Monday, May 2, 2016

Supernatural Counterfeits

Leaky icon: A strange oil leaks from St. John the Baptist

Though secular humanism seems destined to eradicate faith from the earth, biblical prophecy reveals that in the last days directly preceding the return of Jesus Christ, incredible miracles are going to prevail across the world.

But those miracles won't come from God. Rather, they'll come from a dark spiritual source. The apostle Paul issued this prophetic caveat: "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)

And Jesus Christ warned: "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time." (Matthew 24:24-25)

Both Christ and Paul revealed that the future belongs to supernaturalism rather than secularism. But that supernaturalism will come from Satan rather than from God. Thus, the current dearth of miracles isn't going to last. At some point, the world's going to witness an explosion of supernatural events that will lead to the greatest spiritual revival in human history.

However, this will be a counterfeit revival that will eventually lead to the Antichrist. Paul revealed that when this revival begins, the appearance of the dreaded Antichrist will be close at hand. 

Christ compared these events to birth pangs. When the birth pangs become more frequent, the baby's arrival is getting closer. When the counterfeit miracles become more frequent and powerful, the end is near.

For now, the miracles are few and far between. But they're happening. One of them recently occurred at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church that's located in Homer Glen, Ill. Homer Glen is a leafy suburb located in Will County about 25 miles southwest of Chicago. It's where a lot of folks who were fed up with Chicago's violent crime and traffic congestion have relocated to in recent years.

Apparently, Homer Glen is a town of miracles. Officials at the Assumption church recently noticed a strange substance flowing from a portrait of St. John the Baptist. They described the substance as myrrh oil because of its texture and aroma. 

Could someone be playing a trick by pouring the oil on the painting? Absolutely not, according to church officials. The oil is coming from inside the painting. Could the portrait be sweating the oil naturally? 

Not according to the officials who claim that the substance is foreign to the paint that was used for the portrait. And the officials also claim that nothing is leaking into the painting from the wall behind the portrait.  

And so, it indeed appears to be a "miracle." Some folks claim that the portrait even has healing powers. Church officials are offering cotton swabs dabbed with the oil to the faithful. A woman named Kathy Limber believes that the oil is healing her of leukemia: Ever since I've gotten anointed by the oil, I keep praying and I keep being anointed by it. My numbers have just gotten better and I just have more energy. I just feel amazing.

A man claims that he was healed of an artery blockage after he applied the swab. Another man claims that he fully recovered from hip surgery just two days after he used the swab. Still another man claims that he was healed of a chronic nerve condition after he acquired one of the swabs.

What's wrong with the Assumption miracles? If folks believe they're being healed of serious illnesses and medical conditions, isn't that a good thing? No, it's not.

But why not? Because these people aren't trusting in God for healing. Rather, they're being led to believe that anointed portraits and statues of religious figures have supernatural powers that can heal them. However, the Bible emphatically declares that God heals us rather than idols.

Here's what the Lord told the ancient Hebrews when He gave them His laws and commandments: "If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." (Exodus 15:26)

That Lord is Jesus Christ. In the 8th century B.C., the prophet Isaiah wrote this concerning the Jewish Messiah: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

Satan isn't a secularist. He isn't adverse to miracles. He uses them to turn people away from God's truth toward spiritual deception and eternal doom. But isn't he all about death and destruction? Of course. But he'll gladly give you a few more years of life on this planet in exchange for your soul. And when he has your soul, he's got you forever.

Think about that. Not every miracle is a good miracle. For Satan, the end justifies the means. And so, consider this: Unless the miracle points you directly to God and His grace revealed in Jesus Christ crucified for your sins on Calvary's cross and His resurrection from the dead, then be wary. And beware. Because what's coming is going to deceive even the elect if that's possible.

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