The Devil himself professes to be a Christian in order to deceive his victims. Satan never appears in true form, lest he be exposed for the evil person he is (John 8:44). Revelation 2:12,13 tells us that Satan dwells in the Church, "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos... where Satan dwelleth." Satan works relentlessly to CORRUPT the church, the Word of God, and our young people--to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).
The ecumenical movement is one of Satan's major influences today upon the world. Ecumenism is the doctrine of the ecumenical movement which promotes cooperation and better understanding among different religious denominations; aimed at universal Christian unity. Of course, ecumenism is also Satan's attempt to corrupt the church by unequally yoking Christians with unbelievers (2nd Corinthians 6:14-17).
How can
there be UNITY, when the Word of God commands us to SEPARATE? Romans 16:17
states, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and
offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
The True Light verses Counterfeit light
2nd Corinthians 11:14 warns us that Satan himself appears as a good guy, i.e., as a divine messenger of truth. We hear much talk from the heathen world about "the light," such as in the Poltergeist movies, and from psychics like Char Margolis. However, the "light" which the Bible warns of is a counterfeit of the true Light. What is the Light? The Word of God is the Light, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). The Gospel is the Light, "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2nd Corinthians 4:4).
Jesus is the Light, "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). John 9:5 states, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Christians shine with the Light of Jesus, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid" (Matthew 5:14). John 1:4 sums it all up with the statement... "In him (Jesus Christ) was life; and the life was the light of men." The Light is the Truth, and Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
All that glitters is not gold.
Transforming verses Submitting
Satan tries to imitate the Light, and is a master counterfeiter. Satan's spirit works in the unsaved (Ephesians 2:2) and some of them even become Satan's ministers, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ." Oh! but they're NOT of Christ, they are demonic, sold out to the Devil. These are the followers of Lucifer, the prince of darkness. Carefully notice the phrase "transforming themselves." The Greek word for "transforming" is metaschematizo, which means, "to change self." Hence, there are many ministers today who have never been changed by the saving power of the Gospel; rather, they have only changed themselves to look like genuine men of God. This is very interesting, and a powerful Biblical truth to teach others.
OST religious people today have only changed themselves, in their own self-righteousness. They have never submitted to the righteousness of God found only in Christ Jesus. There can be NO salvation apart from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which absolutely forbids any self-righteousness whatsoever! Ye must be born-again!!! Many ministers and priests today are IMPOSTERS! Roman and Orthodox Catholic priests are ALL liars and imposters, because they are going about to establish their OWN righteousness, instead of the righteousness which is of God... "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Here we see the opposite response of changing ourselves--SUBMITTING OURSELVES.
Do you
see the difference? The foolish person tries to change their OWN SELF to
please God, going about to establish their OWN righteousness (Isaiah 64:6).
However, the wise person submits in obedience to the Gospel (2nd Thessalonians
1:8)--by coming to Jesus Christ as a sinner under the condemnation of God's Law
(Romans 3:10,19), deserving of Hellfire (2nd Thessalonians 1:8), trusting upon
the finished work of redemption ( i.e., the shed blood of Jesus Christ) to take
away their sins (1st Peter 1:18-19). "For whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). Have you submitted to
the righteousness of God, which is Christ Jesus?
Things are Not as They Appear to Be
Thus, having laid a Biblical foundation, it should be obvious to you by now that Satan's ministers aren't what they APPEAR to be. They have transformed themselves to look exactly like the ministers of Christ. The Pope looks like a righteous man to the naive, and talks like righteous man to the ignorant; BUT when compared to the inspired WORD OF GOD, the Pope is quickly revealed as a man of sin, a liar, and an antichrist. "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son" (1st John 2:22). But you say, "Doesn't the Pope believe that Jesus is the Christ," i.e., the Savior? No, he doesn't. What?
Catholics DO believe that Jesus died on the cross: BUT, they are taught that THE CATHOLIC CHURCH is the vehicle through which they must ride if they want to go to Heaven. Catholics are deceitfully taught that the CHURCH is the way to Christ, who is the way to Heaven. Nothing could be further from the truth of God's Word.
The Vatican has perverted the cross of Jesus Christ to mean that God's Salvation is found THROUGH the Catholic Church, and not directly through Jesus Christ as 1st Timothy 2:5 states... "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." The Bible couldn't be any plainer.
Satan's ministers
deceitfully come to us as ministers of righteousness. Matthew 7:15, "Beware
of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves." Did you read that... BUT INWARDLY!
False prophets APPEAR to be of God on the outside, like
Benny Hinn and Pat Robertson,
but INWARDLY they are ravening wolves.
Pat Robertson's Deception
According to Pat Robertson, Pope John Paul II was a man of "deep spirituality"...
"Pat Robertson Comments on Pope John Paul II's Passing
CBN.com – VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., April 02, 2005 -- I am deeply grieved as a great man passes from this world to his much deserved eternal reward. John Paul II has been the most beloved religious leader of our age – far surpassing in popular admiration the leader of any faith.
He has been a man of great warmth, profound understanding, deep spirituality, and indefatigable vigor. It was my great honor to meet with him at the residence of my good friend, Cardinal O’Connor, in New York, and to sit in the Consistory during the mass he conducted in Central Park. I told him at the time how much the American people loved him, and he merely smiled. That love was shared not only in America but by millions all over the globe.
He has been a steady bridge in the transition of Eastern Europe from communism to freedom. His personal magnetism brought together all Christians in new bonds of understanding.
I pray for the Cardinals of the Catholic Church that they might have God-given wisdom in selecting the successor to this great man. Their task will not be easy, but with God all things are possible." -SOURCE
You've got to be kidding Mr. Robertson. And you call yourself a "Christian"? The Pope is the leader of the biggest false religion in the world, Catholicism! For Robertson to speak such gleaming words of praise towards such a Satanic imposter as the Pope, reveals that Robertson is in league with the Devil himself. No born again Christian who loves the Lord would ever praise the Pope, who is leading one billion people straight into Hell.
Pat Robertson praises the Pope because he'd be off TV very fast if he criticized the Pope, and because Mr. Robertson is a leader in the demonic ecumenical movement. Satan uses man's love of money to control the world. Mr. Robertson is exploiting the Gospel for personal gain, and to promote ecumenism. Pat Robertson has sold out to Satan!
Clearly, Pat Robertson is not what he appears to be. So many false prophets are hiding behind a shallow Gospel nowadays. I looked over www.cbn.com and couldn't find a Gospel presentation anywhere. Although they give a basic Gospel presentation on their show, they fail to explain what it really means Biblically.
Every unsaved Catholic believes the good news (Gospel) that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again three days later. Obviously a person is not saved just because they claim to believe the Gospel. If this were true, then EVERY Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Christian Scientist, Mormon, and Seventh-Day Adventist is saved. The truth is that none of them are saved.
The truth is that the Biblical Gospel EXCLUDES all
self-righteousness, works, forsaking of sins, commitments, sacraments, church
membership, making Jesus your Lord, walking down a church isle, giving your all
to Christ, living for God, baptism, etc, etc, etc. The Only way to be
saved is by faith ALONE if Jesus Christ. We do good works BECAUSE
we are already saved, not to get saved (Romans 3:20; 4:3-5).
Satan's True Nature, and the Sinister Ministers Who Serve Him
Satan does not appear as a sinister demon, with horns, and a pitch fork. Such imagery originated from the pagan god, Pan, centuries ago. Although this certainly would fit the character of Satan, it does not represent his appearance. Ezekiel 28:13-19 clearly makes reference to Lucifer... "Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God ... Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. ... Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty." Though some Bible critics today claim that these Scriptures don't concern Lucifer, verse 13 CLEARLY proves that they DO... "Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God..."
Other than the Lord God, there are only 3 beings ever mentioned as having been in the Garden of Eden: Adam, Eve, and the serpent (Satan). Ezekiel 28:12 reveals that Lucifer was "...full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty." Lucifer was created upright; but sin corrupted him as with all God's creation. Man was created upright. Ecclesiastes 7:29 reads, "...God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." God never created the Devil, demons, or fallen man--sin is the culprit!
More ugly and sinister than any artist's rendition of Satan, is the true nature of Lucifer. If you want to see demonic horror, then you need only consider the mind of Satan, which many earthly men posses today. 1st Timothy 4:1, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." Just as a beautiful young whorish woman, who is as a whitened coffin filled with rotting dead men's bones--so does Satan appear as an angel of light, deceiving the masses of earth.
2nd Corinthians 11:13-15 states, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness..." Why is it that so many people today don't comprehend these warnings from the Scriptures? It is because thy don't place any value or authority upon the Bible as God's Word.
They are following men--priests and ministers--instead of God... "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man" (Psalm 118:8). Jesus stated in Mark 7:9, "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." More than any other group of unbelievers, people are going to burn in Hell because they followed men instead of God's Word.
Satan claims to be a Christian, and his demonic servants have changed THEMSELVES into ministers of righteousness. They are of the Devil, liars, who will take you to Hell with them if you're foolish enough to follow. Please don't follow them! Here is a list of False Religions. Also, beware of False Christs, and False Prophets. Make the Word of God, the King James Bible, your Final Authority! One Book stands, and It's the precious Word of God!
Satan is a great deceiver, and is deceiving billions today through false religion and ecumenism. Ecumenists say, "God is Love. So let us lay aside our doctrinal differences, and focus on loving and helping one another, as Jesus taught. Let us show the world that love is the answer." Tragically, the Gospel is perverted in ecumenism and people are only converted over to religion instead of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing could be more offensive to God. Although God is certainly a God of love, it is never an excuse for sinful compromise with unbelievers.
2nd Corinthians 6:17 states, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." "Unclean" refers to anything which is against Biblical teaching. Christians are to SEPARATE from the ungodly, and from those who falsely claim to follow the teachings of the Bible, but do not. Satan and his ministers only APPEAR as being good; but they are evil. When you don't know what you believe, it makes it all that much easier for the Devil to deceive you.
Thus, every believer should study the Word of God, learning the truth about various doctrines. The truth is not just for pastors or Bible teachers, it is for every born-again believer.
So keep in mind as you see differing faiths heading towards a one-world religious system, that even Satan claims to be a Christian! Behind all the talk of love and diversity, a diabolic agenda exists--the Beast system is being prepared to receive the Antichrist (2nd Thessalonians 2:9-10). The best way to expose Satan's darkness is to shine the Light of God's Word upon it.
“In whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” —2nd Corinthians 4:4
