The End of the Church Age

In his epistle to the early church in Rome, the apostle Paul revealed that in the last days when the Jews begin returning to God through Jesus Christ, the church age would soon come to an end.

Here's what Paul wrote: "I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery brothers so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of gentiles has come in, and this way all Israel will be saved." (Romans 11:25)

Paul's revelation that Israel had experienced a "hardening in part" indicates that though Israel corporately rejected Christ 2,000 years ago, many Jews embraced Him as their Messiah. But more importantly, when their brothers and sisters begin to embrace Christ in the last days, the church age will soon be over.

Is Paul's prophecy being fulfilled? Indeed it is. Christianity has virtually vanished in the Middle East and in many parts of Asia where Islamists are destroying churches and murdering thousands of Christians.

In formerly Christian western Europe, the churches are empty on Sundays and more people identify themselves as agnostics and atheists than they do as Christians. And in the United States, once considered the most Christian nation one earth, American churches have lost 25 million members since the 1950s.  

According to research conducted by churchleaders.com, approximately 20 percent Americans attended church in 1990. By the year 2000, that number had dropped to 18.7 percent, and then to 17.7 percent by 2004, even though America's population had grown by 48 million.

Furthermore, according to church researcher Thom Rainer, a survey conducted in 2002 of 1,159 American churches found that only six percent reported membership growth that year. Thus, according to Rainer, 94 percent of U.S. churches were losing members as of 2002. And that was 12 years ago.

What about today? According to Pastor James McDonald of Walking In The Word Ministries, "of the 250,000 Protestant churches in America, 200,000 are either stagnant (no growth) or declining. That's 80 percent of the churches in America and maybe the one you attend, if you attend one at all." Why We Are Losing So Many Churches In The United States?

And furthermore, according to McDonald, an estimated 4,000 churches close their doors ever year and 3,500 people leave the Christian church every single day. And even though America's population has more than doubled since 1950, McDonald claims that there are one-third fewer churches in the United States today than there were 64 years ago.

Why are Christian churches vanishing? For millions of people, Christianity is viewed as an outdated belief system that has little or no relevance to the modern world. Jack Wellman, of patheos.com, claims that too many churches have abandoned Christ and His Holy Spirit for a powerless works-righteousness religious system that turns people off.

But that isn't a recent phenomena. Much of Christendom began abandoning Christ in the nineteenth century for universalism and the powerless social gospel. And so, as the early first century church grew by the power of God's great miracles manifested through Christ's apostles, the early 21^st century church is shrinking because it has no power. For million across the world, Christianity has become an historical white elephant.

Many folks are convinced that because Christianity is in decline, Islam is destined to become the dominant global religion. In fact, an author named Joel Richardson believes that the coming dreaded Antichrist is going to be Islamic.

However, while the days are numbered for God's true church in the world, a counterfeit form of Christianity that will be heavily based upon signs, wonders and miracles, is on the horizon. And for a world that's become weary of the liturgical rot of dead, lifeless religions, these signs and wonders are going to convert millions of skeptics and atheists into believers.

Unfortunately, these folks are going to follow a false Jesus Christ who will take them to hell.

How do we know this counterfeit revival is coming? Both Christ and the apostle Paul revealed that supernatural phenomena, backed by demonic power, will prevail in the end time world. Christ said this: "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect, if that were possible." (Matthew 24:24)

The apostle Paul wrote this: "The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

Paul's prophecy is startling. Not only does it reveal that a great counterfeit spiritual revival is going to sweep across the world in the last days, but that it will deceive millions. And those who are going to be deceived by this revival will be willingly deceived.

Despite the fact that the Bible clearly warns of the collapse of the end time church (Matthew 24:10) along with the end of the church age, many professing Christians actually believe that a global revival is coming that will usher in Christ's kingdom on earth. By willfully ignoring the warnings of Christ and Paul, these people are preparing to embrace the Antichrist when he appears.

One such Christian is a man named Todd Bentley, a self described healing evangelist, revivalist and author who's the founder of Fresh Fire USA. Contrary to what the Bible says concerning the last days, Bentley claims that God has told him that a great global Christian revival is on the horizon.

Back in May, 2013, Bentley, wrote that God is preparing to unleash a second Pentecost across the world: "As I was thinking and praying, my faith was stirred along these lines. So I said, 'God, let the angel come that was with John Lake, which helped bring revival in this nation. It would sure be great if we had some angels helping us right now!' All of s sudden, the glory of God came, and in my spirit the light was blinding...Then I started to think about the purpose of Pentecost…However what I am telling you is coming in this hour, the harvest at the end of the age, the harvesters that God is going to release in this hour are going to go out and be just as great or greater (than the Pentecost 2,000 years ago)." Fresh Fire USA - Writings » Another Pentecost

Revivalists such as Bentley call this coming revival a "second" Pentecost. But why the need for another Pentecost? Didn't God appropriate His Holy Spirit once for all true believers in Christ at the first Pentecost? (Acts 2)

He did, but revivalists take an ancient prophecy recorded by Joel (Joel 2:28-32) that revealed the first century Pentecost and place it in the very last days. By doing this, they have unwittingly set themselves and their followers up for what will be the greatest spiritual deception in history.

How will this fraudulent begin? It will most likely begin with increased manifestations of the Virgin Mary throughout the world. This "Mary" is not to be confused with Christ's real mother Miriam.

 

The Virgin Mary is a pagan deity that is promoted as "The Mother of God" by both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. And she has been known throughout history by other names such as Ashteroth, Asherah, Isis, Ishtar and the Queen of Heaven.

But why is Mary the most likely to ignite this counterfeit revival? Because she's recognized and worshiped by Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, a growing number of Protestants and even Muslims. That accounts for almost half of the world's residents. Now you can understand why she has the potential to kick off this counterfeit revival that will based upon demonic signs and wonders. Queen of the World

When this revival occurs--and it's coming--the world will worship a counterfeit Christ who will destroy millions. And this Christ will be the bridegroom of the harlot church that the apostle John described in the Revelation as the Whore of Babylon. (Revelation 17)

The appearance of this pseudo-revival will mark the end of true Christianity on earth and the beginning of a global, pagan Christianity. True Christians will recognize what this revival is all about when it occurs. However, they'll been in the minority and they'll be persecuted for not joining in.