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| Is this what happens after death? |
During his travels throughout the ancient gentile world, the apostle Paul continually warned the early churches to be wary of the devil because they were his favorite targets.
Targets for what? For deception. Paul revealed that Satan loves to deceive God's people by presenting them with counterfeits. Here's what he wrote: "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)
How does Satan convince God's people that he's an angel of light? Through ignorance. The less God's people know and understand His word in the Bible, the easier it is for the devil to fool them.
For example? By religious experiences where Satan and his fallen angels are able to invade the natural realm and perform supernatural feats that defy explanation. If you're unable to determine the spiritual source of the miracle, you can be duped into embracing a deadly lie that can lead you into eternal damnation.
For example? By religious experiences where Satan and his fallen angels are able to invade the natural realm and perform supernatural feats that defy explanation. If you're unable to determine the spiritual source of the miracle, you can be duped into embracing a deadly lie that can lead you into eternal damnation.
One Jewish man, who I won't identify, claims that he met Jesus Christ many years ago after he died from a drug overdose. The man claims that he traveled down a long tunnel toward a brilliant light where he met a spirit being who then took him into a room with a group of people sitting around a large table.
The man claims that he recognized his deceased grandfather--an Orthodox rabbi--sitting at the table, and his grandfather proceeded to introduce him to "Jesus Christ." According to this man, Christ asked him why he believed he deserved a second chance after doing himself in with drugs. After some back and forth conversation, "Christ" gave the man another chance and he was returned to his body that had been taken to a morgue. The man claims he woke up on a gurney and scared the daylights out of the attendants.
Did this man really see Jesus Christ? That's unlikely because the Christ he claims he encountered is a nonjudgmental, universal Christ who's not the Son of God. That's not the Jesus Christ revealed in the Bible. The real Jesus Christ said this: "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the (Heavenly) Father except through me." (John 14:6)
With that statement, Christ invalidated all other religious paths that claim to lead to God. This man promotes a false Christ who can be found in Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Santeria, Voodoo etc. The biblical Christ can never be found in the pagan religions of the world.
With that statement, Christ invalidated all other religious paths that claim to lead to God. This man promotes a false Christ who can be found in Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Santeria, Voodoo etc. The biblical Christ can never be found in the pagan religions of the world.
And so, who or what did this man really see? He saw demonic spirits that impersonated Christ and his grandfather. This man's experience wasn't unlike the experiences of those who claim to have been kidnapped by space aliens and taken aboard UFOs. While that sounds ridiculous, there are a number of people throughout the world who've described those experiences. And their testimonies are eerily similar.
Why would Satan choose to deceive an unbelieving Jewish man with a religious experience? Because he wants to promote a false view of the spiritual realm where no judgment exists after death. If the devil can lead people to a false Christ who's nonjudgmental, then he can convince them that they don't have to repent of their sins and be born again into eternal life by faith in the real Jesus Christ. If there's no judgment after death and no fiery hell awaiting the ungodly, then what's there to worry about?
Well, there's plenty to worry about. If you die in your sins, no universal, New Age Christ is going to save you. You'll end up in hell where you'll remain until Judgment Day. And then, you'll face the proverbial music.
The Bible reveals that spiritual deception such as the Jewish man's experience is going to increase in the end times. While spiritual deception has always existed, it's indeed becoming more prevalent as we get closer to Christ's return. Paul issued this caveat: "The (Holy) Spirit says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." (1 Timothy 4:1)
How can we avoid being deceived by Satan? By knowing God's word in the Bible and applying that word by faith. To that, Paul wrote this: "Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in doing so have wandered from the faith." (1 Timothy 6:20-21) That's how you avoid spiritual deception.
Why would Satan choose to deceive an unbelieving Jewish man with a religious experience? Because he wants to promote a false view of the spiritual realm where no judgment exists after death. If the devil can lead people to a false Christ who's nonjudgmental, then he can convince them that they don't have to repent of their sins and be born again into eternal life by faith in the real Jesus Christ. If there's no judgment after death and no fiery hell awaiting the ungodly, then what's there to worry about?
Well, there's plenty to worry about. If you die in your sins, no universal, New Age Christ is going to save you. You'll end up in hell where you'll remain until Judgment Day. And then, you'll face the proverbial music.
The Bible reveals that spiritual deception such as the Jewish man's experience is going to increase in the end times. While spiritual deception has always existed, it's indeed becoming more prevalent as we get closer to Christ's return. Paul issued this caveat: "The (Holy) Spirit says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." (1 Timothy 4:1)
How can we avoid being deceived by Satan? By knowing God's word in the Bible and applying that word by faith. To that, Paul wrote this: "Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in doing so have wandered from the faith." (1 Timothy 6:20-21) That's how you avoid spiritual deception.
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