Approximately a generation has passed since the Lord so clearly revealed to us the loosing of Satan that was taking place. We see everywhere the fruit of that as violence and evil increase and morality declines.

In about a generation we have seen TV degenerate from "I Love Lucy" and "Father Knows Best" to "Roseanne" and "Married With Children." The public drinks up all the sex and violence Hollywood can put out and clamors for more and worse. What entertains man's lusts today is boring tomorrow.

Perverted sex has left the closet and now marches in the streets demanding respect. The lie that people are born that way has been repeated so often that I dare say a majority of society now believes it even if it doesn't make them exactly comfortable.

Men are blind to the hordes of demons that have been loosed upon them to find expression for their evil nature through human flesh. Man, having an evil nature of his own to begin with, has been mentally, spiritually and often physically conditioned to become a home for devils. Evil thoughts and impulses originating in devils are received by people as if they were their own. Psychologists and psychiatrists stand ready to "help" them if they should find that difficult.

A generation ago in our schools the concerns were chewing gum in class and smoking in the bathroom. Today they include drug trafficking and carrying guns. Classroom discipline is largely gone. Rebellion is the order of the day.

The spirit of rebellion is glorified in movies and on TV. Sex of all kinds, unrestrained by moral concerns, is portrayed as the norm.

Commitment and permanence in marriage are a joke. It is common today for couples to "marry" with an agreement already signed spelling out what each will get when they split up.

The fear of God is no longer a factor in either people's thoughts or in their behavior. About the only restraint on most people is what others think and say about them. Otherwise they pursue their own personal pleasure as they see fit.

One thing that has come out into the open is man's desire and plan to remake the world without God. This expectation of a "new age" has pervaded every segment of society. In one way or another, the influential people of our day have embraced this "hope" and are busy planning for it and promoting its ideas in every possible way.

This includes not only the occultism of the so-called "New Age" movement but the plans and ideas of scientists, educators, philosophers and politicians as well. It is common to hear references to a "new world order" or to "remaking society." Of course, in this new order, neither the one true God nor His Son will be needed. Man will be his own god.

Part of the preparation for a new order is a doctrine being heavily promoted in education called multiculturalism. Taking note of the fact that American society in particular is composed of people from many different cultural backgrounds, this doctrine promotes the idea that the various beliefs and practices of these different cultures are all equally valid and deserving of respect. Various ethnic minorities are all but glorified in the attempt to drive the point home.

Under the guise of promoting harmony, tolerance and understanding, a generation is being brainwashed to believe that there are no "right" and "wrong" beliefs, only different ones. Whatever belief system suits the individual is fine so long as he is tolerant of others and doesn't believe that he is right and others are wrong.

It is not difficult to see that the devil's main target in promoting multiculturalism is Biblical Christianity. The idea that men are saved or lost, that Christ alone is the way, the truth and the life, that men must bow the knee to Him or be damned is especially hated.

In practice, multiculturalism, far from promoting all beliefs equally, teaches an intolerance of any belief that is considered to be intolerant! Hence it is not unusual for Biblical Christianity to be held up to scorn and ridicule even as other religions are portrayed sympathetically.

Apostate Christianity has in fact been guilty at times of promoting hatred and intolerance. However, we know that in Christ, true believers are free to love all men with His love, to proclaim the truth without compromise, and then to give men liberty to do what they will with that truth. Satan, however, lumps us all together that he might discredit the truth that he so hates and fears.

The apostasy of professing Christianity has gathered a frightening momentum. In the absence of the living presence of Christ in most churches, devils have stepped in and taken over. Whole movements have arisen that draw huge crowds by catering to the natural man.

A major television news special was broadcast several months ago concerning some of these movements. The broadcast was entitled, "In the Name of God." We might add "In the Name of Jesus Christ" to that as well. Each movement believed that they were representing Him. Matt. 7:21-23.

Some were depicted as using marketing consultants to teach them how to compete in the "marketplace" for crowds. Some have resorted to various forms of slick entertainment. Others, in their drive to offer what the news commentator called "emotional therapy," have opened themselves up to all sorts of spirits offering a wide variety of "experiences" and manifestations.

The major thrust of this book has been to identify falsehood employed by Satan to deceive men in the end time. As has been established, a lying sign is a kind of lie that serves to point to and confirm another lie. It is like a road sign that says you are entering "The Promised Land" when in fact you are about to drive off a cliff!

Virtually all of the lying signs referred to earlier continue to be employed and more so. A few deserve particular mention.

The explosion in knowledge and technology continues to amaze men and serves to confirm the proud belief that man can solve his own problems -- anything is possible. Knowledge has probably doubled several times over since this book was written! Of course Daniel knew of this long ago (Daniel 12:4).

There is an element of truth in this particular lie. In Gen. 11, when God confounded men's language at the Tower of Babel, He observed (verse 6) "... this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do." Left to himself today, man would continue to learn and would eventually travel to the stars.

However, God has a different plan and regardless of what He may allow man in his rebellion to achieve, his day will come to a sudden fiery end. Isaiah 2:10-22 is a passage which particularly warns against trusting in man and also warns of divine judgment on human pride.

Another area of great deception is the pursuit of peace. A lot has happened in 25 years -- the dramatic decline of communism, the end of the cold war, the decline in the threat of nuclear war, various treaties involving Israel -- all of these things signaling to many that peace is achievable.

There are still terrible conflicts going on yet they seem to be civil wars, wars between different ethnic groups within nations. The last time one nation invaded and conquered another -- when Iraq invaded Kuwait -- an unprecedented coalition of nations led by an awesome display of U.S. military technology sent the conqueror home in defeat to lick his wounds.

The euphoria that followed signaled more than the simple joy of victory. There was also the feeling that a decisive message had been sent to any similar would-be aggressor that he risked the wrath of the United Nations.

Do you suppose there might be any significance to Rev. 13:4 where men say "Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" I believe it would be profitable to read Bro. Thomas's thought-provoking article, first published almost 40 years ago, entitled, "Is The United Nations the Beast of Daniel and Revelation?"

On the subject of man's hope of peace in this world the word of God is crystal clear: "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." I Thess. 5:3.

Do not be swept along with the world as it pursues a course of trusting in man and grasps at anything that seemingly confirms their hope in what man can do.

Interest and belief in the occult has grown tremendously in the last 25 years. In a real sense it has become "mainstream." We've seen intelligent and famous people openly promote their occult beliefs and experiences. We now even have a popular TV program called "Psychic Friends."

God's people need to be aware that the devil has real supernatural power and avoid the temptation to toy with the occult even a little. Things as seemingly innocent as ouija boards and horoscopes have been used by demons to bring people into terrible bondage. In Christ we have access to all the knowledge and wisdom we need.

There is a terrible spiritual void in men's minds and hearts today. They cry out for answers, for something to believe in, to hope for. Satan is going all out to fill that void.

He has always propped up his lies and evil doctrines with supernatural signs. In today's spiritual climate these lying signs are convincing ever-greater numbers of sin-blinded men.

More and more people are convinced about such things as reincarnation and psychic knowledge unaware that the memories of "other lives" and the knowledge are being supplied by demons through their current victims.

Until Philip came along with a true anointing from God, Simon the Sorcerer had the Samaritans bewitched into believing he was "the great power of God." Acts 8:5-25. He had genuine supernatural power, but its source was the realm of darkness.

Satan's greatest means of bewitching mankind has always been religion, however, because religion comes under the guise of representing God and doing good.

To Be Continued

---

Return to Midnight Cry Messenger
Return to MCM Back Issues
Return to Library of Past Articles

---