These are times that truly try men's souls. These are also times that cry out for tried and true leaders -- leaders who are not for sale; leaders who are honest, sound from center to circumference; leaders who will tell the truth and look the world right in the eye; leaders in whom the courage of everlasting life runs deep, still and strong -- leaders who know their message and tell it -- straight and unflinchingly!

    The United States today -- as never before in its history -- needs leaders who will "cry aloud and spare not" and lay the truth before the people in no uncertain terms. But where are these leaders -- these blowers of the trumpets -- in the late 1990s when they are needed most?

   The few such leaders who do exist in the political arena are extremely few and far between. They are an almost extinct species -- their true worth recognized by only a pitifully small remnant who have been granted "eyes to see and ears to hear."

   On the religious front things are even worse; here we have a scene that is even more sickening and depressing. Never before in our nation's history has the religious scene been more fragmented, chaotic and confused -- and in such pathetic disarray as in these tumultuous 90s. A frightening number of pulpits across the land are occupied by semi-literate wimps with little or no true biblical education -- and even less understanding. These preachers have been mass-produced by religious seminaries (perhaps religious cemeteries would be a more apt description, for biblical truth is usually deeply buried in these institutions!). These assembly line pastors have been mass-produced through a religious seminary system that has long-since rejected the Sovereignty of God, the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the inerrancy of Scripture as its foundation. For the most part, these cookie cutter preachers have graduated from seminary along a very short, narrow and circuitous route through their Bibles. As lobotomized seminarians they have not been trained to "prove all things" as instructed in Holy Writ (I Thessalonians 5:21). Due to a lack of thorough training and a truly biblical education, they emerge from these institutions incapable of rational thought and logical deduction -- and are thus ill-equipped to deal with the problems they and their unfortunate future congregations encounter in their every day lives.

   Once the fantasy bubble bursts -- and they come face-to-face with the way things really are -- many try to "fake it till they make it." They "talk the talk" but deep down inside their empty, frustrated hearts they know that they are not "walking the walk."

   This, in turn, leads to a massive identity crisis and ultimate spiritual burnout. Many quit the ministry or turn their churches into what amounts to little more than social clubs, whose inward convictions are at hopeless variance with their outward profession.

   The majority of the more naturally gifted of these seminary graduates, refusing to acknowledge their own lack of spiritual training and preparedness, feel a compelling need to "prove" themselves. Lacking -- either through miseducation or a lack of calling -- a true biblical perspective and spiritual understanding of what Christianity is really all about, they set about developing mega churches that will be highly respected in their local areas and "honored" by society at large. In their quest for "acceptance" by the world, they constantly compromise and become increasingly "broadminded" in their worldview; the Bible becomes only of secondary importance -- if that!

   In Matthew 7, Jesus stated: "Not everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

   "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works.

   "Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, you that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:21-23).

   Notice carefully what Jesus said. Outwardly, these people appear to be deeply spiritual. They use what appear to many to be all the right words; they go through what appear to many to be all the right religious routines. But, despite what other religious people around them might have thought, they were, in fact, workers of iniquity.

   But how could this possibly be? Jesus answers: "Why call you me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Luke 6:46). The religious people were talking the talk, but they weren't walking the walk!

   Again, Jesus explains by stating a number of profound truths. He, alone, is "the way, the truth, and the light" (John 14:6)."I am the door of the sheep.... by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:7,9). In addition, Jesus declared that: "No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw⁽¹⁾ him" (John 6:44).

   With that background in mind, we can now clearly understand -- from scripture -- the true meaning of Jesus' words. These workers of "iniquity" (lawlessness) attempt to get into the kingdom their own way -- by doing their own thing. They aren't interested in repenting, studying, changing, growing, overcoming. Most are undoubtedly doing what seemed "right in [their] own eyes." The Lord, however, weighs the spirits (Proverbs 12:15). The Lord also "ponders their hearts" (Proverbs 21:1). In the Lord's eyes, all their perceived righteousness and spirituality are "as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6).

   Jesus further clarifies the situation: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber" (John 10:1). Obviously, a thief and a robber is also a "worker of iniquity."

   They are "blind leaders of the blind -- individuals who have no true godliness and even less character. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" (Matthew 15:14). Hence their condemnation by Jesus.

   "His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yes, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain..." (Isaiah 56:10-11).

   Now, notice carefully a couple of massive problems that the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said would characterize the religious scene at the end time. He admonished true pastors to, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine."

   Why was he so concerned? "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts they shall heap to themselves teachers having itching ears;

   "And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (II Timothy 4)

   This, of course, produces a situation in which people are so enmeshed in makebelieve that they have no interest in "earnestly contend[ing] for the faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). They just want to be amused, entertained (have their "itching ears" tickled), and made to "feel good."

   When these pastoral exercises in futility collapse (and they always do!), they feel impelled to make their religion "more attractive" to the public so that the people -- and their money -- will keep pouring in. This inevitably leads to still more bizarre efforts -- more trite gimmicks, games, and exercises in futility -- to keep their congregations busy, psyched-up, and coming back week after week. Their's is a very temporary triumph of trivia over substance, of fantasy over reality.

   The end result is always the same -- anger, frustration, anguish, and spiritual burnout.

   Another vital question needs to be asked -- and answered: Why do these religious leaders feel the need to make their religion "more attractive" to the public? If they are, in fact, proclaiming the truth "which was once delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3) by the Perfectly Righteous Sovereign God, how would it be possible to make that truth "more attractive"?

   Obviously, one cannot improve on divine perfection. Common sense dictates, therefore, that the original premise upon which their ministry was based must have been in error. This is further emphasized by the fact that not only are there few positive, constructive, life-changing, society-changing results being produced by modern religion. Not only so, but religion's lack of dedication to true biblical righteousness is a major factor in the ongoing disintegration of American society.

   In the New Testament, true Christians are called "the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13). True Christians are the major preserving agent in a sound, law-abiding society in much the same way as salt is a natural preservative. But we are told in the same verse that "if the salt has lost its savor ... it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

   As that is true, there is yet another possibility regarding the many religious leaders: "[I]f he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which we have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him" (II Corinthians 11:4).

   Staggering as it may appear, unbelievable as it may sound, is it remotely possible that modern religion may, in fact, be preaching another "Jesus," have another "spirit," and be proclaiming another "gospel"?

   If a church or a pastor promises you a delicious and nutritious spiritual "steak" but produces only what sounds like the sizzle of a spiritual steak -- but never any real spiritual meat -- their assembly may be little more than a spiritual grave yard; such places are filled with the spiritually dead, or dysfunctional individuals who are dying of spiritual malnutrition.

   These are among the signs that they may, in fact, be dealing with another "Jesus," another "spirit," and another "gospel." By their fruit shall you know them!

   There are many disturbing parallels between what is happening on the religious scene today and conditions that existed just before Judah was conquered and went into the Babylonian Captivity some 600 years before Christ. At that time, the prophet Jeremiah cried out in condemnation of the religious leaders. In chapter 23, we read:

   "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord....

   "You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, says the Lord" (vs.1,2).

   "My heart is broken within me because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man and like a man whom wine has overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness.

   "For the land is full of adulteries; for because of swearing the land mourns; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.

   "For both prophet and priest are profane" (vs.9-11).

   "I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem a horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evil doers, that none does return from his wickedness; they are all unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah" (v.14).

   "The Lord of hosts says, Don't listen to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord" (v.16).

   "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied" (v.21)

   They "have perverted the words of the Living God, of the Lord of Hosts our God" (v.36).

   "And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten."

   In the New Testament, Christ warned us: "Beware of false prophets [and pastors], which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matthew 7:15). Webster's 1828 dictionary defines "ravening" as "preying with rapacity, voraciously devouring; as a ravening wolf."

   As you are as "sheep in the midst of wolves, be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16).

   It may be time to move on.

   Despite the strong biblical admonition for Christians to "come out" of the Babylonian system that has historically dominated the world scene (Revelation 18:4) -- and in direct violation of Christ's command that his followers "be ... not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness?" (II Corinthians 6:14) -- these self-appointed "spiritual leaders" have gone out of their way to commit spiritual fornication with the world's system. "You adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4). Being unable to believe and acknowledge Christ's promise that he would build his church (his body) as he sees fit, these ministers go to the secular, worldly state authorities, asking for permission to build their own churches by the state's grace and authority.

   By going to the state and by seeking its permission to exist, these mega pastors and would-be mega pastors have in fact been instrumental in bringing into being commercial entities -- complete with 501 (C)(3) "tax exempt" status -- that are created by the state and thus under its control. The creator always has authority over its creation!

   By voluntarily contracting with the government -- and thus acknowledging the state as its creator and protector instead of the Lord Jesus Christ -- all such American church organizations deny the Lordship of Christ and thus give up their First Amendment protection guaranteed by the United States Constitution. They become creations and property of the state.

   In the final analysis, states do not create churches: states create commercial corporations. All commercial corporations (the only type that exist in the U.S) are creatures of commerce. Their 501 (C)(3) status is a privilege granted by the creator state; it can be revoked at any time, thus making these commercial organizations totally dependent upon the will of the state authorities. Caesar is their lord, their boss -- not the Lord Jesus Christ.

   Most pastors are products of a highly defective religious "educational" system and are extraordinarily uninformed in many important areas.

   With a pinch of biblical knowledge and a modicum of logical deduction, even the least literate of these seminary graduates should be able to figure out the dangers of seeking to become a state-created corporation.

   One would think that after four or more years in "Bible college" (where, incidentally, very little true Bible is taught) they would somehow have stumbled across the biblical commands against having close associations (contractual agreements, etc.) with the governments of this world (See Joshua 9; II Corinthians 6:14; Revelation 18:4 and James 4:4).

   One would also think that they would have somehow discovered that the church founded by Jesus Christ is already a corporation -- Jesus Christ himself having incorporated it nearly 2,000 years ago. The word incorporate is from the Latin, using the root word "corp" or "corpus" meaning body (I Corinthians 12:12). Scripture clearly states that Christ is "the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body" [his corporation] (Ephesians 5:23).

   Jesus Christ is the head of his church, the body (corporation) of Christ. There is no other head intended. He alone is King of kings, and Lord of lords. If there is any other head above him, any other entity to whom we must bow or to whom we must give allegiance before Jesus Christ, then that entity is the head over Christ.

   The true church or body of Christ is a spiritual organism, not a state-created organization. The Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed his people by his own blood (Colossians 1:14). They are saved by his life (Romans 5:10). Christ in them is their only "hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). In Christ there is "no condemnation" for we are "passed from death unto life" (Romans 8:1; John 5:24).

   Jesus Christ as Redeemer, Savior and Lord is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6). It should be obvious, even to a biblically-illiterate seminary graduate, that as Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, there cannot be any other right way of doing things apart from his way. Everything else is futile. These are the ABCs of Christian reality.

   What is God's command to those few of his true servants who may be thus ensnared with the Babylonian System? "Be you not enequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness? ... Come out from among them and be you separate, says the Lord" (II Corinthians 6:14,17). Those who are Christ's true sheep will hear his voice and follow him (John 10:27).

   Incidentally, contrary to popular misconceptions and virtually without exception, most true pastors of God have been trained the biblical way -- through one-on-one relationships with older pastors who have, from the beginning, been trained in a similar manner. The pattern is clearly laid out in II Timothy 2:1,2. Religious seminaries are unknown in scripture.

   What have been the fruits borne by this Great Pastor Disaster?

   As mentioned earlier, French historian Alexis De Tocqueville (1805-1859) marveled at the results produced by the American Republic. He sought to explain what he saw by almost every means, but was unable to do so. He later realized that it was not until he went into the churches of the land (which he testified were "aflame with righteousness") that he began to understand the secret behind America's spectacular success. As Benjamin Franklin had pointed out earlier in his book, Nation Under God, the true gospel of the Sovereignty of God and the Lordship of Jesus Christ had a "wonderful" and "extraordinary influence" on early America; it produced churches that were "aflame with righteousness."

   Shortly after the time of De Tocqueville's visit to America (1831-1832) a number of deadly viruses were injected into the American religious community. These were the false teachings that sprang from the "dreams" and "visions" (allegedly from God) experienced by a young Scottish girl named Margaret Macdonald in the spring of 1830. They concerned an alleged secret Pre-Trib Rapture of the Saints and the establishment of a physical "Kingdom of God" on earth. Although Macdonald shunned publicity, her unscriptural and highly-destructive teachings were eagerly seized upon by John Darby, the organizer and promoter of the Plymouth Brethren. Darby spent much time with Macdonald, learning the details of her "spiritual" experiences. He then set out to exploit the "new revelations" to the fullest.

   When -- during a trip to the United States in 1836 -- Darby's unscriptural teachings were rejected by the religious community as a whole he condemned them for their lack of "spirituality." However, some 30 years later -- when his heresies began to take root in the churches of America -- he rejoiced in the belief that "the Lord is working in the States." As they say in show business, the rest is history -- and downhill all the way!

   As a result of a lack of biblical discernment, belief in the demonically-inspired hallucinations of a young Scottish girl instead of the plain word of the Sovereign God, and the popularization of these spiritual heresies by John Darby, Edward Irving, C.I. Scofield and a long list of more recent preachers such as the many-times-married Hal Lindsey, the religious community in America has been ravaged, and laid virtually desolate!

   Modern churchianity has forsaken the true doctrine of the Bible which clearly states the condition of man: "There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God" (Romans 3:10,11). If none seeks, how do any come to believe in Christ? "No man can come to me, except the father which has sent me draw him" (John 6:44). What has been given unto us to believe? "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). What is "the world" that God loves? Is it all men in general? "All that the father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I shall in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). And who are all that the father has given to Christ? "According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.... In whom we have also obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things according after the counsel of his own will" (Ephesians 1:4,5,11). And who is Christ? "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

   Contrary to clear Bible teaching, most modern churches have forsaken the responsibility of the everyday education of children in the ways of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6). All too frequently, they have handed that responsibility over to the Humanistic, God-denying, Christ-defying government-controlled "public schools" which teach that the State is god. Incredible? Yes, but true! In their disobedience, they have lost the battle for the minds of their children by default!

   Government schools have only one purpose. Contrary to popular belief, that purpose is not to educate our nation's youth in the truest sense of the word; the main purpose of government schools is to indoctrinate their unwitting, unsuspecting charges in the anti-American, anti-Christian tenets of the Humanist religion -- the concept that there is no such thing as right and wrong, that there are no absolutes and that man, alone, is responsible for developing his own belief systems.

   They also teach that collective man -- in the form of the State-- is god and the sole arbiter of what is acceptable in society, and that the State god will take care of their every need from the cradle to the grave.

   With a minimal amount of mental exertion, it should be clear to everyone capable of logical deduction that such a system would both strongly resent and rigorously resist any "competition" from the God of the Bible. Should the reader doubt the veracity of that statement they should pay particular attention to the words of a few top "experts" in the field of what is generally accepted as Education: Ashley Montagu stated in a lecture to an Education convention held in California in 1970 that, "The American family structure produces mentally ill children." Paul Brandwein declared that, "Any child who believes in God is mentally ill" (Social Sciences, Harcourt Brace, 1970, p.10).

   At another convention on Education, Dr. Pierce of Harvard pontificated: "Every child in America who enters school at the age of five is mentally ill, because he comes to school with allegiance toward our elected officials, toward our founding fathers, toward our institutions [churches included], toward the preservation of this form of government ... patriotism, nationalism, sovereignty.... All these prove the child is sick, because the truly well individual is one who has rejected all of these things and is what I call the true international child of the future." In plain terms, the government-controlled education system -- run by self-admitted change agents -- is specifically designed to prepare our nation's youth (through indoctrination) to be good little Globalists and totally dependant upon the Babylonian One World System.

   Don't be deceived -- this is educational reality 101 in the United States today. Why, then, do so many apparently sane, logical churchgoers so willingly grant permission to the State to marinate their children's minds in a cesspool of Babylonian iniquity and then expect them to emerge at age 18 smelling like roses? In some cases (thank God!) this would appear, in some miraculous way, to happen -- but the apparently terminal insanity rampant in our society is a strong indication that government-run public schools cause severe or even irreparable brain damage. Perhaps the best proof of this fact can be found sitting in the church pews of our land. The totally-overwhelming majority of these brain-dead clones who supposedly worship and serve the Almighty, Creator God of heaven and earth -- and who also supposedly acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Redeemer, Savior and Lord -- are usually among the first in line to sign up for the all "benefits" allegedly offered by the Babylonian System.

   It was said years ago that many churchgoers were so "heavenly minded that they were of no earthly use." In the late 1990s it is probably more accurate to say that most churchgoers are so "earthly minded that they are of no heavenly use." It is a simple fact that most churchgoers are embarrassed by the real Jesus Christ -- the Christ of the Bible. In their syrupy "love" and sanctimonious self-righteousness, many are even willing to forgive Jesus for not having the same doctrine as they do.

   No wonder so many of these double-minded churchgoers are "unstable in all [their] ways" (James 1:8) -- suffering from a vast array of psychological aberrations that are diametrically opposite to the sound minded, more abundant life (not to mention the "peace of God which passes all understanding") that are promised in Scripture (II Timothy 1:7; John 10:10; Philippians 4:7). Furthermore, they are certainly not "new creatures" whose "inward man is renewed day by day" and who are "more than conquerors" through Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:15; II Corinthians 4:16; Romans 8:37). Due to a number of factors, such as those discussed above, these basic fruits of Biblical Christianity are virtually nonexistent amongst today's churchgoers. They don't know -- and don't even want to know -- the truth; as a result, they have not been made spiritually free as promised by Christ (John 8:32).

   As the two witnesses (the Church and the Written Word) are to all intents and purposes now dead and "lying in the streets," being rejoiced over by the enemies of God, there is little real opposition to the continued formation of the New World Order. But, as we shall see in a later chapter, that will not be true for long.

   Prophecy indicates that when the Luciferian Illuminati is within inches of achieving its diabolical goal of One World Government, Almighty God will release a worldwide Christian witness of unprecedented proportions. When that witness has been completed, God will take his Church and his Word away from the earth in preparation for his final judgment (Revelation 11:7-15).

   Prophecy also indicates that the nations of the New World Order will unite and give their power to the world ruler. Let scripture have the final word: "These shall make war with the Lamb [Jesus Christ, John 1:36], and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:14).

   And all the saints shall say, Amen!

1. ¹ The definition of draw here is "to drag" against one's will (Strong's #1670)

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