He that restraineth......restraineth no more!

I believe the Lord has shown us that the restrains are being lifted off the evil one.

(2 Thessalonians 2:6-7) And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way.

We know we have seen evidences of it in the Church. But since this past Sept, we have seen a great increase of evil every where. Seemingly normal people are going off and killing people in hideous crimes. I have never seen so much of it. It seems it is becoming easy for evil spirits to enter anyone who is not totally dedicated to the Lord.

A young Hollywood Actor dies un-expectantly not long after playing a part in a movie of an evil villain. The actor said before his death, the part had gotten “into my head”. He couldn’t sleep and was on medication because of it. Demonic? You can bet it was!

No one is immune these days if we don’t stay close and obedient to the Lord. If truly the restraints are being removed, here are some things the scriptures say will happen and these things will increase worse and worse as the day of the Lord approaches. 2Ti 3:13

The church will be in deception because they did not love the true of the Gospel. (2Th 2:11) This is part of the Great falling away. (2Th 2:3)

2Thess 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Jesus referred to His body as the temple of God in the book of John. Paul referred to the Christians at Corinth as the temple of God.

Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six. (Revelation 13:18)

One of the things the anti-Christ spirit will do is exalt man above God; it is so subtle that many do not recognize it. But in view of the scriptures we can see how this spirit is sweeping across the Church in America and the Western world.

Today in Churches we hear a lot about self esteem, succeeding in this life, having the things of this world that we want. Self Help books are the most popular books on the “Christian” book store shelves today. Some even say they are written so the unbeliever can also benefit from them. But the true Gospel says if we do not die to self and if God is not our ONLY goal in this life we will not enter into the Kingdom of God.

Jesus said to lose your life. For we cannot serve two masters, we can not have both our life and Christ’ life, we must choose which one we will follow hard after: David said it beautifully: (Psalms 63:8) My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me. (Psalms 73:25) Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.

Jesus said you couldn’t follow him unless you first went to the cross (your instrument of death) and carry it daily.

(Matthew 10:38-39) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

(Matthew 6:24a) No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.

In Philippians 3:17 Paul said to follow his example. He gave up everything for Christ, he had no other desires but Christ and to “apprehend” him.

(Philippians 3:7-8) But those things which were profit to me, I gave up for Christ. Yes truly, and I am ready to give up all things for the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, which is more than all: for whom I have undergone the loss of all things, and to me they are less than nothing, so that I may have Christ as my reward,

Then the apostle John said:

Have no love for the world or for the things which are in the world. If any man has love for the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Because everything in the world, the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but of the world.

And the world and its desires is coming to an end: but he who does God's pleasure is living for ever. (1 John 2:15-17)
In view of these scriptures we can see clearly that there has already been the “great falling away” from the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But wait! It gets scarier! With the restrains out of the way of Satan, he is having a hay day in the world of those “outside” the church to do as he pleases. But the worst is what he is doing “inside” the church.

With the power of Satan we will see false miracles, signs and lying wonders in the church. And again, many will be deceived because “they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved”. 2Th 2:9-10

I believe scripture clearly shows that the anti-christ spirit will imitate the Holy Spirit, just like Pharaoh’s magicians did in Egypt duplicating the signs and wonders God did through Moses and Aaron. He will be “Showing himself that he is God”. 2Thess 2:4 It will take discernment from the Holy Spirit to know the difference.

I’m not just talking about healings, speaking in tongues and other miracles, signs and wonders. But even to things like praise and worship, causing emotions to rise to the point people think they are “feeling” the Holy Spirit. When in reality they are only experiencing what the music worked up in their flesh. And if any doubt that music can do that, go to a rock concert sometime and watch the people and see the emotional state they can be “moved” to. Does it look much different than what we have seen in some churches? This, my friends, is not true worshipping in spirit and in truth; this is of a different spirit!

But there is also good news for those who love the truth more than their very lives! For those who walk in the truth and seek God will get closer to him than ever before! These are the times that Abraham looked for. God is building a Temple out of his people that he will dwell in. He is purifying a people unto himself. While the process of purification can be painful while the things of this world and its sins are cleansed from us, it is also Glorious. In the hands of a Loving father he is molding us as the potter molds the clay into a beautiful vessel worthy of service. His hands are carefully on us, ever guiding, protecting, correcting, changing, growing and caring for his beloved. This knowledge is too wonderful to describe. Some have said, “Don’t be so Heavenly minded, you are no Earthly good”. But, truer statement to the Word would be. “Be so Heavenly minded that you care nothing for Earthly goods”. Again, I have to agree with David as he said: (Psalms 73:25) Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.