the proclamation of this message[45]. The message will not literally be proclaimed by angels. God’s people will proclaim them, but behind the scenes angels will assist those who are doing the work.

Today, modern communication and better transport has facilitated the rapid spread of the gospel. Even in countries where the Bible is illegal, people are obtaining access to it through the internet! However, not by technology alone will the gospel commission be accomplished, but through the assistance of divine agencies, helping people to preach the good news. God’s Spirit will also be poured out upon God’s people to help them (Acts 2:17-21), and angels will be working in the background as ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14). The prophecy of Joel, quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost had a partial fulfilment at that time (Joel 2:28-32); however, the prophecy has its main emphasis on the coming of the Lord. So we can expect that there will be a great Pentecostal outpouring before Christ returns, to help finish the gospel commission (Matthew 28:18-20). This outpouring is known as the latter rain (Joel 2:23). The early rain helped start the church, the latter rain will help to finish the gospel commission[46].

“⁷ Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”

While spiritualism denies the judgement, the true gospel affirms it. Genuine believers have nothing to fear from the judgement; they will be covered by the blood of Jesus. But this cannot be used as a cloak for evil. The judgement weeds out from the kingdom those who are not genuine, as in the parable of the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:29-30). A religion that has the form but not the power will simply not pass the test.

In an era when some scientists are questioning the Biblical account of Creation, a call is made to worship our Creator. This opposes the spiritualistic worship of self. The Sabbath was given to man to turn his thoughts away from his own works to contemplate God’s Creation[47], and so safeguard man’s relationship with his Creator[48].

“⁸ And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

At the end of time, the church is in a fallen state; her false teachings have corrupted the whole world. The lawless doctrine has led the world into a terrible state of anarchy and led to a curse devouring the earth:

“⁵ The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. ⁶Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.” (Isaiah 24:5-6).

The breaking of the everlasting covenant is a rejection of God’s rulership and authority, and therefore of His protection; as a result disaster after disaster strikes the earth (Matthew 24:7), this will include war, famine, plague, fires and floods[49]. While people look for scientific explanations for the increasing calamities[50], ultimately the reason for them is rebellion against God and His commandments. The disasters will be a last attempt to bring mankind to their senses[51], to awaken them from their delusions before it is too late.

We are called to come out of Babylon which represents the fallen churches which forsake the commandments of God and become infiltrated by demonic powers. God’s true people are called to come out because God’s judgements are soon to fall on these churches. Having accepted the false miracles and signs and the lawless doctrine of demons they are ripe for destruction. God’s true people will flee out of them and join the remnant people of God and so receive the seal of the living God which will protect them when the final plagues fall upon the earth (Rev. 7:1-3; 16). Four angels are pictured as holding back the winds, representing the final calamities that will destroy the earth, until the saints have been sealed (Revelation 7:1).

“¹² Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

The saints of God are specifically identified as keeping God’s commandments; the emphasis on worshipping God as our Creator in Revelation 14:7 draws attention to the downtrodden fourth commandment. The saints will do a work of rebuilding and restoring the moral law of God, especially the fourth commandment[52]. By keeping all the commandments they receive the seal of God which is characterised inwardly by the Holy Spirit and outwardly by obedience to the Sabbath which is the only commandment which contains the name, jurisdiction and office of the Creator – His seal[53].

“⁹ And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, ¹⁰ The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11)

While the work of reformation is going on, the false prophets and teachers will not assist in this work but will instead use “untempered mortar” (Ezekiel 13:3-16; 22:26-31), they will desecrate God’s holy day and promote Sunday instead[54]. This false construction will be destroyed by a plague of hail along with the false prophets who built it (Revelation 16:21; Ezekiel 13:11-13)! At that time the terrible plague of Zechariah will fall on the false teachers who have fought against God’s people[55] (Zechariah 14:12).

The mark of the beast is an acceptance of a man made law (Sunday) over God’s law (the Sabbath)[56]. Despite the terrible warnings given against receiving the mark of the beast, the majority will not heed them. (For a detailed study about the mark of the beast, the seal of God and the final reformation of God’s people please refer to my other books[57]).

The antidote to Satan’s final deception will be available to all at the end of time because it is a worldwide message. We have been given ample resources to help us through the final crisis: the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit and a special warning message. Those living just prior to the return of Christ, who hear and accept this message will be saved and delivered when Christ returns:

“⁹ And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9)

Conclusion

The message of God’s Word serves as a reality check. People get mesmerised by spiritualistic dreams of glory, forgetting the basic principle that what a man sows he must also reap (Galatians 6:7). The promises of spiritualism are too good to be true; they allow one to live a sinful life in disobedience and rebellion against God and yet promise eternal life. In opposition to this delusion stands the judgement (Revelation 14:7), which serves to remind us that we live in solemn times when the actions of the saints and professed Christians are being weighed in the balances of the heavenly sanctuary[58] to see if their faith is genuine (James 2:8-12, 17-20; Revelation 14:7; Daniel 7:9-10, 22).

Because spiritualism is to take on a holy garb at the end of time, it is all the more important to become acquainted with the Scriptures, especially those that deal with the state of the dead, the return of Christ, the moral law and the Sabbath. Through two errors: the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will work to ruin the church[59].

I’ve observed that sometimes people refuse to follow God’s requirements because they fear they will lose something or someone. They say, we cannot keep the Sabbath or else we will lose our business, or my spouse will leave me. Then after a time the very thing they feared comes upon them anyway! Others fool themselves into believing that God does not require much of them as long as they live “a good life”. The Scriptures say that unless a man takes up his cross and follows after Jesus he is not worthy of Him (Matthew 10:38).

When someone is physically sick they usually take is seriously, seek medical help and accept whatever regime the doctor prescribes; but when it comes to our eternal destiny many seem surprisingly unconcerned about it. Perhaps this is because they think of heaven as an ethereal place, whereas in reality it is a real place. Heaven will be inhabited with real people who will be doing real things and enjoying themselves for all eternity in a place of love, happiness and glory. If only we could get a glimpse of what God has in store for those who love Him perhaps we might take our eternal destiny more seriously. In that place even the animals will be harmless, and people will be able to build houses and plant vineyards; children will play on the streets and no one will suffer from ageing, sickness or death (Isaiah 65:21-22, 25; Zechariah 8:5; Revelation 21:3-4) . Best of all we will be in the presence of God for all eternity and with Jesus who suffered for us and still bears the marks in His hands and feet from the crucifixion (John 17:24; 20:25, 27). Only when we get to heaven will we be truly able to appreciate the price paid for our salvation and how He delivered us from eternal ruin into such a glorious paradise (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Bible Memorisation Verses

I have included a list of key Scripture verses that you should be aware of and if possible memorise to help prepare for the coming crisis. It was through the memorisation of Scripture that Jesus was effectively able to resist the devils’ temptations in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). The only effective way of memorising Scripture is to keep repeating the verses on a daily basis[60].

Spiritualism

“9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.” (Deuteronomy 18:9-13)

“31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:31)

“19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? 20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:19-20)

“24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:24)

“20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:20-21)

Death as a Sleep

“5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5)

“4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (Psalm 146:4)

“21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.” (Job 14:21)

“2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2)

“11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep…14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” (John 11:11, 14)

“51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

The Composition of the Soul

“7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7)

“7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

The Resurrection

“16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

“28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29)

Destruction of the Wicked

“1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” (Malachi 4:1)

“23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

The Mortality of the Soul

“4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:” (Genesis 3:4)

“53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:53)

Salvation only through Jesus

“12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12)

“9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

“11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11)

“5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5)

“12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Inspiration of the Scriptures

“16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16)

The New Heaven and Earth

“3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

“10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up… 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:10, 13)

The Return of Christ

“11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

“27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:27)

A Future Judgement

“27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (Matthew 16:27)

“10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

The Trinity

“17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:” (Revelation 1:17)

“6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6)

“6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:6-8)

“10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Matthew 4:10)

“58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)

“14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3:14)

“16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” (John 14:16)

“26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26)

“30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

“29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.” (Acts 8:29)

“3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” (Acts 5:3-4)

Further Information

Richard Willis' book “Holistic Health, Holistic Hoax? An Expose of New Age Therapies” has a lot of useful information about the dangers of alternative healing practices, available from the Adventist Book Centre:

www.adventistbookcenter.com

The Great Controversy – one of the best books about end time events; can be read online at the Ellen White Estate:

http://www.whiteestate.org/books/gc/gc.asp

(Also available at www.whiteestate.org is “Patriarchs and Prophets”, the first chapter explains how sin arose in heaven, which is when the great controversy between Christ and Satan began)

Adventist Enterprises - my own web site ministry which includes details about my other books: 1. “Exploring the Heavenly Sanctuary”, find out if the heavenly temple is real and what its purpose is. 2. “Nehemiah the Sabbath Reformer” retells the exciting story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem under intense opposition. This is a spiritual lesson for God’s people at the end of time as they seek to uphold God’s moral law and especially the Sabbath, the biggest hole that has been made in the wall:

www.adventistenterprises.co.uk

The Biblical Research Institute produces doctrinal studies on various topics including the state of the dead:

www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org

About the Author

Marc Rasell was born in Oxford and grew up in a countryside village in Oxfordshire. He became a member of the Anglican Church at about the age of 12 where he heard the Word of God. He was convicted that he was a sinner in need of the sacrifice of Jesus. He later went on to become a Seventh-day Adventist after accepting the Sabbath truth and studying about Biblical prophecy. He studied at Newbold College, Bracknell and received a BA in Theology and then an MA in Religion, accredited by Andrews University. Following that, he spent a year in South Korea teaching English as a foreign language and taught some Bible lessons. While he was in South Korea he got married and returned to England. He eventually found employment with the church and worked for a couple of years at the Adventist Discovery Centre office in the British Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Watford. He was then called by the church to work as a ministerial intern and then as a licensed minister for the South England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in East Anglia and then Cornwall. He is currently serving as an elder of the Bodmin Seventh-day Adventist Church and as a full time self-employed colporteur (literature evangelist) selling church books on health, the Bible, and children's stories as well as writing church books. He lives in Cornwall and has three children.

References

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[1] Ellen White, The Great Controversy, Conflict of the Ages Series, Volume 5 (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1911) chapter 29 “The origin of evil” pp. 492-504

[2] Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, Volume 1 (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1855) p. 344

[3] Ibid., p. 428

[4] Francis D. Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 6 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1978) p. 55

[5] Woodrow Whidden, Jerry Moon, John W. Reeve, The Trinity (Hagerstown, Maryland: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2002) pp. 126-128

[6] Francis D. Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 4 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1978) p. 763

[7] Ellen White, Prophets and Kings, Conflict of the Ages Series, Volume 2 (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1917) p. 211; Acts of the Apostles, Conflict of the Ages Series, Volume 4 (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1911) p. 290; Signs of the Times, March 24, 1887 in Evangelism (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1946) pp. 608-609

[8] Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, Conflict of the Ages Series, Volume 1 (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1890) p. 684

[9] Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 560

[10] Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 627-628

[11] Francis D. Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 2 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1978) p. 586

[12] Francis D. Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1978) p. 486

[13] Francis D. Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 4, p. 144

[14] Ellen White, Signs of the Times, May 24, 1910, paragraph 7

[15] Ellen White, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1896) p. 42

[16] Francis D. Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7, p. 303

[17] Niels-Erik A. Andreasen, Death: Origin, Nature, and Final Eradication, Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology (Hagerstown, Maryland: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2001) p. 325; Ministerial Association, Seventh-day Adventist Believe… A Biblical Exposition of Fundamental Doctrines, Second Edition (Silver Spring, Maryland: General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 2005) pp. 390-391; Bible Readings for the Home, Revised (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1953) p. 516 (Spiritualism, Communication with the dead)

[18] Kittel, Gerhard (Hrsg.) ; Bromiley, Geoffrey William (Hrsg.) ; Friedrich, Gerhard (Hrsg.): Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. electronic ed. Grand Rapids, MI : Eerdmans, 1964-c1976, S. 1:209; Swanson, James: Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament). electronic ed. Oak Harbor : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997, S. DBLH 6409, #3

[19] Rober L. Odom, How Long is Forever, see http://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/documents/How%20Long%20Is%20Forever.htm

[20] Ellen White, Early Writings (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1882) pp. 218-219

[21] Niels-Erik A. Andreasen, Death: Origin, Nature, and Final Eradication, Handbook of Seventh-Day Adventist Theology, p. 336-337

[22] Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 588

[23] D. T. Gish, 1995. Evolution: The Fossils Still Say No! Institute for Creation Research, El Cajon, CA, 391 pp. (cited in The Answers Book, 1999, Answers in Genesis Ltd, Australia, p. 118) (see www.AnswersinGenesis.org)

[24] Marc Rasell, Exploring the Heavenly Sanctuary: understanding Seventh-day Adventist theology (Bloomington: AuthorHouse, 2009) chapters 7-10

[25] Francis D. Nichols, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7, pp. 637, 645

[26] Ellen White, The Great Controversy, pp. 552-556

[27] Whidden, Moon, Reeve, The Trinity, p. 115

[28] Ibid., pp. 264-267

[29] Francis D. Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 5 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1978) p. 1037; Swanson, James: Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Greek (New Testament). electronic ed. Oak Harbor : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997, S. GGK257

[30] Fernando L. Canale, Doctrine of God, Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology, p. 133

[31] Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 552

[32] Ellen White, Prophets and Kings, p. 211

[33] Ellen White, Early Writings, p. 87

[34] Kenneth A. Strand, The Eight Basic Visions, Daniel and Revelation Committee Series, Volume 6 (Silver Spring, Maryland: Biblical Research Institute, 1992) p. 34; C. Mervyn Maxwell, God Cares Volume 2, The Message of Revelation for You and Your Family (Boise, Idaho: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1985) p. 98

[35] Ellen White, Christ's Object Lessons (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1900) p. 158

[36] Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 451

[37] Ellen White, Review and Herald, June 14, 1898, paragraphs 6-10

[38] Ellen White, Prophets and Kings, p. 120

[39] Ibid., p. 126

[40] Ibid., p. 147

[41] Ellen White, The Great Controversy, pp. 588-589

[42] Francis D. Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7, pp. 828-830, 851

[43] Kenneth A. Strand, The Eight Basic Visions, Daniel and Revelation Committee Series, Volume 6, pp. 35-49

[44] Angel Manuel Rodriguez, Future Glory: the 8 greatest end-time prophecies in the Bible (Hagerstown, Maryland: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2002) p.105

[45] Francis D. Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7, p. 827; Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 355

[46] Ellen White, The Great Controversy, pp. 611-612

[47] Marc Rasell, Nehemiah the Sabbath Reformer (Bloomington: AuthorHouse 2010) p. 60

[48] Francis D. Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 1 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1978) p. 972

[49] Ellen White, Last Day Events (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1992) p. 24

[50] Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, Volume 6 (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1855) p. 408

[51] Ellen White, Last Day Events, p. 28

[52] Marc Rasell, Nehemiah the Sabbath Reformer

[53] Marc Rasell, Exploring the Heavenly Sanctuary, p. 75

[54] Francis D. Nichol, The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 4, p. 619

[55] Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 657

[56] Marc Rasell, Exploring the Heavenly Sanctuary, chapter 11

[57] Please see www.adventistenterprises.co.uk and www.exploringtheheavenlysanctuary.co.uk

[58] Marc Rasell, Exploring the Heavenly Sanctuary, chapters 6 and 10; Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, Volume 2 (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1855) pp. 43-44

[59] Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 588

[60] A good book on this subject is “You Need to Memorize Scripture” by N. A. Woychuk, currently available from www.AmazingFacts.org ; A free Bible memorisation program is available from www.memoryverses.org