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by Kevin Pauley
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb, but he sounded like a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth before people. - Revelation 13:11-13 HCSB
I have lived in many countries and thus, have been privileged to witness many cultures. Every one of them was religious. As a matter of fact, there is no such thing as an atheistic human culture. Whether we talk about Australian aborigines, Central African pygmies, European Catholics or American Bible-belters, every human culture, regardless of race, affluence or level of technology is fundamentally religious.
This intrinsic need to worship something, to seek out and experience awe, has been our undoing since the dawn of human history. Our problem is that unscrupulous people have always capitalized on this psychological “back door.” Eden’s serpent was the first and all the “Jims” (Jim Jones, Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart) will certainly not be the last.
Jesus warned us that there will be many false christs and false prophets.[1] Just as we know that there will be one ultimate Antichrist preceded by many lesser antichrists[2], one supreme false prophet will also rise. I find it interesting to note that the Master’s prophetic chronology lists the Antichrist’s rise before the false prophet’s, matching John’s Revelation account.[3] This is just one of literally thousands of examples of the Scripture’s incredible unity.
Allow me to share another. Go back a couple thousand years further – all the way back to Moses. He warned us that if a prophet or a visionary arises and proclaims a sign or wonder to us, and even if that sign or wonder comes about but he says, “Let us follow other gods and worship them” that we are not to listen.[4]Natsar ‘Adam – Watcher of Mankind[5] will be testing us to know whether we love Him with all our heart and soul.
So what are we to do? How may we discern who to listen to when all around us are “falling away” into apostasy, swept up in the mass hysteria or religious ecstasy? Moses gave us the way of escape. “Follow the Lord your God and fear Him. Keep His commands and listen to His voice. Worship and remain faithful to Yahweh.”
In an age where many are already urging us to let our emotions be our guides,[6] this advice rings especially true. Anyone who watches Chris Angel on Mindfreak knows you cannot trust your senses. No, only the Scriptures are inspired and profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training so that we may be complete and equipped for every good work.[7]
Do not follow the crowd in wrong doing[8], even if you see fire come down from heaven.
[2] 1 John 2:18,22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7
[3] Revelation 13:1-2 cp 13:11-12
Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
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