Beware of End-time Distractions

Satan well knows that all whom he can lead to neglect prayer and the searching of the Scriptures, will be overcome by his attacks. Therefore he invents every possible device to engross the mind. There has ever been a class professing godliness, who, instead of following on to know the truth, make it their religion to seek some fault of character or error of faith in those with whom they do not agree. Such are Satan’s right-hand helpers.... They will put a false coloring upon the words and acts of those who love and obey the truth. They will represent the most earnest, zealous, self-denying servants of Christ as deceived or deceivers. It is their work to misrepresent the motives of every true and noble deed, to circulate insinuations, and arouse suspicion in the minds of the inexperienced. In every conceivable manner they will seek to cause that which is pure and righteous to be regarded as foul and deceptive. But none need be deceived concerning them. It may be readily seen whose children they are, whose example they follow, and whose work they do. “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:16. Their course resembles that of Satan, the envenomed slanderer, “the accuser of our brethren.” Revelation 12:10. The Great Controversy, 519-520

The errors of popular theology have driven many a soul to skepticism who might otherwise have been a believer in the Scriptures... Some at first criticize and reason on the wrong side, from a mere love of controversy. They do not realize that they are thus entangling themselves in the snare of the fowler. But having openly expressed unbelief, they feel that they must maintain their position. Thus they unite with the ungodly and close to themselves the gates of Paradise. The Great Controversy, 525-526

The doctrine of man's consciousness in death, especially the belief that spirits of the dead return to minister to the living, has prepared the way for modern spiritualism... The pretended visitants from the world of spirits sometimes utter cautions and warnings which prove to be correct. Then, as confidence is gained, they present doctrines that directly undermine faith in the Scriptures.
The Great Controversy, 551-552

It is true that spiritualism is now changing its form and, veiling some of its more objectionable features, is assuming a Christian guise...  While it formerly denounced Christ and the Bible, it now professes to accept both. But the Bible is interpreted in a manner that is pleasing to the unrenewed heart, while its solemn and vital truths are made of no effect. Love is dwelt upon as the chief attribute of God, but it is degraded to a weak sentimentalism, making little distinction between good and evil. God's justice, His denunciations of sin, the requirements of His holy law, are all kept out of sight. The people are taught to regard the Decalogue as a dead letter. Pleasing, bewitching fables captivate the senses and lead men to reject the Bible as the foundation of their faith. Christ is as verily denied as before; but Satan has so blinded the eyes of the people that the deception is not discerned.

There are few who have any just conception of the deceptive power of spiritualism and the danger of coming under its influence. Many tamper with it merely to gratify their curiosity. They have no real faith in it and would be filled with horror at the thought of yielding themselves to the spirits' control. But they venture upon the forbidden ground, and the mighty destroyer exercises his power upon them against their will. Let them once be induced to submit their minds to his direction, and he holds them captive. It is impossible, in their own strength, to break away from the bewitching, alluring spell. Nothing but the power of God, granted in answer to the earnest prayer of faith, can deliver these ensnared souls.

All who indulge sinful traits of character, or willfully cherish a known sin, are inviting the temptations of Satan. They separate themselves from God and from the watchcare of His angels; as the evil one presents his deceptions, they are without defense and fall an easy prey. Those who thus place themselves in his power little realize where their course will end. Having achieved their overthrow, the tempter will employ them as his agents to lure others to ruin. The Great Controversy, 558-560

God never forces the will or the conscience; but Satan’s constant resort—to gain control of those whom he cannot otherwise seduce—is compulsion by cruelty. Through fear or force he endeavors to rule the conscience, and to secure homage to himself. To accomplish this, he works through both religious and secular authorities, moving them to the enforcement of human laws in defiance of the law of God.  The Great Controversy, p. 591

As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position, and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbath-keepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them... As the opposition rises to a fiercer height, the servants of God are again perplexed; for it seems to them that they have brought the crisis. But conscience and the Word of God assure them that their course is right; and although the trials continue, they are strengthened to bear them.
The Great Controversy, p. 608-609

These are very sobering thoughts. Take this as a warning not to become like "the Accuser of our brethren".

As we live in the anti-typical day of atonement, 
let's remember these verses from Isaiah..

Isaiah 58:6-10
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
“If you take away the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

If you extend your soul to the hungry
And satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

Safety not found in miracles

The angel who unites in the proclamation of the third angel's message is to lighten the whole earth with his glory... The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close. Here are "the times of refreshing" to which the apostle Peter looked forward when he said: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus." Acts 3:19, 20

Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers. Satan also works, with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13. Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand.
The Great Controversy 1888, p. 612

God’s people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan will counterfeit the miracles that will be wrought.
Last Day Events, p. 169

As spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal Christianity of the day, it has greater power to deceive and ensnare. Satan himself is converted, after the modern order of things. He will appear in the character of an angel of light. Through the agency of spiritualism, miracles will be wrought,the sick will be healed, and many undeniable wonders will be performed. And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible, and manifest respect for the institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power.... The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly is now hardly distinguishable.   The Great Controversy, p. 588

If those through whom cures are performed are disposed, on account of these manifestations, to excuse their neglect of the law of God and continue in disobedience, though they have power to any and every extent, it does not follow that they have the great power of God. On the contrary, it is the miracle-working power of the great deceiver.—Selected Messages 2:50, 51 (1885).

The Bible will never be superseded by miraculous manifestations. The truth must be studied, it must be searched for as hidden treasure. Wonderful illuminations will not be given aside from the Word or to take the place of it. Cling to the Word, receive the engrafted Word which will make men wise unto salvation.
—Selected Messages 2:48 (1894).

The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.
—The Great Controversy, 593 (1911).

Bishop Palmer Presses Forward

Apparently Tony Palmer, bishop and international ecumenical officer for the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches was deadly serious about his mission to unite the Protestant world with Catholicism. He has issued another video message wherein he underscores his desire to see visible unity amongst Christians. In his carefully written rally call, he says that Protestant Christians have spiritual racism. He proclaims that in the Post-Protestant era we live in anything that causes division must go.

He clearly describes who Joseph is and who the lost brothers are in Pope Francis' iPhone message to Evangelicals. In unambiguous terms, Palmer says we (the Evangelical world) are hungry and we will find what we are looking for in the arms of the Pope. Is this famine for bread a famine caused by the watering down of the message for so many years? Does the Pope have the bread the Protestant world is looking for? Interestingly enough, the analogy of Joseph used by the Pope of himself, is of Joseph in Egypt. [For those who have not yet seen the iPhone message from the Pope and Copeland Conference, click here] In the Bible, Egypt represents sin. If the Pope styles himself as Joseph - then we find him certainly in a fitting place - Egypt. As the woman that rides the beast in Revelation and the beast itself in Bible prophecy, the Papacy certainly fits all that Egypt represents and more.

In his message, Palmer claims that the bread is secondary to brotherhood. It is a profound statement - for as bread signifies the Word of God - Jesus, the bread of life, then Palmer is stating exactly what the agenda has been all along - the world does believe that Jesus Christ is secondary to brotherhood. There has been a total onslaught on Jesus Christ to downgrade Him to a level that will be suitable for everyone. And most definitely the Word of God is being set aside in order to gain the brotherhood that they are looking for. The Word of God would reveal the disunity of their doctrines, and so it must be set aside.

Palmer goes on to say that "The first step to deal with spiritual racism is to abolish the law which empowers it." What law would that be?

But apparently, truth is out the window. Only brotherhood matters. According to Palmer, "This is what we have been waiting for. We must seize this moment. This is a new day for Christianity."

And those who do not "seize this moment" are "out of sync with reality".

According to Palmer it is this enforced unity, led by the babble of the gift of tongues through their "Spirit" that will get atheists to believe. When Protestants and Catholics are united, all the world will believe, he claims.

But the most interesting statement of all is Palmer's assurance that "no one is coming home". Doing away with all of the Protestant worries that they have to "submit" to the Pope and come "home" to the Mother church, Palmer assures all viewers that they need not humble themselves so far that they come all the way "home". No, no. "We are journeying towards each other and we will meet in the middle," he says. How assuring. Which point will the Papacy compromise on or is it as always nothing more than a game of words with them? Pope Francis makes it easy for anyone to lay down their weapons and come to the "middle" - only perhaps this middle is slightly off-centre.

Watch the video to the end for the full message from Tony Palmer, the Pope's right-hand man: HERE

Source

"Luther's Protest" is over?

Kenneth Copeland (KCM Ministries) is a Pentecostal, evangelical preacher who trained under Oral Roberts. Copeland, a tele-evangelist has been united with the Catholic Church in Sunday keeping. But it goes much beyond that. He has become a strong advocate of the ecumenical movement to unite Evangelical and Pentecostal churches with the Catholic Church.

At a recent Pentecostal ministers conference in Fort Worth, TX he invited Tony Palmer to the pulpit. Tony is an Anglican priest of the Celtic Anglican Tradition and is the communion’s international ecumenical officer. He is also an official member of the Roman Catholic Ecumenical Delegation for Christian Unity and Reconciliation.

Palmer, a protégé of Kenneth Copeland, took the charismatic work of KCM to South Africa. He was ordained a priest and later a bishop in the Anglican Communion, but sees himself as a Roman Catholic. Later he was invited by the Catholic Charismatic Renewal to join their work among Roman Catholics.

Tony lived and worked in Argentina for a few years. While there he became close personal friends with Jorge Mario Bergoglio who is now Pope Francis.

Tony told the Pentecostal ministers conference that he visited Rome as part of the official ecumenical delegation a few years ago. Pope Benedict XVI was still pope and said to the audience, “You Charismatics are the hope of the [Catholic] church.”

Palmer says he came to the Copeland organization “in the spirit of Elijah… to turn the hearts of the fathers to the sons, and the hearts of the sons to the fathers…” In the context of ecumenical unity, which is his message, the Protestants are the ‘sons’, and the Roman Catholic leadership would be the ‘fathers.’

Then Palmer talks about the agreement signed in 1999 by the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Lutheran Church, and five years later by the Methodist church, and he concludes, “This [agreement] brought an end to the protest of Luther. Brothers and sisters, Luther’s protest is over. Is yours?” he said. Then he added, “so, the protest has been over for 15 years… If there is no more protest, how can there be a Protestant church?  Maybe now we’re all Catholics again!”

Palmer treats the Protestant Charismatics as the bridge between Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic Church. Palmer goes on to say that Catholics and Protestants are now preaching the same gospel. While it appears to many that the Catholic Church has adopted righteousness by faith alone, the Catholic Church still teaches all of its other doctrines as well. Its real purpose is to merge the two together.

Recently, Palmer visited Pope Francis in Rome. While there he and the pope prepared a special iPhone video message for these Pentecostal ministers. As you would expect, the pope speaks of the need for unity and brotherhood.

Pope Francis comes across as a warm, concerned father figure in the video. You would almost forget that he’s a member of “the most cruel, unscrupulous, and powerful of all the champions of popery.”  (See Great Controversy page 234). In fact, it is easy to see how difficult it will be to oppose global ecumenical unity with the truth of the three Angels’ messages of Revelation 14, once the ecumenical movement has reached its peak and all the world wonders after the beast.

The pope asks for the prayers of these Pentecostal ministers and for their blessing. Kenneth Copeland then responds by return video in front of the audience and leads the minister’s conference in shouting a blessing to the pope in return. “Heaven is thrilled over this,” he adds.

Pentecostals Wonder After… [yes, you know who]
(source)

Is the protest really over? Nope.
The following video commentary by Doug Batchelor will explain



What the catholic church teaches clearly contradicts the bible
Here's a list of some examples of contradictions:

The Bible teaches that we are not to bow down to statues (Exodus 20:4, 5).
The Roman Catholic Church says that we should bow down to statues, not ancient tradition, but medieval tradition.

The Bible teaches that all have sinned except Jesus (Romans 3:10-12, Hebrews 4:15).
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Mary was sinless.

The Bible says that Jesus is the only mediator between man and God (1 Timothy 2:5).
The Roman Catholic Church says Mary is co-mediator with Christ.

The Bible teaches that Christ offered His sacrifice on the cross once and for all (Hebrews 7:27,28 10:10).
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the priest sacrifices Christ on the altar at every mass.

The Bible teaches that all Christians are saints and priests (Ephesians 1:1 and 1 Peter 2:9).
The Roman Catholic Church says that saints and priests are special casts within the Christian community.

The Bible teaches that all Christians should know that they have eternal life (1 John 5:13).
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that all Christians cannot and should not know that they have eternal life.

The Bible teaches that we should call no religious leader “father” (Matthew 23:9).
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that we may call the priests and pope “father.”

The Bible teaches to not pray in vain repetition (Matthew 6:7).
The Roman Catholic Church says to pray the Lord’s prayer or Hail Mary’s in vain repetition.

The Bible teaches to confess your sins to God, for only God can forgive sin (Isaiah 43:25, Luke 5:24).
The Roman Catholic Church says you must confess your sins to the priest for forgiveness.

Moreover, the teachings of purgatory, limbo, and prayers for the dead are nowhere in Scripture, but clearly relics of paganism.

The words of Jesus to the Pharisees apply today; we must not nullify the Word of God with manmade traditions (Matthew 15:6).

An outline of final events

By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.
Testimonies for the Church Volume 5, p. 451

The following is an outline of the last eight chapters of The Great Controversy
Liberty of Conscience Threatened
- the papists are taking a conciliatory course in order to gain influence
-  there is an increasing indifference concerning doctrines
- the papacy is using every means to "regain control of the world"
- the papacy is a dangerous foe to civil and religious liberty
The Impending Conflict
- Satan uses false doctrines to destroy faith in the bible
- The Two Great Errors: Inherent soul immortality and Sunday sacredness
- The Threefold Union: Papacy, Apostate Protestantism, and Spiritualism
- Through spiritualism, Satan appears as a benefactor
- But at the same time Satan works as a destroyer
[Notice: today Satan gets credit for so called "acts of God"]
- Sunday desacrators will be blamed for the world's problems
The Scriptures a Safeguard
- Study your bibles people!
The Final Warning
- The message of that other angel of Revelation 18 to be preached
- Sabbath-keeping will become a test of loyalty to God
- The sins of Babylon will be laid open
- People go to their former teachers with the eager inquiry, Are these things so?
- Like the Pharisees of old, religious authorities will become angry
- Sabbath keepers threatened with fines and inducements
- Sabbath keepers will also experience betrayal within their own ranks
- God still has agents in government defending religious liberty
- The winds of strife are being held until God's people are sealed with the latter rain
The Time of Trouble
-  Christ ceases intercession, the winds of human passion set lose
- Evil angels cause destruction and God's people are blamed
- Religious formalism will be led with a satanic zeal
- A Decree to be issued against Sabbath-keepers
- The Time of Jacob's Trouble
- The importance of exercising faith now
- Satan will impersonate as Christ
- God's people will not be misled
- God will send plagues on those who oppress God's people
- God's people won't be left to perish
God's People Delivered
- Christ returns, resurrects the dead saved
- God's people will be taken home!
Desolation to the Earth
- Satan bound for 1000 years
The Controversy Ended
- Jesus makes all things new
- Affliction will not rise up a second time