Monday, May 16, 2011

Using Apps, Facebook and Twitter to pray the rosary

Comment from Understand the Times:
 

We have been warning about the New Evangelization introduced by Pope John Paul II for years. Watch the following video to see that the agenda to win the world to the Mother of the Eucharistic Jesus is clearly underway. Get ready. The Eucharistic Reign of Jesus is just around the corner.

 The Internet has revolutionized the world. Now, Catholics groups are using the web to revolutionize World Youth Day. It's a call to pray the rosary every Saturday, until the big day kicks off on August 16th.

Fr. James Phalan Director, Family Rosary International - “This is something concrete that can make a big difference, praying the rosary, praying the rosary to the family. It's something that JPII did.  He prayed rosary during his day. So we are convinced of the importance of the rosary for the new evangelization.”

The campaign is called “Firm in Faith With Mary.” The goal is to spread its message through social networking sites.  At www.firminfaith.org one can download logos, banners, videos and other resources for free. But it doesn't stop there. At www.familyrosary.org, one can actually follow the rosary in an interactive prayer while learning about its mysteries.  

There are also discussion forums on Facebook and twitter and even a section where you can submit a personal story on how praying the rosary has changed your life. Even more, rosaries can be requested for free.

Fr. James Phalan Director, Family Rosary International - “We receive rosaries from anyone, if anyone is making rosaries and they don't know how to distribute them in someway then we would be happy if they send them to us and we send them all over the world. We distribute around 1.5 to 2 million rosaries every year.”

For parents and teachers, the websites also include a section on how to teach the rosary to children and teenagers. It's a way to remind people, and especially the youth, to pray the Rosary.

Friday, May 13, 2011

News Alert From Understand The Times, International

Please copy and paste the lnks below into your internet browser to view the websites.

This is a News Alert for all who are seeking the truth, which should include all Calvary Chapel pastors, including leaders at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.
Some new evidence has become available recently in what appears to be a "changing of information" coming from David Barton
David Barton was caught in what appears to be a plan to manipulate church audiences by attempting to convince unaware church audiences by misquoting Founding Father documents. It appears the out of context misquoting was an attempt to make these unaware audiences believe the Founding Father, John Adams believed in the Holy Ghost.
The actual words of the Founding Father document revealed that John Adams was mocking Christianity.
It appears that David Barton was originally exposed by an unbelieving journalist in 2008 in a video where it also appears David Barton was not being honest on a radio program as well as in the churches.
David Barton has gone all over the country performing this same “act”, along with other "acts" in churches and even did it on the Mormon Glenn Beck Show.
Award winning Christian film producer/director Chris Pinto, appears to have exposed David Barton in his just released documentary “The Hidden Faith of the Founding Fathers”.   
The evidence:
1.)   Christian film producer, Chris Pinto appears to expose David Barton manipulating church audiences by changing the context of words of the John Adams letter (3 min, 15 seconds) -        

David Barton is NOW saying on the Jon Stewart Show that he is NOT trying to make John Adams look like he is believing in the Holy Ghost. It appears that NOW David Barton is not being truthful with Jon Stewart and the TV audience.
2.)  Jon Stewart hosts David Barton where there appears to be a flip flop regarding the John Adams document - (23 seconds) –

So, now that it appears that David Barton has been exposed nationally by Chris Pinto through the documentary, it appears that everyone including Calvary Chapels should be aware of David Barton’s agenda.
David Barton is now saying Sharia Law is OK here in America based on a statement he made on Jon Stewart’s show.
3.)  Jon Stewart hosts David Barton, David Barton is OK with Sharia Law (48 seconds) –
One might ask the question, why is Calvary Chapel a big promoter of David Barton?

Here is a link of the “Rediscover God in America” conference at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa on March 26th :
Is Calvary Chapel now in favor of Sharia Law since they heavily promote and support David Barton? He is promoting Sharia law - the Law of Islam.
Now that it appears David Barton is not trying to convince people in churches that John Adams believed in the Holy Ghost, so what is going on?

Saturday, May 7, 2011

An Update on the Titanic

Everyone knows the story of the fateful one-way voyage of the ship known as the Titanic. On its maiden voyage, one of the greatest ships ever made sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic. While this tragedy could have been prevented, the pride of man may well be the reason so many perished prematurely.

The lesson of the sinking of the Titanic should always be a reminder to us what can happen when we place our trust in man. The Bible warns us that trusting in man is like a bush that grows in the desert compared to trusting in God, which is like a tree whose roots are planted by a steam of flowing water (Jeremiah 17: 5-8).

Sometime ago, Understand The Times published a commentary titled “Is Your Church Sinking Like the Titanic.” The purpose of this commentary was to get churchgoers to stop and think about the recent attack against the inerrancy of the Word of God that is sweeping the world in the name of Christ. Known as apostasy in the Bible, this falling away is directly associated with an ecumenical movement that attacks the Word of God and advances the word of the pope.

While that commentary was written purposely to challenge denominations once called Protestant and Evangelical, a particular association of fellowships that I was once part of took my article personally and considered it an attack against them. While this was not my intention, I am persuaded to believe an expression I once heard: “If you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, the one that howls is the one that was hit.”

 An Update on the Titanic is just that. Perhaps there is still time for a final warning before the ship finally sinks. For many, the party is still going on in the ballroom and apparently danger has not been detected. While a few have headed to the lifeboats to get off the ship, most have not.

Why is it that grown men who are pastors would allow themselves to be manipulated and controlled so that they can no longer think for themselves? Of course, there is nothing terribly wrong with being associated with a denomination, but there are limits when it comes to what a pastor has to accept to be part of the club.

This kind of thinking is actually typical of Roman Catholic popery that does not allow priests to make their own decisions based on the Word of God. Priests are subservient to the pope, his edicts, and his dogmas and not to the Bible and Jesus Christ. When one man has all power, then Jesus is no longer number one, is He?

A perfect example of this kind of “follow the leader” mentality was the endorsement of the Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” that showed in movie theaters all over the world in 2004. While there were warnings that Gibson’s film was nothing but propaganda for the Eucharistic Christ promoted by the Roman Catholic Jesuit Plan, those who warned of the danger were considered negative in light of the endorsements by powerful church leaders like well known church leaders and others.

Some even purchased seating for their entire congregations to attend to see a film based on a vision from a book written by Anne Catherine Emerich, a Roman Catholic nun who claimed she was at the crucifixion by the way of a vision.

Now that these concerns have been verified by documentation from Mel Gibson himself, not one word has been said by those who heartily endorsed it to admit the warnings were right. The Road to Rome continues, and those who are in a position to do something to shine light on it and expose it remain silent.

A Further Word of Warning

Much could be said about the ongoing slippery slope towards Rome that has been embraced through the Emerging Church and the Purpose Driven by well-know Christian leaders—ones whom we never would have expected—because they lowered their standards.  How could this ecumenical madness have crept in unnoticed? Or was there an orchestrated plan that has been underway for years?

Are the Jesuits for real or not? Do they infiltrate churches and church organizations in various ways? Do they use lies and manipulation and even mind control? How about extortion? How can those on board the Titanic keep on dancing while it is already on the way to the bottom of the Atlantic.

I recently read a book in which the author claims that End Times deception can all be traced to the teachings of Karl Marx. However this book falls short of the real plan of deception that we read about in the Bible. Karl Marx may have been used as a tool of deception by Satan, but he is a small player compared to the plan Satan set up to form a one world ecumenical religion with Rome as the headquarters.

Get Off and Get Right

Why would you want to follow a man and go down with the boat? Wouldn’t it be better to get into the lifeboat and not stay in the sinking boat? The Lifeboat is Jesus Christ, our only hope. There are pastors who are in clubs, as an example, the “dove club.” Men love clubs because they love to follow men rather than Jesus Christ.

As well, men love power and love to play the role of a pope. Did you know there may be only one Roman Catholic pope at a time but there can be several Protestant popes?

Stop and think and ask yourself a question! Are you on a boat like the sinking Titanic? Maybe you are following a captain and have not noticed the warning signs.  If you have not headed for a lifeboat yet, now is the time.   Let Jesus be your captain while there is still time. Row away from the sinking boat and follow Jesus alone.  Do all you can to assist those who are drowning. Lend them a helping hand.

In most cases, captains go down with their ships. The exception would be unusual but sometimes there is an exception. If the captain were to tell the crew and the passengers all hope for the boat was lost and that all should abandon the ship, this would be good. Then the captain could get off. Of course, this would take a lot of courage from the captain. He would have to admit that some things had gone wrong, wouldn’t he?

We are in the last hour. The Word of God makes things very clear. Everyone should pray and ask the Lord what is the right thing to do. It is time to quit playing games and follow Jesus Christ, become an evangelist, and reach the lost.

Jesus said “follow Me and I will make you fishers of men (Matthew 4: 19).

Sunday, May 1, 2011

From the Truth To Strong Delusion

Many have asked the question: how is it possible that End Times apostasy can sweep the world so quickly in these Last Days and so few see that it is happening? There is only one way to understand this phenomenon. The Bible foretells this would happen (Matthew 24: 3-4). Now that we are witnessing End Times spiritual deception fewer and fewer Bible professing Christians see what is taking place.

            When discerning believers confront their pastors or church leaders about the apostasy happening in their churches where they have worshiped for many years, they are often told to leave and go somewhere else. This “get out or shut up” attitude is common and follows a pattern. The teaching of the Word and the love of God once in fellowships of believers has got up and gone. How sad it is to see what is happening to the church of Jesus Christ in our time.

            Over the past three months, I have had the opportunity to meet with numerous brothers and sisters located in five different cities throughout North America. These people represent Christians who have been asked to leave the churches they once attended. All were serious Bible believing Christians who love the Lord and His Word. The churches they attended have all “gone south” by accepting postmodern “googly-gook” promoted by the emerging church/purpose driven movement. All of them have asked me the same question: how did it happen that strong delusion crept in so quickly?

The answer to this dilemma can only be understood in light of the Bible. The purpose of this commentary will be to try to explain what is happening from a biblical perspective, why this is happening, and where things are headed in the future.   We know that the Word of God is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching and for correction (2 Timothy 3: 16). We live in a day and age when God’s Word is ignored or annihilated. We need to stand firm on the Word and proclaim it.

Two Kingdoms
The Bible clearly describes a spiritual battle raging all around us (Ephesians 6: 12). Two kingdoms are in this battle: the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan (Colossians 1: 13). God’s Kingdom is associated with light (Acts 26: 18). God’s Word is light and exposes darkness (Psalms 119:105). Satan’s agenda is to hide the light and to promote darkness (Revelation 16:10). God’s light will set us free from the wiles of the devil if we accept what God has revealed to us and act upon it accordingly (Psalms 119: 130). Satan’s kingdom is always associated with darkness. The Bible states that men like darkness more than they like light (John 3:19). The light of God shines into the darkness so that men can be saved, but men choose darkness over light (John 12:35). Even believers are not immune from Satan’s plan and they can be used as tools of deception because Satan is the one who deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9).

            Therefore, in the Last Days both unbelievers and believers will be the target of Satan’s agenda. He wants to deceive the whole world, as he is the god of this world. Apostasy involves seducing those who once believed and deceiving them so they become part of the problem rather than the solution. Rather than warning others that the end is near and that the antichrist is at the door, they actually promote the lie that there is a PEACE Plan authored by man (I Thessalonians 5:3) These are the perilous times that Paul warned about (2 Timothy 3:1).

According to the Bible, the battle for the truth will intensify in the last days. If the Word of God is light and Satan’s kingdom is darkness, then it is easy to see what is happening. Satan has an agenda to attack the Word of God. One way he does this is through human manipulation. If he can make God’s Word the word of man and the pope’s word the “word of a god,” he will have succeeded. This is the goal of the Jesuits who are still operating throughout the world to bring the separated brethren back to the mother of all churches with headquarters in Rome.
While this agenda may seem far-fetched, you will find this plan explained in the Bible. One man will eventually rule the world with a system of control. The pope and his throne in Rome and a man who sets up his throne in the temple in Jerusalem certainly seem to provide the scenario the Bible foretells will happen. If you pay attention to current events, it is very close to happening right now!

Beware of Cults
While we are on the topic of following a man, it should be pointed out that no man or woman should ever follow any man. When you follow a man, you are in a cult. Cults are human structures set up to control property and people with their power. The leader of the cult claims that he or she is the anointed one and can never be wrong. When challenged, this leader often retorts: “Don’t touch God’s anointed.”

Surrounding the cult leader will be other powerful men who implement the cult leader’s orders. In the Roman Church, we would call these men the cardinals. However, cults can also operate in Protestant Evangelical circles. Because men love power, possession, and control over people, they will always become known by their fruit in time. They will even mix and teach the Word of God to accomplish their goals (a “whatever it takes” attitude), often using the Bible to seduce their flocks.

            It has been said that someone can become a cult leader and not even know it. This is part of Satan’s clever plan to deceive man. What better way to seduce the masses than to have a well- respected leader caught up in deception and then promote it as if he or she were God’s man or God’s woman. This is what we call the blind leading the blind or shepherds being clothed in wolves clothing. Paul warned about this as a sign of the Last Days apostasy (Acts 20 29).

            The ultimate Last Days cult will occur when the antichrist sets up his throne in Jerusalem (2 Thessalonians 2:3-5). Of course this will not happen overnight. The Church that once promoted the truth must be seduced to become part of the plan. In essence, this is what apostasy is really all about, a falling away from faith. When the signs become evident we are in the Last Days, it is time to speak up, not shut up (Matthew 24: 3-51). Then why is it that those who once warned about Last Days apostasy from a biblical prophetic scenario are now so quiet? Why have they been muzzled? Is there a reason?

            Black and White: Not Grey
            If there are two kingdoms representing God and Satan and one is darkness and the other is light, this would be the same as saying that one is black and the other is white, figuratively speaking. If Satan's kingdom is black and God’s Kingdom is white, then what about the color grey? Is there a grey kingdom as well?

            How do you think that the great deceiver works? Does he show up in a hideous looking devil’s suit? What would be a good way for Satan to get a foot in the door of the church and many would not know it?

            It seems apparent there is a grey plan that takes place in the Last Days that can best be described as the Last Days apostasy. If you can get leaders and pastors to embrace the lie at the expense of God’s Word, you have made your case. This is what is happening in the name of Christianity.

            The invasion of the emerging church/purpose driven movement into many once-sound Bible believing fellowships is happening like an avalanche. It seems that no one saw it coming until it was too late. Pastors with large churches were enamored by the possibility that “new” teachings would promote church growth, which would result in more people and bigger offerings. Instead of staying on track, they get sidetracked for the sake of power, possession, and other things. When it comes to apostasy, you can trace the source by following the money. The money trail will show you who, why, what, and where.

             How to Be Deceived
The path from light to darkness can be devious. It happens because pastors and teachers get caught in Satan’s trap, and may not even know it. It is possible to start off right and to end up wrong. This is the slippery slope so many pastors are on. They believe what they are doing is right, but instead they are totally deceived.

Jesus said: I am the light of the world. Jesus is the light of the world, and in Him there is no darkness at all. When people become followers of Jesus, they look to Jesus and to His Word.  
Then something often happens to them.They allow men to stand in the way of the pure light. Rather than see the light they see through a shadow thus perverting the clarity of the true light. Because the source of light is obscured by men casting their own shadows apostasy creeps in. Read the parable of the sower in Matthew 13.
Those who were in the light now turn their back on the source of the light. They contemplate their own shadow and begin to glorify themselves and their foolish hearts are darkened. Professing to be wise they become fools and believe the lie instead of the truth (Romans 1: 18-25). Finally these men, many with reprobate minds, follow their own shadows and walk away from the light until they are lost in darkness (Romans 1: 26-32).
This analogy describes the slippery slope from the truth to darkness. The only solution to the problem is to repent, get back in the light of God to be exposed, and start over. Whenever we start believing that our sin does not matter or that we can do whatever we want and still be God’s ambassador, God will either put a stop to our plan, or he will expose our plan to other men.
Satan’s plan to convince man that he can be God and play the role of God is his ultimate plan. When a pastor falls into this plan and leads others astray, the ultimate deception has occurred. From what I understand about End Times deception, the delusion will be so great few will survive. Jesus asked the question: When the Son of Man returns will He find faith (Luke 18:4)? The answer to that question is there will be a few, a remnant. Do you want to be among the remnant? If so, stay true to the Word.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Ministry Update - April 22, 2011


The He Is Light web site will released to the public soon.  At first it will be a duplicate of the UTT web site then it will become a site that stands on its own.

My next speaking engagements will be in July, Lord willing.  I will be going to either Russia or the Ukraine to speak at an international youth camp, then to Norway and England over an 18 day period. For those of you who pray for the ministry of UTT, you know what to pray about.  We will also be working on the development of our Canadian base for UTT in Canada during the summer months. For our American supporters, that we have, please know we have not abandoned the USA all together. UTT USA still operates from PO Box 27239, Santa Ana, CA and we will soon be answering our phone from an international office based in Eston, Saskatchewan.  We are grateful to the individuals who have been supporting UTT while at the same time we have lost support from all but three churches. God cares about orphans and the ministry of sharing the gospel. It seems like individual believers see this as a need while the mega church mentality is to obtain more and more property and power.

As well we are receiving more invitations to speak to smaller churches who remain committed to the truth and whose members have discernment and can understand that we are the last days. Jesus is coming soon!

Sincerely In Christ,
Roger Oakland

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

The Jeremiah Calling

 
              The Bible provides a vast list of characters God has used as the servants He has called to fulfill His plan on planet Earth. Few are more dynamic in the way they fulfilled their calling than Jeremiah, one of the prophets we read about in the Old Testament. Jeremiah’s ministry covered approximately forty years until a few years after Judah ceased to be a state in 586 BC.

              As with other prophets that God raised up to speak and warn about the terrible apostasy that impacted Israel, Jeremiah was not popular. In fact, the task of a prophet of God is often characterized by loneliness and despair. No one wants to hear the bad news of the mandate that the prophet has been given to proclaim.

             Such is the case today when someone proclaims the Word of God with the anointing of God’s Spirit. Those who do not have a love of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10) but rather love the darkness make the most noise. They do not want the light of the Word to expose the carnal and devious plans they promote.

             Jeremiah had no choice but to tell the truth. He was called to tell the truth. He knew that it was the truth that would set sinners free. He was also aware that hiding the truth would bring further destruction. Jeremiah had a compassion for those who were deceived, but he also had passion to let the deceived know there were consequences for turning away from God and serving their gods.

             He also understood that history had a pattern of repeating itself. He knew what had happened in the past, and he knew what would occur when the Children of Israel refused to hear God and His Word. He could see his colleagues and friends falling into the same trap. On one occasion, his passion is obvious from the words that he spoke:

             And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble. Jeremiah 11:9-12

            The main reason the Children of Israel were disobedient is that they were rebellious to God and His Word. God had already warned them. They knew what to expect if they chose the gods; but they went after the gods anyway. Further, they had placed their trust in man rather than in God. The writing was on the wall. Judgment was just around the corner. Jeremiah pleaded with his people. The leaders of Israel scoffed at him and attacked him personally. However, the Word of God explains that the gods did not prevent the Lord from judging them. The people were taken into captive in Babylon just as God warned.

             Jeremiah was a true prophet. He could not keep quiet. He had to speak. He was called by God and appointed to be a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). While he was not always enthusiastic about what God had called him to do, his calling commanded him to speak with boldness and not to be afraid of those whom he was directed to warn (Jeremiah 1: 7-8).

             Further, Jeremiah did not have to lay awake at night to think up what he was going to tell the leaders of Israel (Jeremiah 1:9). His message was not candy-coated. It was harsh. It was a message of warning. He was a warrior and a watchman (chapters 1-45). He warned that sin would be judged and that leaders and the organizations who were sinning would be exposed.

             They and their sin were exposed. Sin will be judged whether it is covered up or not. The same is true of the past, the present, and the future.

             Jeremiah’s message was not all negative. There was a positive side as well. He was called to build and to plant. When one plants then one has enlisted in the field of agriculture. This means that seeds are put in the soil with the faith that there will be a crop and therefore a harvest. While most Bible expositors are good at pointing out that Jeremiah was good at exposing sin and error, not many actually see him as an evangelist. Jeremiah proclaimed the truth of the Gospel – he was a witness to the nations as well (Jeremiah chapters 46 – 52).

Warrior, Watchman and Witness

             The Jeremiah calling is still in place today. God is speaking to his people to be warriors for the truth. This does not mean to attack the unbelievers and the apostate deceivers with a sword. What this means is that we should be warriors who use the Word as the sword.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
  

While there are those who claim they do use the Word as they teach the Word, it is obvious that this is not always true. Sometimes they use the Word of God in a way that advances their own false beliefs in order to gain power and control.

A warrior is one who is willing to lay down his or her life for the truth. This is what Jesus did. Few are willing to lay down their lives today and risk their lives to take a stand, whatever the cost. Few are willing to pick up their cross and follow Him. But Jesus told His disciples:
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24
Certainly, this does not mean that such a person who chooses to follow Christ at all costs is perfect. All have fallen short of the glory of God. There is only One who gave His life so that we can have eternal life. Only One who is worthy. We must always be looking to Him and Him alone. A watchman is someone who is always prepared to be on the wall looking towards the horizon to see if danger is coming. Sometimes there are those who are supposed to be watching who instead have grown weary or old and have fallen asleep. Others have been sidetracked by the cares of the world or the attraction of money, power, and possessions. They no longer see spiritual danger. This is very tragic indeed. Often when this happens, God will simply raise up other watchmen.

             A witness is someone who will share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jeremiah laid the foundation for the Gospel by pointing the people of his day to the Word of God, which is the truth. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is based on the truth, which is the Word God; therefore, Jeremiah was a true witness for the Lord.

            So, where do you stand? Are you willing to be a Jeremiah? Are you willing to do what God is calling you to do or just sit by the wayside and do nothing?

             We are living at a time in history when we may be near the end of history. Isn’t it time to stand up and take a stand for the truth?

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:3



Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Death Of The Mega Church

Over the past several decades, biblical Christianity has been under a major attack from Satan, the one who deceives the whole world [1]. A number of man-made church growth programs designed or inspired largely by the well-known church growth guru Peter Drucker have had a major impact on what was once called Evangelical Protestant Christianity. These churches and denominations, which often consist of Christians who have believed and taught the Bible, have been cleverly led into what I call the Drucker “666” plan, without many of them even knowing it [2]
Peter Drucker
T
his clever humanistic plan authored by Drucker and others has reshaped modern day Christianity. Fellowships of believers that once gathered to hear the teaching of God’s Word have been turned into corporations that are driven to be successful businesses. These churches are now run for profit, and in many cases the Spirit of God has departed.
The pastors who were once shepherds and guided by the Holy Spirit are now corporate CEO’s. They often have puppet boards made up of “yes” men. They now focus on the accumulation of power, possession, and property and have forgotten about serving people and being witnesses for the gospel.
Drucker, now deceased, was a well-known globalist with an emphasis on one world government and one world religion  His concept was better known as the three-legged stool plan. This plan is also found in the Bible; the Book of Revelation describes this “666” plan. [3]
Peter Drucker was also a famous consultant for three well-known present day American pastoral super-heroes: Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, Bill Hybels of the Willow Creek Church near Chicago, Illinois, and Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California.
The Crystal Cathedral   Garden Grove, California
Recently Robert Schuller's empire declared a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy after years of success. While church services are still being held,  some have wondered if this is a sign that the church growth era is coming to an end.
Schuller , Hybels and Warren
Others have discovered that the only way to survive as a mega-church in a postmodern society is to look for new ways to communicate to this generation by joining hands with what is called the Emerging Church Movement. This was also one of Drucker’s inspirations, which he conjured up with business partner Bob Buford. The Emerging Church can be documented to be just another road to Rome through Babylon. It is bringing about the fast demise of Bible believing Christianity.
Whatever the case, it is still apparent that the Bill Hybel's seeker-friendly church growth program coupled with Rick Warren’s Purpose-Driven Church and Purpose Driven Life Plan have been designed to be part of the PEACE  Plan. This PEACE plan embraces New Age mystical contemplative practices that are based on a revival of ancient Babylonian religious methods, which are driven by doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:1). There are also signs that both these movements, mentored by Peter Drucker, are joining together with Roman Catholics with a plan to build the kingdom of God here on earth without the King.
This of course is what Rome has planned for centuries. This is the plan the Jesuits authored years ago and have been implementing ever since the Counter Reformation. This sinister group founded by Ignatius Loyola (a contemplative mystic, by the way) has always had a clever plan to infiltrate all Bible-based churches and organizations with the goal of establishing a One World Religion and a One World Government. This plan also includes an attack on the Word of God, changing and revising to become the word of man while at the same time making the word of the pope into the word of a god.
Recently Rick Warren and Tony Blair met at Saddleback to discuss their plan for the globalization of religion for the cause of peace. Warren promoted his PEACE Plan, and Blair explained the task he has been given by the Pope to bring about a One World Religion for peace in the name of Christ. Paul Kagame, Tony Blair and Rick Warren are on the Advisory board of The Rwanda Presidential Advisory Council They are partners together in setting up what could be a one-world religion, which prepares the way for the coming antichrist of which the Bible warns.
Denominations and Churches that are Purpose Driven And Not Spirit Led
There are a number of other well-known churches and denominations that seem to be caught in Satan’s trap and are also on their way towards the One World Religion predicted in the Bible to be part of the End Times Apostasy. Some of these pastors and church leaders were once active in warning their flocks of the dangers ahead. However, many of the sheep can now see that something has happened. Rather than the sheep being protected or warned, they are now being led to the slaughter as they are driven to market. This is very sad!
In order to understand how and why this is happening, it is important to study the Word of God. It is apparent from Scripture that God never intended men to choose men to be Kings over the people. You can read about this in the Bible. The children of Israel wanted a King. God insisted this would bring about disaster. History shows that God eventually allowed Israel to have what they wanted, and they suffered the consequences.
In the New Testament, we see this pattern repeated over and over. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Pastors are supposed to model their ministries after Jesus. The sheep make up their flocks but are abused. Pastors are to protect the sheep not send them to market. Jesus is the One who believers should follow - Him alone.
Once more, from the examples that are given to us in the New Testament, we see that humans are prone to the deception authored by Satan because they do not read the manual, which in this case is the Bible. They follow after men, their methods, and their movements - men who can be easily misled by wrong motives. This following a man model, which in the beginning may look to be a work of God and led by the Holy Spirit, will actually, over time, self destruct.
A leader who becomes the founder of such a movement can eventually be looked on as the “Pope”of that movement. If this Pope does not have his eyes totally on Jesus Christ but instead seeks after power and possession, it will not take long for his leadership to be tainted.
Those whom he has influenced will be tainted as well. The organization will begin to clone the same model. Over time, a Roman Catholic denominational plan develops with a hierarchy that everyone is familiar with – pope – cardinals – bishops – priests and then the sheep – the poor sheep.
While conferences will be held and the basics of the faith constantly discussed and enforced, it seems that after time no one pays attention to what is said. Over time the foundational beliefs once so essential to the organization in the beginning gradually are replaced with other views that become more important. Rather than teaching the Bible and focusing on being a servant to God, successful pastors often look for other ways to expand their horizons by joining hands with those who do not even believe what the Bible teaches. Instead of being servants of the Lord, some even seek after position, property, and power and forget from where they originated.
It is tragic to see an organization, driven to become larger or  a church seeking to become a mega church function like a business. This is not what God ever intended. When one begins to analyze what went wrong, it becomes apparent. Men were following men and not Jesus Christ. They thought that they were led by the Holy Spirit when instead it appears they have been driven by another spirit. They may have started out right, but they ended up wrong.
So What Can Be Done?
There is a biblical solution to this problem. It is very simple. Mega churches are not in the Bible. Jesus was more interested in teaching His disciples than He was about congregations of thousands. Apparently, Jesus had never been to a Church Growth Seminar on how to be seeker-friendly or purpose driven. These man-made methods have no biblical basis and have distorted what it means to be a part of the bride of Christ.
Further, methods that allow men to do what they want to do by refusing to listen to the council of others, is just plain wrong. Pastors who say they need one hundred percent support from their board and then fire board members who do not vote their way need to be taken to task. This style of leadership is not only ungodly, but it is dangerous. Such leadership becomes more like a dictatorship , often put in place by someone who becomes hungry for power and obsessed by money and success. Jesus would have never shepherded His flock that way. And He sure didn’t instruct the disciples to shepherd that way either.
When Scriptures are used as a method of manipulation or mind control over others this is a terrible mishandling of the Word of God. How many pastors have you heard say “DON’T TOUCH GOD’S ANOINTED” when they have been confronted with the truth and asked to respond? This apostate style of Christian leadership is about how much power a leader has over his flock, whereas a good shepherd is a pastor who follows the Good Shepherd in all that he says and does. He not only teaches the Word from the pulpit but he listens to what has been taught and lives it.
While it is possible that someone can be deluded and not know it, when warnings are given from the Word of God that shine light into the darkness, there is no excuse. Everyone has fallen short of the glory of God. Everyone is a sinner and in need of a Savior, saved only by God’s grace. When leaders go wrong, they need to recognize their sin and repent. Covering up sin only hardens the heart and makes the situation worse.
In these days of strong delusion, when Satan is pulling out all the stops, maybe it is time for pastors to put their pride behind their backs and stand up before the Lord. The consequences of shepherds in sheep’s clothing leading sheep towards apostasy will be severe. 
Anything that has been hidden and not dealt with will eventually be uncovered. While some think the rapture will happen first or they may die before sin is revealed, this is not the way to cover up. There will be the Judgment Seat. Better for all things to be revealed now than later. Better to be forgiven now than to have to deal with sin later. Better to be judged here on earth than to be judged later by God when nothing will be hidden from His sight. In 2 Timothy 20, it talks about vessels of honor and dishonor. In verse 21 it says: “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”
Is this not the time for Christian leaders to “purge” themselves and return to honor rather than dishonor? Yes, this is a time of reckoning. This is a time to get it right before it is too late. How has it happened that those who once warned about the coming apostasy now, when the apostasy is here, have somehow fallen asleep and shut their mouths?  And why would it be that those same leaders condemn those who are now doing the warning, telling them to shut up and go away? 
The Bible has the answer. Paul wrote to Timothy and told him how to deal with this kind of a problem. He said:
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26
Let us pray that God's will, not Satan's, will be accomplished.


[1] Revelation 12:9
[2] 2 Timothy 3
[3] Revelation 13:8