Doves, Refugees, and the Antichrist
I am deeply concerned about the Politicized Church because I believe it’s destroying Christianity and it’s using well-meaning doves and helpless refugees to do it. There’s a wolf in there and sometimes people can’t see the wolf for the sheep. Let me just ask you all one question:
What does Jesus think of Islam?”
Boil it down, peaceful or radical, moderate, progressive, or fundamentalist Islam…does it matter? And would Jesus disapprove of Islam in the same way God did Baal worship (1 Kings 18:17-40)? If so, why on earth would any Christian want to cozy up to it? Verse 21
Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.
Do we have two opinions or do Christians follow Christ? Oh you say, the Islamic refugees are helpless. Some surely are. Maybe many, even most. And that’s why lots of idealistic Christians jump on the Save our Refugees bandwagon as innocent as doves. Understandable. Even laudable…provided these doves are also as shrewd as snakes.
Are all refugees equal to the Politicized Church?
Some famous pastors like Tim Keller and Max Lucado (both becoming vocal during the Presidential election) say “Let the Syrian refugees in!” never uttering a word about the barred Cubans stranded off the coast on January 12th. Other Christians like Franklin Graham are providing refugees food and safe havens nearer their homeland as Christian compassion all over the globe, including Syria. Equally doves, are they not? Ah, but are they equally as discerning and shrewd?
Shrewd means seeing that Jesus hates the practice of Islam every bit as much as He hates any other kind of idolatry and false teaching. And it’s not just Old Testament, get-over-it-Barb stuff.
Revelation 2:12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live– where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city– where Satan lives. 14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Shrewd means seeing a similar pagan compromise today as Christianity’s decline gives rise to secularism and Islam. Peaceful Islam or not, the culture of Germany cannot withstand the social pressure from this many religious people building mosques. Are Germans more or less likely to learn about Christ in a country closing a last gasp of churches and opening mosques? Is that what Jesus wants for America?
Christians, there’s a difference between being shrewd and “Islamophobic” which is just an epithet designed to separate weak Christians from their faith.
There is no anti-Muslim irrationality in asking what Jesus thinks of Islam and as a Christian, thinking likewise. It’s simply recognition that our two faith traditions only have Abraham in common. Our differences are day and night.
As we act in dove-hearted ways to love refugees, only some fleeing persecution, please be shrewd as snakes so you don’t find yourselves sucked in to the wrong side of the spiritual battle. The Antichrist wants open borders since that’s how he extends his rule. It’s called conquest and this invasion can be peacefully subversive… or not. (Daniel 11:36-45)
Daniel 11:40 “At the time of the end the king of the South will engage [the Antichrist] in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. 42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape.
Shrewd faithful Christians guard their separation from spiritual darkness (spirit of the antichrist, 1 John 4:3). It’s called holiness and in the end, it’s not about your dove-like motives or your good intentions. It’s about what you did. But you don’t need to take my word for it.
Revelation 2:23b Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. ..29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Are you listening? And do you hear?
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4 Comments
by Anthony Hernandez
On February 16, 2017
while islam is obvious evil, the Bible is focused on an entity which usurps His authority and pretends to do this using Scripture, as satan does.
Christians should be more focused on the ‘wolf in sheeps clothing’ – roman catholicism.
there is no other political and religious entity on earth which has so much control over this world. none. there is none that fits the criteria that the Bible clearly uses to identify it:
scarlet and purple. sits on city of 7 hills (rome). calls its priests ‘father’. forbids their marriage. forbids food for a time (lent). has blood of the saints on its hands (inquisitions). commits fornication (political and spiritual) with the kings of the earth. thinks to change laws and times (Gods law and time- the Holy Sabbath fits!).
again, there is no other entity on earth which fits. so while most of the world is focused on islam – and rightfully so, its catholicism which has gained control of this sleeping world.
you may go back to sleep sheeple.
by seminarygal
On February 16, 2017
I appreciate what you’re saying since many people have tried to read Revelation that way and look for identities of the Antichrist, the great whore of Babylon etc. That said, the papacy is merely a religious political institution as any other church might be structured on a smaller scale and I’d rather not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
The Pope has been accused of being the Antichrist since the beginning of the papacy and there is a risk. We miss seeing the wheat if we focus only on the tares. God has His faithful scattered within Catholicism, too. Many of the greatest and most faithful theologians of all history have been from the Roman Catholic tradition.
I believe the whore of Babylon is most easily seen as the Politicized Church, prostituting itself with Rome as 7 hills of things governmental, religious, monetary, social, cultural, politically correct, and commercial…some embedded within Catholicism, yes, some within Protestantism, and some unaffiliated embedded too. By steering our eyes only to Catholicism, we commit three grave errors: we fail to see the wheat for the tares in each place, we fail to notice the real enemy, and we fail to see the speck of sawdust in our own eyes.
Any of us in the Church worldwide can prostitute ourselves in those 7 ways if we fail to keep watch and hold fast to the Gospel. Judas was a disciple too. God forbid we deny Christ and flirt with Babylon.
by Anthony Hernandez
On February 16, 2017
very thoughtful reply!
for clarification, Bible labels this system in a very direct manner. while it is direct in saying that the woman (church) is riding on the back of the scarlet harlot (papacy) Revelation 13 and 17 are very direct at revealing these truths. and this ‘church’ receives its power from satan himself!
if we follow the Bible examples and know that things will repeat (Ecc 1:9), then we see a pattern in Esther, Dan 3, Dan 6 and more dealing with false worship.
while Dan 7:25 is clear that this system (papacy) seeks to ‘change laws and times’ (God’s law and time), we know this this system holds sunday as its false ‘sabbath’ while Christians still hold the Commandments dear and keep Holy the Sabbath Day – the Lord’s Day – His Day – the 7th Day!
keep your eyes out for a revival of the sunday laws (blue laws) being revived! and remember, ‘IF you love me, keep my Commandments’ – Jesus Christ.
God bless=D
by seminarygal
On February 16, 2017
I appreciate your clarification. You and I are in total agreement regarding patterns and Jesus even says so in Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
So rather than my focus on predicting and assigning identity to symbolism, you and I are just approaching the “keeping watch” in different ways. Let’s just continue to watch for His return. God is faithful. And may God bless you, too! 🙂