After His baptism by John, Jesus moved to the Galilee in Northern Israel. The influence of Jesus over the entire world would increase inexorably with many ups and downs,
At first many thousands of ordinary people in Galilee came to listen to Jesus speak. They were attracted by His healings and charisma. But over time what he said and did became old-hat. At the same time fierce opposition developed in the religious establishment centered in Jerusalem a hundred of miles to the South. Jesus knew full well what His destiny would be. Matthew Chapter 12 records the beginning of the transition from Galilee to Jerusalem. The mounting hostility of the Pharisees is evident from verse 22, with an amazing teaching on apostasy hidden there -- which is the focus of this article.
Americans are mostly Biblically illiterate these days. If we attend church it is often so we can be affirmed by a snippet from the Bible preached on for half-an-hour by a seminary trained puppet who need not actually know Jesus. We sit next to total strangers, dutifully put 10% in the offering plate to keep the cabal going.
As He headed South on foot, Jesus dispatched the 12, two by two, to let the people along the route know He was. He also recruited an additional 70 for a special mission--heralding the coming Kingdom rule of Jesus over the entire earth. See The Seventy. (The mission of these men is recorded in Luke 10.) Here we can now see 2000 years ahead to the calling of 70 times 70 times 1000 (144k) evangelists soon to be dispatched by Jesus from cosmic Headquarters.
Down through the centuries a few individuals would trust in Jesus and learn to walk with Him daily. Beginning with Matthew 12:16, Jesus instructed them especially--the survivors--while also addressing the Pharisees in increasingly harsh words. (This is because religious error lies at heart of all that is wrong in the world.)
Jesus is Commander in Chief of the Armies of heaven in case you've never been told. Listen to great bold Hymn: The Half has Never Yet Been Told.
After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to our God, for his judgments are true and just;
he has judged the great whore
who corrupted the earth with her fornication,
and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.’ Once more they said, ‘Hallelujah! The smoke goes up from her for ever and ever.’ And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, ‘Amen. Hallelujah!’
And from the throne came a voice saying,
‘Praise our God,
all you his servants,
and all who fear him, small and great.’ Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder-peals, crying out,
‘Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready;
to her it has been granted to be clothed
with fine linen, bright and pure’—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are true words of God.’ Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow-servant with you and your comrades who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’
Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’.
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, ‘Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and their riders—flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great.’ Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against the rider on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed in its presence the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were killed by the sword of the rider on the horse, the sword that came from his mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh." (Revelation 19)
Lastly, Jesus addresses His followers (then and now) "While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’ But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ And pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’ "(Matthew 12:47-50)
Matthew 12
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The point of these verses that describe demon possession goes back to Jesus’ warning about the peril of being neutral toward Him Matthew 12:30). A demon cast out of a person initially goes through arid places seeking rest. This statement affirms the Jewish belief that demons prefer dry places (Tobit 8:3; cf. Revelation 18:2). [Note: Cf. Tasker, p. 133. See Edersheim, 2:748-63, and 2:770-76, for the Jewish views of angels and demons.] Eventually they seek to inhabit human bodies through which they can do more damage.
Jesus implied the possibility of demonic repossession (Matthew 12:44). The demon’s house is a human body in Jesus’ story. The demon returns to the person it had left discovering that he or she is still receptive to the demon’s presence because no superior power occupies that person. Consequently the demon invites seven other demons, a full complement, and they take up residence in the person.
Jesus compared the unbelieving Jews of His day to the demon-possessed person. John the Baptist and Jesus had purified the lives of many in Galilee by calling them to repentance, but not all of them had embraced Jesus in faith. Jesus had cast demons out of many people, but they did not all believe that He was the Messiah. This neutral condition left them vulnerable to an even worse invasion from Satan to say nothing about judgment from God. These neutral individuals represented the nation as a whole.
Many Christians believe that Jesus’ teaching here gives evidence that demons cannot possess a true believer. That may be so, but demons can afflict believers greatly. Believers are no more immune against attack from Satan and his demons than we are from attacks from the world and the flesh. The line between demon possession and demon affliction is a thin one that is very hard to identify. (Thomas Constable)
”The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
This expression is often attributed to the Cistercian abbot Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 – 1153).
Imagine a home Bible class, perhaps a dozen men and women. They care about each other, invite their non-Christian friends, stay transparent--loving one another as best they can. They usually pray in concert together. They are all, pretty much, on the same page theologically (doctrinally). Not finding a like-minded group of Christians in their zone, they start a church, meeting perhaps in a rented empty office. One in their group knows the Bible, so he is the new pastor, by default. They'll hire a professionally trained pastor when they can afford it. Soon the church has embraced the Laodicean heresy without knowing it: a paid clergy and a separate laity. Soon all sorts of seeking, searching, hurting people join their ranks--and these people tithe. It is less and less important that each member knows Jesus and is actively trusting Him. From a starter group of dozen people, they soon may number hundreds. They soon decide on a creed--a statement of what they believe--to distinguish themselves from the cults in the area. Lining up with the IRS is important, so gifts to their fellowship are tax-deductible. Soon they the need help of a lawyer, a facility manager, some secretaries. Lots of wonderful church starts end up cabals, or "city hall" churches. It's the slippery-slope of apostasy, happening in every generation, but cascading at the end of the age. Like now.
The creedal statement will probably remain orthodox, kosher, but the growing church becomes "seeker friendly." Hypocrisy sets in. So does apostasy. The creed stays in place, but fewer members know and walk with Jesus. The original warm, caring Fellowship is now just another church on church row with very little light and not much love overflowing into the community. The visible church is now mostly compromised as far as God is concerned. Fewer real seekers bother to show up. The members know that are not really loved and but everyone is welcome as long as they have no "problems" and/or "issues." The younger generation loses interest and drops out! No one knows quite why. The outward form is preserved but there is dry rot inside.
Something else happens! The culture changes and compromised churches can't keep up with the times. They become entrenched, liturgical, set in their ways--and God shuts off the power.
There is nothing new about this series of events. Through two thousand years of church history, the professing church has reinvented her image and protocols seven times now. See The Seven Churches. The last church of the series, Laodicea, boasts the largest number of converts but is the flakiest.
Scenario: An evangelist, like Billy Graham, from a certain cultural understanding of the Gospel message devotes himself to spreading the good news near and far. Many thousands "accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior" and, joining local churches, they bring new live to a dying congregation. Yet mainline churches have a history of fading away for a number of reasons! Counter-cultural movements such as the Jesus Movement rise up, and a new generation of gung ho followers of Jesus springs up. They, too, fall away, or are assimilated back into the surrounding pagan culture. See The Church Papers.
Individuals apostatize as well as entire churches! The age of the church is now ending with the fake church coagulating into the Great Harlot and true church being about to be caught up to heaven. God's program is right on schedule and on track, ready or not. Today most born-again Christians are not found in an organized church--for a variety of reasons. But this means the Body of Christ on earth today is highly fragmented. Yet the the church is the "secret government" of God on the planet--as the church goes, so goes the nation. See The Church Papers.
Jesus is intensely personable and all who will may come. It is not enough just to know Jesus individually since the church Jesus is building is family, the very Body of Christ. Jesus is the Head and His agenda calls for a total rebuilding of a wasted planet. For the very brave of heart see my Church Papers. Your email is welcome.
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, ...and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. (2 Thessalonians 2) |
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