Disciples Digital Library

Did Jesus triumph and begin his messianic reign following his Death and Resurrection, or is he still waiting for some future event? Did Jesus conquer his enemies on Calvary as Scripture declares or not? Most of us would answer, “Yes, of course!” Nevertheless, certain popular teachings, intentionally or not, effectively deny this and teach that his reign will not commence until his return at the end of the present age.

‘Christendom’ is an idolatrous term used often to invoke Divine support of national and political institutions, agendas, and ideologies . In popular usage, the English term ‘Christendom’ refers to “that part of the world in which Christianity prevails,” either because the majority of a nation’s citizens claim to be Christian, or because a specific sect or denomination is recognized by the State as the country’s official religion.

The contemporary church is plagued by famine for hearing the words of God, but a famine that is a self-inflicted wound . Many credible men of God have warned that the Church of Jesus Christ will experience a “ famine for the word of God .” I initially took this as a prediction that the Bible itself would be suppressed even in Western-style democracies as governmental authorities persecuted the Church. The reality is rather different.

Many voices claim that God is about to pour out tremendous “signs and wonders” the likes of which no man has ever seen, supernatural displays so overpowering that billions of souls will prostrate themselves in repentance before the awesome power of God. Indeed, this super revival will be defined and characterized by great “signs and wonders,” or so say the “prophets and apostles.”

“ They overcame the Dragon by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and because they loved not their lives unto death .” Popular preaching claims the Church’s victory will be accomplished by the coming massive outpouring of mighty “signs and wonders” as predicted by today’s prophetic voices. This has become the “Holy Grail”  of charismatic churches. Only a super revival characterized by wave after wave of miraculous deeds will equip the church to fulfill its  Great Commission .

There are no geographic restrictions on the reign of the “ Beast ” in the Book of Revelation . All the “ Inhabitants of the Earth ” bow to its “ image .” It is granted “ authority over every tribe, people, tongue, and nation .” Contrary to some popular claims, there will be no “holdout nation” to resist its beastly reign. Only the followers of Jesus refuse its demands .

Did Jesus triumph through his Death and Resurrection, or is he still waiting for some future event for his reign to begin? Was Jesus victorious over God’s enemies on the Cross, and did he begin to rule as the Davidic King following his Death and Resurrection? Most Christians would answer, “Well, yes! Of course!” Nevertheless, many popular interpretations effectively if not openly deny this present reality when they claim his reign over the Earth will not commence until his return in glory or some other future date or event.

Church leaders warn us of the dangers posed by groups outside the church in the surrounding society; “liberal” politicians, “Woke” ideology, the “gay agenda,” and the like. Forces that are destroying society, perverting the culture, and undermining the “Judeo-Christian” values on which the United States of America was founded, supposedly.

According to Moses, “ When the prophet speaks in the name of Yahweh and the word does not come to pass, that is the word Yahweh has NOT spoken .” If this guideline remains applicable, many churches have embraced an interpretive school of prophecy that does not represent what the Bible says, namely, Dispensationalism, and this is demonstrated by its long history of failed predictions, speculations, and expectations.

ARE WE LISTENING ? In his Olivet Discours, Jesus warned of coming “ deceivers ,” “ false anointed ones ,” and “ false prophets ” intent on misleading his disciples, and his repeated warnings are expanded in the writings of his Apostles. His Discourse began with a stern warning - “ Beware lest anyone deceive you! ” - “ MANY ” deceivers would come and “ deceive MANY .”

“ If any man preaches any gospel other than that which you received from us, let him be accursed! ” As a young believer, I listened to voices from different churches exposing me to divergent interpretations within the church world. However, despite occasional differences, most churches were proclaiming the same Jesus, the Son of God who gave his life for the sins of the world.

Rage is NOT an appropriate reaction to hostility for disciples of Jesus. His instructions about this issue contradict the “ wisdom of this age ” and human experience. Nevertheless, responding in anger to violations of our political, civil, and individual “rights” only demonstrates how far many of us have strayed from his teachings and example.

In Revelation, the “ False Prophet ” uses religious symbolism and economic control to coax the inhabitants of the World Empire to render homage to the Imperial Throne. Whether force or persuasion is employed, the goal remains the same. Men who refuse to embrace and venerate the “ Beast ” are excluded from economic activity and thereby impoverished.

The Charismatic Movement is focused on an expected final “revival” that is expected to commence at any moment accompanied by unprecedented “signs and wonders.” Billions of souls will be won, and revival will pave the way for Christ’s return. The predicted displays of the supernatural have become the rallying cry, the raison d'être of the Movement with its self-appointed “apostles” and “prophets.”

Two years ago, a “prophet” who is well-known in Evangelical and Charismatic circles prophesied that soon “ Angelic visitations will increase as I release My messengers with destiny messages . Revelation, understanding and enlightenment will accelerate in My sons and daughters as My DNA will be revealed inside of them” - ( Emphasis in the original article ). Since this was given in the first person, we are supposed to believe this was the direct voice of God or Jesus. This is a ready-made formula for deception.

The public exposure of gross sin among many church leaders has become all too common today, and often we discover that their more egregious faults existed even before they entered the ministry. Just as bad are the committees and elders who select men and women for the ministry despite knowing about their proclivities before appointing them. Sorry situations of this sort develop when elders, pastors, and ministry boards ignore the clear teachings of Scripture.

God’s Power and Wisdom are found in the proclamation of a Crucified Messiah, not in displays of power or political might . Contrary to many expectations, the Kingdom of God will not be implemented through political, economic, or military power. Nor will it take super revivals characterized by awesome supernatural displays. Statements in the New Testament and the examples of Jesus and his Apostles point elsewhere. Righteousness, holiness, and the Kingdom can only be advanced through the proclamation of the “ Word of the Cross .”

We are in the annual “prophetic” silly season when the “Monthly Prognosticators” in the Church issue their pronouncements about the next Hebrew year and what God will do in it, usually derived from their interpretation of the year number, in this case, 5784. Such predictions are made at the start of every Hebrew year and month since it seems we are constantly entering one new “season” or another when God does something new that, apparently, He did not do in the previous month or year.

When listening to popular preachers and prophets expound on the “ times and seasons ,” things quickly become rather bewildering. Every week, if not day, the church enters a new “prophetic season,” and each new shift in the “spirit realm” brings its own set of rules to the game. This next year, month, or day we will enter a season of deliverance, testing, burden, reward, loss, promotion, or demotion. If we fail to keep up, we will be left behind by the Spirit.

Discussions on the doctrine of the Rapture normally revolve around the question, ‘When the Rapture will occur?’ That is, for example, before the “ Great Tribulation ,” at its midpoint, or at the end of the Tribulation? But this question misses a fundamental point. Nowhere does the New Testament even mention any ‘rapture’ at all, or at least, not by that term if by it we mean the physical removal of the church from the Earth and its transportation to “heaven,” presumably, someplace outside of the present space-time continuum.