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PROPHETIC SIGNS THAT WE ARE IN THE END TIMES [A good summary of SOME key evidences--QX]
CONTENDER MINISTRIES ^ | 11 JUL 2004 | JENNIFER RAST

Posted on 11/07/2004 8:40:35 PM PST by Quix

Prophetic Signs that we are in the End Times

Contender Ministries

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The Bible gives many examples of signs that should warn us of the coming end of the age. Six such signs are given by Jesus, two characteristics are given by Paul, and eleven other occurrences are given by the prophets to occur prior to or soon after the end of the age. While we are also told we will not know the time of the End, God obviously wanted us to know when that time was getting closer. As the Christian church is increasingly drawn into the interfaith movement, and as more and more churches go into isolation, preparing to sleep through the growing attacks on their faith, perhaps God knew it would take a few signs to wake us up and remind us that we have work to do.

Unfortunately, many Christians take the verses that tell us we won't know the time of His coming to mean they should ignore any and all scripture that might warn us of this time of tribulation. Others have fallen into the trap of fearing being labeled a "conspiracy theorist" should they display an interest in the Biblical prophecies about our future on Earth. My philosophy is simple. God included it in the Bible and, since God is all knowing, we should trust that it is something we should know and study along with the rest of His Word.

It is increasingly obvious that the time of our Lord's coming is drawing near. Prophecy is being fulfilled daily, and at a faster pace than ever before. Whether you believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, or believe Christians will be witness to the full tribulation, wrath, and final judgments, matters not. The beginning of birth pains and the signs of the times should have the same effect on all of us. It should motivate us to save as many souls as we can in the time that we have left. The Great Commission tells us to be disciples to all nations, bringing the message of salvation through Christ to all people. If the Church is raptured before the tribulation, it is important that we leave behind an explanation for the trials and judgments those left behind will face. How else will they recognize the deception of the anti-Christ and seek instead the truth of the Bible? If we are to endure the tribulation along side them, we will need to be prepared to not only share the message of salvation, but share with them the reasons for God's judgment and hold it up as further proof of their need to be saved.

Below is a study of the prophetic signs God gave us as a warning of the approaching end of the age. Many of them are being fulfilled now and many will be fulfilled in the near future. I would encourage you to study prophecy, know what is coming and be prepared to share it with others.

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SIX SIGNS GIVEN BY JESUS TO INDICATE HIS COMING AND THE END OF THE AGE

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In Matthew24:3 Jesus was asked, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?" Jesus told his apostles to look for the following signs prior to his second coming and the end of the age.

1. FALSE PROPHETS AND CHRISTS

Matthew 24:5 "For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and will mislead many."

Matthew 24:11 "And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many."

In the last several years many have claimed to be the Messiah. Jim Jones and David Koresh are examples of these false christs as well as countless others who are not as newsworthy. These false prophets are a prelude to the ultimate false christ, the antichrist. Many New Age groups, some even NGO's working for the United Nations, are anxiously awaiting the antichrist, preparing the way for his acceptance as the head of the hierarchy of gods and the one who will usher in world peace.

2. WARS

Matthew 24:6 "And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end."

Rumors of wars in all areas of the world now occur frequently thanks to instant media coverage and the availability of a multitude of 24-hour news sources.

Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes."

More people have been killed in warfare in this century than at any other time in history. As the death toll rises in the Middle East, more and more countries work feverishly to develop devastating weapons of mass destruction. Add to that the expanding threat of terrorism and unpredictable dictators such as Saddam Hussein, and the potential for the outbreak of war exists in nations, kingdoms and places across the globe.

3. FAMINES

Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes."

As white, Christian farmers are driven out of Africa in increasing numbers, and foreigners move in to replace life-sustaining crops with poppies that now supply 25% of the worlds drugs, famine spreads across the African continent. The undernourished are not limited to Africa, however. A large portion of the worlds 5 billion people suffers from a shortage of food.

4. EARTHQUAKES

Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes."

The number and intensity of earthquakes this century is at a level higher than any other time in history. A staggering number of seismic events occur around the world daily. The earthquake seismic monitor IRIS shows all major earthquakes for the last year. Indicated by yellow and red circles, the seismic events of the last 15 days provides strong evidence of the fulfillment of Matthew 24:7 in our day. By contrast, in the years from 1890 to 1900 there was only one major earthquake in the world.

5. TRIBULATIONS

Matthew 24:8-9 "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of my name."

Christians are under attack throughout the world today. In the United States Christians still enjoy freedom to worship God without suffering much more than ridicule, hatred, or discrimination at work and school. However in many other countries such as China, Sudan, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Russia, and many Muslim nations, Christian suffer much greater persecution and often times death for their faith. During the tribulation this suffering will be worldwide and will continue even to the point of martyrdom. These first 5 signs will increase in intensity and severity as the tribulation approaches, much like the birth pangs or contractions of a pregnant woman worsen as the delivery time approaches.

6. THE GOSPEL WILL BE PREACHED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come."

This prophecy has already been fulfilled through television, radio, missionaries, the translation of the Bible into many languages, and the internet. People all over the world now hear the message of Christ from missionaries who have the means to travel the globe, and via technology that allows us to communicate with people on the other side of the world right from our own homes, churches and offices.

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TWO CHARACTERISTICS OF THE END OF THE AGE FROM THE APOSTLE PAUL

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1. GODLESSNESS IN THE LAST DAYS

II Timothy 3:1-5,7 "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of god; holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

For anyone who has watched television, read a newspaper, lost a retirement to corporate greed and corruption, or just walked outside their front door, it is obvious this prophecy has been fulfilled by our generation. Our leaders are often corrupt; our cities are filled with crime, brutality, and neon signs proclaiming our sinful, godless nature. The New Age Movement brings in increasing numbers of mystics who claim to be the enlightened ones. They are some of the most educated and influential people in our societies, and yet the most lacking in real truth.

2. APOSTASY (FALLING AWAY FROM THE FAITH)

I Timothy 4:1-3 "But the spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. By means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth."

Churches today are becoming more and more ecumenical, embracing the New Age interfaith agenda, and denying Christ as the only way to salvation. Giving in to the politically correct media and a corrupt society, they have embrace homosexuality as an acceptable alternate lifestyle and preach tolerance and compromise in place of God's truth for the salvation of the world. The environmentalist movement within the New Age movement lures them into a worship of mother earth, belief in past lives, reincarnation, and Karma while demonizing all those who would eat the meat God gave us as nourishment for our bodies.

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ELEVEN FULFILLMENTS OF BIBLE PROPHECY REQUIRED FOR THE END OF THE AGE

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1. EXISTENCE OF A 200,000,000 MAN ARMY IN THE EAST

Revelation 9:16 "And the number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them."

An army of that size had never existed until China's army reached that number in the 1960's.

2. REDEVELOPMENT OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (EUROPEAN COMMUNITY)

Daniel 2:32-33 "The head of the statue was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay."

Daniel 2:40-43 "Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces. And in that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have the toughness of iron, and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle. And in that you saw the iron mixed with clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery."

The fourth kingdom of iron is the Roman empire according to Daniel's interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The two legs are the division of the Roman empire into an eastern portion called the Byzantine empire which ended in the 1400's and a western portion based in Rome which ended in the 400's. The nations of Europe since the Roman empire dissolved have never adhered or formed one empire but continue as separate nations, however, the European Union now has 15 Member States and is preparing for the accession of 13 eastern and southern European countries.

3. RETURN OF THE ONE PURE LANGUAGE, HEBREW, TO ISRAEL

Zephaniah 3:9 "For then I will return to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent."

Prior to the restoration of Israel in 1948, Hebrew was a dead language. Now Hebrew is spoken throughout Israel.

4. REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE, RESTORATION OF TEMPLE WORSHIP AND ANIMAL SACRIFICES IN JERUSALEM

For several end time prophecies to be fulfilled, the temple will have to be rebuilt.

Revelation 11:2 "Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the oly city for forty-two months."

Daniel 9:27 "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolation, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."

Daniel 9:26 "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary."

Some archeologists believe that the temple mount is actually 340 feet south of the Dome of the Rock site, putting the Dome of the Rock within the Court of the Gentiles. This may be the court outside the temple that is left out.

There are many groups already working on preparations for the new temple. The blueprints are already done, the temple garments have been made, and there have already been attempts to lay the cornerstone of the temple. The only thing standing in the way of the construction of the new temple is Islam's third holiest site, the Dome of the Rock and government support for such an undertaking. Some possible scenarios for the rebuilding of the temple are as follows:

1. The persuasion and performing of miracles by the Antichrist and False Prophet convinces the Islamic world to approve the rebuilding.

2. The United Nations will negotiate the rebuilding of the temple following a war with the armies from the North (Russia and Islamic forces). This assumes that the war with the armies from the North is not the battle of Armageddon as some feel and that this attack occurs before the rapture or tribulation period begins. The supernatural destruction of the Russian army and Islamic forces will cause an outpouring of Christian worship and zeal amongst the Jewish people who will reconstruct the temple.

3. It is determined that the site of the first two temples is actually south of the Dome of the Rock, and the court of the gentiles (Dome of the Rock) will be left out of the 3rd temple.

A group in Israel called the Temple Mount Faithful have obtained most of the clothing, instruments and other equipment required for temple worship and are actively preparing for the laying of the third temple's cornerstone.

5. APPEARANCE OF THE RED HEIFER AFTER 2000 YEARS

Numbers 19:2-7 "This is the statute of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed. "You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and it shall be brought outside the camp and be slaughtered in his presence. Next Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle some of its blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times. "Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight; its hide and its flesh and its blood, with its refuse, shall be burned. "The priest shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward come into the camp, but the priest shall be unclean until evening."

A red heifer will be required to be used in the process of purification described in the book of Numbers. In May 1997 the first Red Heifer was born in 2000 years. Another red Heifer was born in Israel in March of 2002.

6. INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE AND TRAVEL

Daniel 12:4 "But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase."

Billy Graham was quoted as saying, "ninety percent of all the engineers and scientists who have ever lived are alive today." Air travel, space travel, DNA research and human cloning are all examples of the rapid increase in knowledge in our generation.

7. RETURN OF THE ETHIOPIAN JEWS TO ISRAEL

Zephaniah 3:10-11 "From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, My dispersed ones, will bring My offerings. In that day you will feel no shame because of all your deeds by which you have rebelled against Me; For then I will remove from your midst your proud, exulting ones, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain."

In 1984, Operation Moses saw the airlift of 15,000 Jews who had already fled to refugee camps in Sudan to escape starvation. In 1991, Operation Solomon flew 20,000 Jews to Israel from Ethiopia itself. A further airlift began in June of 1999, aimed at transporting the last 3,000 members of the Quara Jewish community from northeastern Ethiopia to Israel.

8. THE RISE OF RUSSIA

Ezekiel 38:2,4,8 "Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him. I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords. After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them."

In order for some end time events to occur Russia will have to be a strong nation with a strong military.

9. RETURN OF RUSSIAN JEWS TO ISRAEL

Jeremiah 23:7-8 "Therefore behold, the days are coming declares the Lord, when they will no longer say, as the Lord lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt, but as the Lord lives, who brought up and led back the descendants of the household of Israel from the north land and from all the countries where I have driven them. Then they will live on their own soil."

In the 1970's and 1980's there was a mass exodus of Russian Jews out of Communist Russia. In 1999 the Associated Press reported a dramatic increase in the number of Jewish immigrants from Russia, bringing the largest number of Russian Jews to Israel since the early 1990's.

10. TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MARK OF THE BEAST

Revelation 13:16-17 "And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name."

On May 10, three members of a family in Florida became the first people to receive the biochip implant. Each device, made of silicon and called a VeriChip, is a small radio transmitter about the size of a piece of rice that is injected under a person's skin. It transmits a unique personal ID number whenever it is within a few feet of a special receiver unit. VeriChip's maker describes it as "a miniaturized, implantable, radio frequency identification device (RFID) that can be used in a variety of security, emergency and healthcare applications."

Is the biochip the mark of the beast to be used by the antichrist? We can't really know. What is significant is that people are being softened to the idea of a mark or an implant as a means of maintaining security, providing medical information, and regulating a more interdependent world. As attitudes change, fears subside, and people are convinced of the need for such a mark, the true mark of the beast will be easily introduced to the world by the antichrist.

11. PLANS FOR THE ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT

The United Nations, World Trade Organization, International Criminal Court, UN peacekeeping/police force, numerous UN NGO's, and other agencies are preliminary steps to the formation of a one world government. We now have the communications technology, transportation, and the pro-globalization media necessary to usher in the one world government headed by the antichrist. The increasing terrorist threat and the middle east conflict will only speed up the formation of this governing body as fear and promises of better security make more people willing to give up their national sovereignty for global governance.

12. INSTANT COMMUNICATION AROUND THE WORLD

Revelation 11:3, 7-10 "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophecy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth."

Television and the 24-hour news networks make it possible for people around the world to see the dead prophets and rejoice at their deaths.

Luke 21:28 "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Luke 21:32 "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place."


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To: Dr. Eckleburg
Christians should live every second of our lives as if it was our last moment on earth.
That's "being ready."

No, that's called living out the life granted to you to the fullest, it's part of your free will. To be ready for the Lord is to walk with the Lord daily, where somehow, the Lord is included in everything you do everyday.

821 posted on 12/02/2004 2:20:40 PM PST by BigSkyFreeper (Congratulations President-Re-Elect George W. Bush!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 807 | View Replies]

To: oprahstheantichrist; All

Bill Yount is ringing MORE of a bell now! LOL.

I realize the rabid naysayers will have a field day with this but they will with virtually anything so God will have to respond to them in His time.

Andrew Strom is the son of a dear NZ friend. I know his Dad better. I think Andrew has discerned some real truth in all the noise. He articulates well why I've said repeatedly that the prophetic is a mess that The Lord has scheduled some major clean-up on.

But, God STILL has a habit of using HIS FOOLISH THINGS to confound the wise. A camel hair clothed locust and honey eating character starteled a lot of RELIGIOUS leaders once upon a time.

Another truly Great man of God lay naked in full site of the city on one side for a year and then etc.

One refused to obey God and cook with human poop one time and God allowed an alternative poop.

I try to avoid being toooooo surprised at whatever God might do through whomever.

Nevertheless, as Andrew articulates well, it seems that there's a lot well over the line of being remotely kosher enough for attentiveness thereto.

The delusion is that the folks hostile to the prophetic in our era have a cleaner house of greater righteousness and kosherness. That's some real BS.

God will deal with theirs in HIS time as He will the prophetic in HIS time. Theirs is tricker to discern because RELIGIOUS . . . evil . . . has always tended to come white-washed, polished, sparkling, with long lists of verses attached and a whole parade of scholars justifying everything . . . in every denomination and most every congregation of all of ours.

The prophetic tends to wear it's crud almost like a brazen tattoo in garish plain sight of God and everyone. Not so the crud of the parading super righteous RELIGIOUS leaders and noise makers. Theirs may be in plain sight. But it's often more like picking out the fly poop from the pepper to show it clearly.

Anyway--FWIW, here's Andrew's exhortation. Part 1 is available at his site and has some more great exhortations but I felt part 2 was more suited to my points and interests. And, has been a bit more along the lines of my own convictions for some time.

I really agree with him about the FREELY YOU HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE.

BTW, thanks for posting the Bill Yount thing--regardless--discussion and discernment of the Body of Christ is what Corinthians 14 calls us to do with the prophetic. The noise makers make so much noise that the truly discerning are wary of bothering and so the discussion never gets very far hereon. But, at least folks can do so in their own local congregations with assists from inputs hereon. So, thanks.

Blessings,




PART #2 - "LEAVING THE PROPHETIC MOVEMENT"

-by Andrew Strom.









I guess you will not be surprised to hear that I was flooded with 600 emails within 24 hours of my announcement that I was leaving the Prophetic movement. Many of them seemed to be highly supportive of the stand I had taken. (-A lot of people have seen alarming things in this movement). But I'm sure I will receive a lot of flak also.
For many years, even when I was truly disturbed by something I usually avoided "naming names" as much as possible. I do not approve of the 'Heresy Hunters' who seem to take such delight in maligning Spirit-filled ministries across the Internet. There is no delight in such things for me. Only grief and sadness that the name of Jesus is once again being brought down into the mud. We live in very sad times in the church today, don't we?

After my previous article, many people asked me again to "name names" and announce clearly who the leaders were at this conference - even though that info was already at the top of my first email. For this one time, I am actually going to accede to their request - because we need to clear the air about these leaders and also a number of others as well. But I have to tell you, I have been totally heart-sick at having to talk about all this.

The speakers at this KC 'Whitedove' Conference were Bob Jones, Paul Keith Davis, Bobby Conner, John Paul Jackson, Shawn Bolz - plus Jim Goll and one or two others. Sadly, I have to say that I have rarely felt so grieved or devastated as when I witnessed the carryings-on at this event. If you get the 'Elijah' List (-the main Prophetic email List) you will recognize most of the names above as being amongst the top "movers and shakers" of the whole movement.

A number of people asked me about Rick Joyner and Morningstar Ministries. Where do they fit into all this? Well, seemingly Rick has always managed to keep himself at a slight distance from the worst excesses and controversies of this movement. (-Except for when he joined the Knights of Malta - an ancient Catholic Order. -By the way, that is probably what led to the fad of using swords to 'knight' people that swept through this movement a few years ago). I have read some of Joyner's books and enjoy some of the things he says, but frankly, just because he has kept himself at a slight distance does not absolve him from the mess that the Prophetic is in today. The fact is, Mr Joyner is very close friends with almost all of the main leaders at this recent conference. He regularly ministers alongside them - and knows them very well. As a 'father' in the movement, if he had brought correction it would have been heeded, but he has clearly failed to do so. Thus, he has to be held accountable for the state of things as much as anyone else. And it would not surprise me if similar deception is finding it's way into Morningstar conferences. (-A number of the same people are involved). Sadly then, I have had to remove any articles or links to Rick Joyner from my web-site - along with all the others.

And speaking of the sad and grievous state of this movement, I wonder how many of you received the following notice from the Elijah List recently about a forthcoming 'School of the Prophets': "God is releasing a new level of revelation that goes beyond just operating in the nine gifts of the Spirit.... Sessions will cover topics like Hearing the Voice of God, Activating your Spiritual Senses, Third Heaven Experiences, and Exploring Spirit Realms." The advertised speakers are Todd Bentley, Stacey Campbell, Larry Randolph, Paul Keith Davis, and Bobby Conner.

Now, I have come across Todd Bentley's teachings on "How to visit the Third Heaven" before, and I tell you, it is nothing less than 'Guided Visualization' taken straight out of the New Age movement. Nothing less and nothing more. It is exactly the same. And I want you to know that if you attend these kinds of things, or allow these men to 'guide' you or lay hands upon you, then you are opening yourself up to all kinds of spirits and demonic counterfeits. As I have stated before, this movement has absolutely NO DISCERNMENT at all. It has sunk into such deception that it's leaders are opening people up to all kinds of demonic experiences on a daily basis. It has no idea that it is even doing it. -It behaves exactly like a movement that has been "given over to deception" by God. I urge again that everyone reading this would prayerfully consider CUTTING OFF all ties to this movement, lest you yourself become tainted by it.

It is with great sadness that I make the above points. I have refrained from saying such things in the past, but I can no longer do so, because untold people are being spiritually damaged by what is going on. Please understand my heart in this.

For the same reason I also need to warn you about another 'prophetess' who is often featured on the Elijah List. Her name is Jill Austin and I have personally witnessed her ministry in action. I would describe it as one of the most disturbing (by far) meetings that I have ever been in. There was definitely a strange "power" operating, but it certainly did not seem like God to me. She is also an expert at 'hyping' an audience. Please be very careful in such environments, my friends. -You can end up taking part in things that you would never normally do, just because you are part of a large crowd.

Sadly, there seem to be many other ministries in this movement involved in similar deception. In fact, I hate to say it, but a general rule might be that if someone is featured on the Elijah List, there has to be at least an 80% chance that their ministry is "off" in some major way. I will say just one more thing about the Elijah List: I am convinced that they will one day give account to God for taking upon themselves the name "Elijah" and then doing what they have done with it. Literally, by their own words they will be judged.


HOW TO AVOID DECEPTION

What a lot of people don't seem to recognize is the sheer level of 'peer pressure' and "crowd manipulation" that is going on at many of these events. They end up being led into doing things they feel uncomfortable with, just because "everybody else" is doing it. They squash down their discernment. They ignore the "little voice" or the tiny 'alarm bells' inside them that are trying to get their attention. And thus, multitudes of Christians are being led astray - and paying through the nose for the privilege. I urge anyone reading this who has ever squashed down their discernment and participated in such things, to get before God and REPENT of opening yourself up in that way. It is very important that you confess this before God and ask His forgiveness. RENOUNCE all deception in Jesus' name.

One thing we don't have much time to discuss here is the MONEY issue. This is a huge problem in the Prophetic. Now, I do understand that ministries need finances to operate. I run a ministry myself. And as most of you know, about 5 times a year we put out a book or CD (available for any donation - or even just postage) to go towards the costs of keeping this ministry operating. However, the word itself is always free. It is terribly sad to see the charging of 'entry fees' to hear the word today, and the over-bearing emphasis on MONEY in the church. Did not Jesus clearly command: "Freely you have received, freely give"?


REDEFINING "PROPHET"

Just because I have cut myself off from today's Prophetic movement does not mean that I believe there is no place for prophets in the church. In fact, I believe we need true prophets now more than ever. But you will notice that there has been a subtle shift in the use of the term "prophet" over the last 25 years, and I believe we need to get back to the original meaning. It was not long ago that when you spoke of a 'prophet' you were usually referring to someone like Keith Green, Leonard Ravenhill or David Wilkerson - someone who was crying out to the lukewarm church, "REPENT." And if you look down the annals of history, you will find that there has never been a true Prophetic movement that did not have this as it's core message. Every true Prophetic movement, right from the Old Testament down through every Revival and Awakening that I have ever studied, has been a movement of REPENTANCE. And yet we find today a movement that calls itself "Prophetic" - but with spiritual 'revelations' and words of knowledge at its core. -No piercing word. This is the precise reason why it has gone off the rails. -It has abandoned it's age-old message. It's 'word' has been corrupted.

I am convinced that God IS going to raise up true prophets in this hour to cry to the lukewarm church "Repent". There is a movement coming that is utterly different from that which we have seen. God is coming to clean house. The "shaking" has already begun. And the "John-the-Baptists" whom God has prepared in the caves and wildernesses are about to arise and speak His word - just as in every Great Awakening down through history.

Some people asked me if I was going to shut down our web-sites and email Lists. Not at all. The whole point of what we're doing is to call forth and encourage these "John-the-Baptists" whom God is raising up in this hour. We will not stop crying aloud until we see a great 'Repentance' Revival sweeping this nation from coast to coast.

As A.W. Tozer wrote of all true prophets down the ages: "God has always had His specialists whose chief concern has been the moral breakdown, the decline in the spiritual health of the nation or the church. Such men were Elijah, Jeremiah, Malachi and others of their kind who appeared at critical moments in history to reprove, rebuke and exhort in the name of God and righteousness... Such a man was likely to be drastic, radical, possibly at times violent, and the curious crowd that gathered to watch him work soon branded him as extreme, fanatical, negative. And in a sense they were right. He was single-minded, severe, fearless, and these were the qualities the circumstances demanded. He shocked some, frightened others and alienated not a few, but he knew who had called him and what he was sent to do. His ministry was geared to the emergency, and that fact marked him out as different, a man apart."

To give us feedback on this article, please write to:

revival4@pars.net

An extra big THANKYOU to those who have been praying for us during this sad time. Truly appreciated, my friends.

God bless you all.

Kindest regards in Christ,

Andrew Strom.

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(Please feel free to copy and share this article. -Or "link" to it).


822 posted on 12/02/2004 2:30:23 PM PST by Quix (5having a form of godliness but denying its power. I TIM 3:5)
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To: Alex Murphy

Seems as though you'd profit from a study of prophets in the OT vs the NT and

WHY

Corinthians 14

was given as part of Scripture for our era.

YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHECY is a good place to start.

But, hey, given your love for throwing rocks--take up that crusade if that's what you feel God is instructing you to do. Obeying God is always more important than obeying man.

It might even hasten God working quicker, stronger, in a greater diversity of ways to help you understand the differences between Holy Spirit's operating in the OT vs the NT eras.


823 posted on 12/02/2004 2:35:26 PM PST by Quix (5having a form of godliness but denying its power. I TIM 3:5)
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To: Quix
I believe that this is a good summary of SOME key evidences and their related Scriptures. I don't believe it's near as exhaustive as might be done. I would like to see dozens of such issues and their incremental advancements over the last 50 years. Seeing the graphs creep up at a faster and faster rate of speed toward fulfillment would be more interesting, to me.

Ya mean there are no codes to explain all this? hehe.

824 posted on 12/02/2004 3:01:38 PM PST by Invincibly Ignorant
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To: Quix; Gamecock; D Edmund Joaquin; Dr. Eckleburg
Well, seemingly Rick has always managed to keep himself at a slight distance from the worst excesses and controversies of this movement. (-Except for when he joined the Knights of Malta - an ancient Catholic Order. -By the way, that is probably what led to the fad of using swords to 'knight' people that swept through this movement a few years ago).

Is that how he "slays" people?

825 posted on 12/02/2004 4:33:55 PM PST by topcat54
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To: Quix
And speaking of the sad and grievous state of this movement, I wonder how many of you received the following notice from the Elijah List recently about a forthcoming 'School of the Prophets': "God is releasing a new level of revelation that goes beyond just operating in the nine gifts of the Spirit.... Sessions will cover topics like Hearing the Voice of God, Activating your Spiritual Senses, Third Heaven Experiences, and Exploring Spirit Realms." The advertised speakers are Todd Bentley, Stacey Campbell, Larry Randolph, Paul Keith Davis, and Bobby Conner.

I am convinced that God IS going to raise up true prophets in this hour to cry to the lukewarm church "Repent".

And how shal we recognize these new "prophets"? If we can't use Deut. 18 to discern true prophets, what shall we use? Most books written? Largest group of followers? Most money taken in?

Will the real "prophets" please stand up?

But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?'-- when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

826 posted on 12/02/2004 4:39:51 PM PST by topcat54
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To: Quix; topcat54
Seems as though you'd profit from a study of prophets in the OT vs the NT

Where would I find such a study? I would appreciate an authoritative source, ie scripture. Obviously that's not in the OT anymore, as you've just declared the OT to be obsolete to the NT era Christian. Where is this "more up-to-date" guide to testing the prophets? I don't find one in 1 Corinthians 14.

I must also ask whether you are testifying that, in this NT era, God has changed the rules re prophetic utterances? Are you claiming that what was once sinful (and thus damning) behavior, God now declares holy and acceptable? Or are you bearing witness that God has developed a speech impediment when speaking to His prophets, so that they cannot understand Him clearly? Or has the world become so utterly sinful, that God no longer can figure out what the future's gonna be?

827 posted on 12/02/2004 5:23:04 PM PST by Alex Murphy (Psalm 73)
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To: Alex Murphy

Have declared no such thing.

And you know it.

You are the ones insisting on an Old Testament response to a New Testament reality.

Have you decided the NT is of little or no value to the Christian life?


828 posted on 12/02/2004 5:33:14 PM PST by Quix (5having a form of godliness but denying its power. I TIM 3:5)
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To: Quix; Alex Murphy; Gamecock; D Edmund Joaquin; Dr. Eckleburg
YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHECY is a good place to start.

Whose sons and whose daughters? Or do you just ignore the context.

829 posted on 12/02/2004 5:42:36 PM PST by topcat54
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To: Quix; topcat54
What would this specifically "New Testament" response be, when confronted with false (i.e. didn't come to pass) prophecy? Or is false prophecy something that went away with the applicability of the OT? Does not being allowed to impose punishment on false prophets mean that we shouldn't ignore them as we are also commanded? Did God really speak through them after all?

Tell us, Quix, what is the appropriate "New Testament Response"? More specifically, what is the New Testament test to determine false prophecy? Tests of accuracy, i.e. "didn't come to pass as prophesied", are part of the "Old Testament Reality" that you repeatedly claim has little application to our NT-era lives.

While you're at it, show me the NT injunction against beastiality. There was one in the OT, but none in the NT. Using your "OT vs NT" Rules of Reality, sleeping with farm animals is no longer a sinful offense.

830 posted on 12/02/2004 5:47:16 PM PST by Alex Murphy (Psalm 73)
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To: topcat54; Quix
And speaking of the sad and grievous state of this movement, I wonder how many of you received the following notice from the Elijah List recently about a forthcoming 'School of the Prophets': "God is releasing a new level of revelation that goes beyond just operating in the nine gifts of the Spirit.... Sessions will cover topics like Hearing the Voice of God, Activating your Spiritual Senses, Third Heaven Experiences, and Exploring Spirit Realms." The advertised speakers are Todd Bentley, Stacey Campbell, Larry Randolph, Paul Keith Davis, and Bobby Conner.

Yeah, I've had a BIG problem with The Elijah List for quite some time. That whole site is embarrassing.

831 posted on 12/02/2004 5:49:55 PM PST by oprahstheantichrist
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To: topcat54; All

Peter in Acts 2 clearly construed the context as fitting for exhorting

CHRISTIANS

IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH ERA.

I choose to agree with Peter about context.

I realize . . . . some . . . .

seem very bent on going with an Old Testament

RELIGIOUS

mentality

very common in the Old Testament and

amongst the Old Testament experts of Jesus' dusty pathed days.


832 posted on 12/02/2004 5:52:14 PM PST by Quix (5having a form of godliness but denying its power. I TIM 3:5)
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To: oprahstheantichrist

And Shultz?

in several personal communications has stubbornly refused to even moderate his heavy handed advertising etc.

EVEN

on the so called 'printer friendly' versions! Sheesh. When 2-6 of 8 pages of PRINTER FRIENDLY come out advertising, that's outrageous.

His rationalization is all the single mothers he supports with such outreach. I suspect he'd support more if he recalled more vividly

FREELY RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE.

AS WELL AS

Christ and the cat o nine tails in the Temple.


833 posted on 12/02/2004 5:54:59 PM PST by Quix (5having a form of godliness but denying its power. I TIM 3:5)
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To: Alex Murphy

Don't recall giving any such rules of reality.

And, I don't appreciate your putting very inaccurate words in my fingers.


834 posted on 12/02/2004 5:57:11 PM PST by Quix (5having a form of godliness but denying its power. I TIM 3:5)
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To: Alex Murphy
JESUS IS COMING EVERYBODY LOOK BUSY

LOLOL!!!

Or you and your desk go straight to hall.

835 posted on 12/02/2004 6:13:24 PM PST by Dr. Eckleburg (There are very few shades of gray.)
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To: Alex Murphy
There was one in the OT, but none in the NT. Using your "OT vs NT" Rules of Reality, sleeping with farm animals is no longer a sinful offense.

You know of course, hippies are living proof that cowboys sleep with sheep.

True. I read it on the internet.

836 posted on 12/02/2004 6:17:15 PM PST by Starwind (The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only true good news)
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To: Quix; Alex Murphy; Dr. Eckleburg
Peter in Acts 2 clearly construed the context as fitting for exhorting CHRISTIANS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH ERA.

But Peter was quoting Joel, where the audience was Jewish, and all the hearers in Acts 2 were Jewish.

So I ask again, whose sons and daughter did Joel/Peter have in mind? What makes you believe this applies to any group other than the immediate one in Acts 2?

837 posted on 12/02/2004 6:48:07 PM PST by topcat54
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To: bikepacker67

It's the end of time...again. Invest in bonds, earn interest until we get the factories up and running .


838 posted on 12/02/2004 6:55:09 PM PST by BIGLOOK (I once opposed keelhauling but have recently come to my senses.)
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To: D Edmund Joaquin
Good point. Thanks for the ping!
839 posted on 12/02/2004 7:11:29 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: topcat54

GIVEN

that the Apostle Peter's exhortation seems to have left you unenlightened,

I'm quite sure I can add nothing fruitful to his illustrious efforts.


840 posted on 12/02/2004 7:13:36 PM PST by Quix (5having a form of godliness but denying its power. I TIM 3:5)
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