"For false christs and false prophets
will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive,
if possible ...EVEN THE ELECT.
See, I have told you beforehand.'"
Matthew 24:24
Great signs and wonders... So convincing that even the elect need to heed this warning.
Believers have a tendency to associate signs, wonders and miracles with the power of God, and surely, believers will see the power of God as they walk with the Lord. But not all signs and wonders are from God.
There are two sources of supernatural power, God and also Satan. Satan is the great counterfeiter, and it's crucial to know this because as we move into the time of the end we're going to be seeing a lot of false signs and false wonders and false prophecies and false teachers. Jesus said that their "signs" will be so spectacular that it will nearly deceive even believers.
When Jesus was asked what the signs of his coming will be, the FIRST thing he said was, "Take heed that no one DECEIVES you!" He was solemnly warning that in the days preceding his coming believers need to take heed, to pay strict attention, to discern any supernatural power at work, whether it be of God or of the enemy. We MUST be on guard, because it's going to be in our face and will deceive MANY, hence Jesus's warning.
Some of the great "revivals" that have taken place in these last days featured false signs and wonders. The late David Wilkerson, one of the great men of God, spoke to this very thing, I've posted the short video below.
When you see false signs, RUN! If you see people barking like dogs, or splitting their sides in laughter, try to picture the Lord Jesus doing these things. Try to picture the apostle Paul doing these things.This is deception. RUN! There ARE true signs, wonders, and prophecies, but they don't come as entertainment and they don't make people make fools of themselves. God is a holy God.
"But," you may say, "some people were healed in those meetings." When you see people being given over to craziness, RUN! Leave the subject of healings in the Lord's hands. You don't need to judge that. What you need is to be able to discern what's going on in that place and if the people are being given over to frenzy, RUN! Better to miss a "healing" than to take part in something false. If God means to heal you, he will. He doesn't have to do it there. If the "healer" has a manicured hairdo, arrives in a jet, and puts on a greatly entertaining show, RUN! You don't WANT the "healing" he has to offer.
It's going to be very, very difficult to discern what's false as the power of the enemy is ramped up to great heights. You must know the Word of God thoroughly to be able to spot what's false. If you're not grounded in the Word, see to this matter immediately because it's crucial; if you don't know the Word of God - without question you will be deceived.
Always, always, when you see something questionable, try to picture Jesus or the apostle Paul doing those things, and if just the thought of it makes you shudder, you'll know you need to get out of this place. Jesus did true healings, but he didn't go into a frenzy of laughter, he didn't roll on the ground and bark like a dog. Likewise the apostles. When a meeting becomes a circus, RUN!
"So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, you shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it." Exodus 5:6-8 When a promise is given by the Lord, there will ALWAYS be Satanic resistance before that promise brings fulfillment. It was God himself who sent Moses to speak to the children of Israel as they worked slave labor under Pharaoh. And it was God himself who sent Moses to speak to Pharaoh. At first, the Jews received Moses because Moses did before them the supernatural signs God had instructed him to do, God witnessing to them that indeed it was he, the Lord, who sent him. But then Satan moved into the picture. He put it into Pharaoh's heart not only to refuse to let them go, but on top of that he increased their slave labor to an impossible level. Naturally, the Jews were shocked and concluded that after all it wasn't God who sent Moses to them: vs 21: "And they said to them, (Moses and Aaron) 'Let the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.' And ...even Moses himself was perplexed:" vs 22-23: "So Moses returned to the Lord and said, 'Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it you have sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your Name, he has done evil to this people, neither have you delivered your people at all.'” Do you have a promise that you know was given to you by the Lord? ...And then all hell broke loose instead of the promise being fulfilled? Most people believe there is a God. But few are aware that there also is an adversary called Satan who stands against all that God says, and seeks to ruin every plan God has spoken. Satan will do all in his power to convince you that your promise was NOT from God, and then he'll point to the all-hell-breaking-loose to prove that to you ...and destroy your faith. This kind of barrage is greater than most believers can withstand. In fact, even Moses was bewildered when he saw the exact opposite happening from what God promised. The key to victory is in UNDERSTANDING. If you understand the way things work, then instead of being totally discouraged, you will realize that this is the way the faith life works. In fact, the barrage of evil is actually an encouragement that God will come through even though it looks hopeless, because what God says will ALWAYS come to pass ...after Satan has put up road blocks in order to prevent it. You might question whether it truly WAS God who gave you the promise, so you need to go to the Lord and ask for confirmation that indeed it was him who gave you the promise, and that it was not your own imagination, nor just your wishful thinking. If the promise indeed was from the Lord, he will confirm that to you. And then you just stand. For as long as it takes. You refuse to believe whatever Satan throws your way (and surely he will) and you stand on a confirmed promise the Lord himself spoke to you. And know that what God promised ...WILL BE - regardless of the passage of time or changes in circumstances. Just believe!
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,
may they PROSPER who love you."
Psalm 122:6
It is easy to miss some of the promises of God hidden away in his Word. In this one for example, God promises to prosper those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
When God called Abraham, the father of the Jews, he made a promise which all should hear and all should heed:
"I will bless those who bless you,
and I will curse him who curses you."
Genesis 12:3
That pretty much settles the fate of the "Palestinians" and all who vow to destroy Israel. Those who hate Israel have a coming date with destruction.
A picture of a current-day example of this is what happened to Great Britain after she turned against Israel. Great Britain was greatly used by God to begin the restoration of the Jewish people back to the land of their fathers in the 20th century, and of Great Britain it was said, "The sun never sets on the British Empire." The British Empire including her colonies was huge - it covered so many parts of the earth that it was always daylight somewhere in the Empire.
But Britain's fortunes turned when Britain turned against Israel in the 1940's and her greatness waned from then on, her glory faded - not only in the loss of colonies, but even note how the monarchy was steeped in scandals bringing shame again and again on the whole royal family.
America on the other hand, has been a staunch ally of Israel, and America is the most prosperous country on the face of the earth because of it. Until Barack Hussein Obama, that is. His administration turned against Israel, and America descended into licentiousness and dark immorality. America was founded upon the Judeo-Christian ethic and upon the Word of God, but the Word of God was banned and scorned in America. From that time America began losing her greatness, as violence and profound immorality covered the land.
America was granted a reprieve under the administration of Donald Trump. He sided with Christian ethics and support of Israel. His administration tried to reverse the great harm Obama brought upon this country, but this was a reprieve granted by God only for a time, time for people to make their choices. The hand of God was removed as the country chose everything that God hates.
And now the New World Order is bearing down not only in America, but globally.
We have only a very short time left and then the evil men of the world will be relieved and will rejoice when the believers are taken out. When the "restrainer" of 2ndThessalonians 2:7 is removed - unprecedented evils will be free to reign, and the prophesied judgments will fall.
But the promise remains for those inside both Britain and America, and in any other place on the face of the earth - that the blessing of God will come upon anyone who blesses Jerusalem and prays for her peace. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" - and be blessed by the most high God.
What does the "peace of Jerusalem" entail? Ever since the rebirth of Israel in 1948, the world has hated her. Israel stands daily in danger of rocket attacks, terrorism, and war. The Word of God shows that there will be more wars ahead for Israel. Her enemies, though they are unable to destroy her because God guarantees her survival, yet they are able to do great damage to her and will come close to their goal of "wiping her off the face of the earth." So how then are we to pray for her peace, knowing great troubles are coming for her? Here's a great revelation taken from God's Word concerning Israel: she will only know peace when the Prince of Peace comes! The "peace of Jerusalem" is a Person!
In effect, when you pray for the peace of Jerusalem, you're praying for the coming of her Messiah! And anyone who prays this, will truly be greatly blessed.
