Without question, we believe we are living in a time of a great spiritual awakening throughout the world. At the same time, however, we do not believe this is synonymous with a great revival of people turning to fundamental Christianity. A spiritual awakening is not necessarily a good thing; it depends entirely upon what it is that people are seeking in an effort to fill the spiritual vacuum within mankind. This is nothing new; there are literally hundreds of various practices and beliefs throughout the world which believe in some form of a deity. There are reports of Islam as being the fastest growing religion in the world, as well as an increased interest in mystical eastern religions throughout the world. New and strange cults are being formed at an all time high rate of speed, as never before recorded. It seems to be on an almost daily basis that there is some new twist or thought coming down the pipeline. New revelations and visions of various sorts, strange mixtures of established religions being touted as the new truth gleaned from all religions, all are being exalted under the banner of tolerance and respect.

What we see is a world where there is an increase of the belief that there are neither absolute truths nor absolute moral standards. We are told that everything is subjective according to each individual’s understanding of what is truth and what is moral.

With this being said, is the world really seeing a great Christian revival, as we are being told by many TV evangelists who hold a great degree of respectability among so many Christians?

Personally, I do not see any biblical basis for believing that there will be a great end time revival proceeding the return of Jesus to receive the saints unto Himself. Most of what we have seen and observed for the basis of believing we are in a period of a great worldwide revival comes from “New Revelation Knowledge” by a few individuals who make the claim to be the “anointed of God”. We have also seen an attempt to silence those who disagree and question the validity of what they teach through guilt fear and intimidation. The responses come from seemingly harmless comments like, “Don’t you want to see a world wide revival?” to such stinging comments such as “You are very close to committing blasphemy of the Holy Spirit by speaking against these great men of God.”

The only way one can make such a statement (and there are those who do make this charge, including those to whom it is directed) is to assume that they are hearing directly from the Holy Spirit. Since they, and others, believe they are hearing directly from God, then to question or doubt what they say is speaking against God Himself. The thing that is interesting however, is that it doesn’t seem to matter if the Bible contradicts or does not support what we are being told by these men. To do this is to put the word of these men above the written word of God, and with this being so, then we must ask, which should we adhere to, the teachings of the Bible or the teachings of these men?

The technique often used to silence a statement against “the anointed of God” or against a “New Revelation” that contradicts Biblical truth is to question the spirituality of the one making the statement. The response usually goes something like this, “They are not as sensitive to the Holy Spirit as we are, and if they were, then they would understand the deeper things of the Lord as we do.” This line of thinking is to suggest that they are on a higher level of spirituality than the rest, which takes us back to the articles, Does the Bible teach that we are gods? and Who are the anointed? I suggest that such thinking appeals to the corrupt nature of man, the desire to be above and a little better than someone else. It is my suggestion, for those who may have such an attitude, that a heart-felt, deep searching of one’s motivation may be in order.

Concerning my view on revival, I also desire a revival, a revival of a returning to the sound doctrines of historical fundamental Christianity. As far as how I feel about the reports of wide-spread revival here and abroad, I can but only agree with the Apostle Paul on this matter. “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: the one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. What then? Notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, (personal ends or selfish ambitions) or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” (Philippians 1:15-18)

Even knowing that those who disagree will attack this ministry, we have chosen to join with the few who have already had the courage and the conviction to question the many present-day teachings that we believe to be heretical and contrary to the word of God.

Beloved, believe not every spirit (1 John 4:1)

There are many warnings throughout the Bible about receiving false teachings, doctrines and false Christs which seem to go almost without notice in many churches. One false assumption that we hear over and again is the belief that as long as we listen to the Holy Spirit, we are okay. While it is true that the Holy Spirit will never lead us astray, it is an assumption that all we are receiving is of the Holy Spirit. Christians are never told to assume anything. On the contrary, we are told to be on our guard, be aware, test the spirits, and be firmly grounded in the Word. We are also reminded of the fact that false prophets will arise and deceive many, especially in the last days. Are we living in the last days? I believe we are, and if you do too, then all the more reason to be aware of what the Bible tells us about the increase of deception. But be cautious because even the deceivers use these verses of warnings as a means of deception. So what is the answer? You must be firmly grounded in the Word of God on a personal basis, letting no man teach you to believe anything that contradicts the Written Word of God. We believe that much deception is being received as truth simply because man is putting their trust in man, rather than in what God has already revealed in His Written Word. God knew what He was doing. He knew that there had to be a road map which could not be changed, something by which to judge what is truth and what is falsehood. (2 Timothy 2:15 & 1 John 4:6) (Also see the article A Ruler is a Ruler is a Ruler...)

But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matt.36:8)

What were the days of Noah like before the flood? We read in Genesis 6:5, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:11-12 says, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.”

We read in Matthew 24: 4-5 that Jesus said, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ: and shall deceive many.” Again in vs. 11, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Vs. 23 and 24, “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there: believe it not. 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.” Jesus continues in vs. 25 and 26, “Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.”

I must ask, does any of this sound like there will be a great revival in the end times? Take another look at vs.12 in this chapter, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax (grow) cold.” Couple this with what is said in 2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” Vs. 9-11, “Even him, (Christ) whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” Now connect this with 2 Timothy 4: 1-5 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables.”

How many times have we heard from the pulpits of many teachers and preachers to forget what you have been taught about doctrine and tradition? The impression is being given that doctrine and tradition are of no importance, in fact that they are no more than manmade doctrines and traditions. We are being told that the anointing of the Holy Spirit and listening to His voice is of the utmost importance and is the only way to be sure of receiving “New Revelation Truths” direct from God at the present time in history. Look again at the above quote from 2 Timothy, “For the time will come when they will not endure Sound Doctrine.” We are told to “Exhort with long-suffering and doctrine.” 2 Thessalonians 2:14-15 states, “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, bretheren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”

It is a very dangerous thing to throw away the Bible and to just take the word of those who claim to be hearing directly from God through the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 states, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupt from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear (put up with easily)with him.”

How many have found the gospel to be complicated rather than accepting the simplicity that is in Christ? “Can’t be that easy,” many say, “has to be more complicated than that.” If what you are being taught is complicated, then that should bring up a red flag in and of itself.

Have you been told about another Jesus, who wore designer clothes and had a pocket full of money, even though Jesus Himself said, “The foxes have holes, and the birds have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head”? (Matthew 8:20) Have you been told that Jesus took on the nature of Satan, died, and had to be born again even thought the Bible says “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.” (Hebrews 13:8-9) This is to suggest the “I am”, the eternal God, became corrupted just as a mere man who needed to be born again. (This is pure unadulterated blasphemy, yet many Christians will defend to the death those who teach such things because they believe them to be the anointed of God.)

I once heard a preacher say, “If you have received another Jesus other than the Jesus preached by the Apostles, you have also received a false salvation.” I agree with this statement. A false Jesus has only a false salvation to offer. This should cause some to shudder and rethink their view of Jesus.

Have you been told that as long as you have received that Holy Spirit that there is no danger in receiving another spirit? The Bible warns us and exhorts us to test the spirits to see if they are of God because, many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1) Are you certain that you have received the Spirit that has been preached from the beginning and that it is not another spirit?

Again, all we can do is to encourage many to rethink their view of the Holy Spirit. Is the spirit you received the Holy Spirit that we receive when we confess our sins and receive Jesus into our hearts? Is the view you have of the Holy Spirit supported by scripture? Are there any contradictions between what you think the Holy Spirit is and what God says in His Word? If the Jesus you received is another Jesus, then it goes without saying, the spirit would be another spirit as well.

Have you been taught another gospel other than the one that was given to the apostles? “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8-9) What is the gospel of Christ of which the apostles preached? “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1:3-5) Then the Apostle Paul says in vs. 6, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.”

To make it very simple and to bring those into the simplicity of Christ, the gospel of Christ is as follows: Salvation has come and is made available to all mankind through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus for our sins so that we may have eternal life, not of works, but of grace, to all who believe that Jesus is the Christ.

This is summed up in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, which tells us that those who teach these things contrary to what was received and preached by the apostles in the beginning have perverted the gospel and it has this to say: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

This writing is not for the purpose to divide the body of Christ, but is intended to serve as a warning to those who may be caught up in false teachings. If we believe the Bible to be the Word of God, written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit, then why would the Holy Spirit contradict what He already revealed to mankind? Are we really serving a confused God or a God who forgot what He already said, or decided to complete His word at another time in history through new revelation knowledge to only a select few? Do you realize that all cults, past and present, began by some individual who made the claim to be the anointed of God, who appointed them to be a modern day prophet? These people always make the claim that God revealed to them (either through a vision or by direct communication) new truths never before known, or hidden truths, or truths long forgotten but revitalized through them. In all cases, there are those who will follow after these “men and women of God” no matter how far they may deviate from the written word of God (examples are Jim Jones, David Koresh, and the recent Heaven’s Gate cult). There is never a lack of followers who dare not question anything these people say for fear of going against God’s will.

Is there a possibility that you may be involved in a church that preaches false teachings? If anything that has been written in these few pages sounds like what you have been seeing and hearing, then you may need to search out the scriptures for yourself to see if what you have been hearing is truth. The Bereans checked even what the Apostle Paul preached, and for doing so, were called noble. (Acts 17:11) Should we do any less today with those who claim to be speaking for God?

We pray for those who have been caught up in false teachings who may have suffered fear, condemnation, guilt, and hopelessness, and who may have been ostracized for not getting in line with these false teachings. We pray that many will find a renewed liberty in Christ, that which they once knew in the beginning when they first experienced the love and grace which is found in Jesus.