One of my major complaints over the past several years is that many churches/pastors are not teaching what the Bible tells us is going to be happening in our culture during the Last Days before the return of Christ. I have heard that many Christians don’t even read their own Bibles, let alone those people who aren’t believers! Or, if a Christian does read their Bible, some will skip over those parts that make them uncomfortable or parts they don’t understand. If pastors don’t speak/teach on such things, the difficult and challenging things, how on earth are we going to be prepared for the world-wide deception that is coming? Jesus himself admonished us in Matthew 24 to not be deceived. The only way you do that is to learn the truth of it from God’s Word so you will recognize the deception when you see it. God gives us prophecy in the Bible to prepare us, not to scare us! That way when we see these things happening it will encourage our faith to know that he is God and his Word is true.
I thank God for Pastor Jack Hibbs! I can’t attend his church personally as he is located in California and I am not, but I check in regularly online as a supplement to my local church. I would strongly urge you to settle in with a coffee or tea and watch each of the following teachings in their entirety. They just may open your eyes to a whole new understanding of scripture that you’ve never even thought of before. Look up the scripture references yourself in your own Bible and ask God to help you understand his Word. Whether you want to believe it or not, there IS a spiritual battle going on for the souls of men/women, and I truly believe we are on the verge of witnessing demonic deception on a level that we have never thought possible. Buckle up and hear what God has to say about it!
In the Daze of Deception Part 1
In the Daze of Deception Part 2
In the Days of Deception Part 3
Following are some of the key scriptures referenced by Pastor Jack:
Luke 21:34-36 – “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you will be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 – “Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Luke 21:28 – “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
1 John 4:1-3 – “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits (with the Word of God) to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 – “… for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
Ephesians 4:14-15 – “Then we will no longer be (spiritual) infants, tossed back and forth by the waves (troubles of life), and blown here and there by every wind of (false) teaching, and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up (spiritually) in him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Luke 21:8 – “He (Jesus) replied: ‘Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.”
I have to admit that I didn’t grow up going to church or reading my Bible. It wasn’t until late high school/early college that I experienced a spiritual crisis that led me to salvation in Jesus Christ. Oh, how I NEEDED him!! And from the very beginning of that relationship I knew deep in my heart that I would experience the return of Christ in my lifetime. But how did I know? I can only say it was by the Holy Spirit. I had no knowledge of the “End Times”, the Book of Revelation or biblical prophecy – I had never even really read the Bible at all! But I knew that God exists, and I had come to know his Son intimately, and I believed his Word. And if I believed Christ had come the first time, to be the perfect sacrifice and to shed his blood as a ransom for all, then I had to believe that he is coming back – because he promised that he would. And he has given us a road map of things to watch for; signs of the season, of sorts. I pray with all my heart that you would hear his voice today and respond with your heart to welcome him in. I promise, you will not regret it in the least!
Until next time, be blessed!
CHOOSE YOUR ETERNITY 