Page 32 - The Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2009

33

If all of the problems previously stated among the brethren are not enough, then we might also consider that
the plight of the church is worsened all the more in this prophetic depiction by Jesus, as well as several of
the apostles, pertaining to the corruption that will take place among the leadership within the church:

“BEWARE OF “FOR I KNOW THIS, THAT AFTER MY PAUL
FALSE PROPHETS, DEPARTURE SAVAGE WOLVES WILL COME
WHO COME TO YOU
IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING, BUT IN AMONG YOU, NOT SPARING THE
FLOCK. ALSO FROM AMONG YOURSELVES
INWARDLY
THEY ARE MEN WILL RISE UP
RAVENOUS WOLVES...” SPEAKING PERVERSE THINGS,
Matt. 7:15 TO DRAW AWAY THE DISCIPLES

AFTER THEMSELVES.”
Acts 20:29-30

JESUS “FOR SUCH ARE FALSE APOSTLES, DECEITFUL WORKERS, TRANSFORMING THEMSELVES INTO
APOSTLES OF CHRIST. AND NO WONDER! FOR SATAN HIMSELF TRANSFORMS HIMSELF INTO AN
ANGEL OF LIGHT. THEREFORE IT IS NO GREAT THING IF HIS MINISTERS ALSO TRANSFORM

THEMSELVES INTO MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS...” 2 Cor. 11:13-14

“BUT THERE WERE ALSO FALSE PROPHETS AMONG THE PEOPLE,
EVEN AS THERE WILL BE FALSE TEACHERS AMONG YOU, WHO WILL SECRETLY BRING IN
DESTRUCTIVE HERESIES...AND MANY WILL FOLLOW THEIR DESTRUCTIVE WAYS, BECAUSE OF

WHOM THE WAY OF TRUTH WILL BE BLASPHEMED.
BY COVETOUSNESS THEY WILL EXPLOIT YOU WITH DECEPTIVE WORDS...”

2 Pet. 2:1-3

PETER “...I FOUND IT NECESSARY TO WRITE TO YOU CONCERNING OUR COMMON
SALVATION...FOR CERTAIN MEN HAVE CREPT IN...UNGODLY MEN, WHO
TURN THE GRACE OF OUR GOD INTO LICENTIOUSNESS...THESE ARE SPOTS JUDE
IN YOUR LOVE FEASTS, WHILE THEY FEAST WITH YOU WITHOUT FEAR,

SERVING ONLY THEMSELVES...AND THEY MOUTH GREAT SWELLING WORDS,
FLATTERING PEOPLE TO GAIN ADVANTAGE...”

Jude 3-16 excerpts

As I write this miserable prophetic depiction of the church, I find myself feeling depressed, perhaps as much as
you are in reading it. But, dear brethren, God wants us to know what we are going to experience within the
confines of the church, both in the pulpit as well as in the pew! These are prophetic warnings given with the
intent to prevent us from being weary and discouraged in our souls. Even the world knows, “To be forewarned
is to be forearmed.” Why else did Paul say such things as :

“AND LET US NOT GROW WEARY WHILE DOING GOOD,

FOR IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL REAP IF WE DO NOT LOSE HEART.” Gal. 6:9

“FOR GOD IS NOT UNJUST TO FORGET
YOUR WORK AND LABOR OF LOVE WHICH YOU HAVE SHOWN TOWARD HIS NAME,

IN THAT YOU HAVE MINISTERED TO THE SAINTS, AND DO MINISTER.” Heb. 6:10

My experiences in God’s church reminds me of an old secular movie entitled, “Great Expectations.” When I first
entered the ministry nearly 30 years ago, I had “great expectations” for the church of Jesus Christ until I
became illuminated to such truths as I have shared with you in this newsletter. I am not discouraged, but I am
forearmed against utopia theology for the church that stands in opposition to what is recorded in the Word.
Multitudes of preachers are feeding God’s people a steady diet of “great expectations” of corporate revival
coming to the church. However, prophecy is devoid of such promise apart from usurping the promises God has
made to Israel in the last days (Joel 2). The prophetic description of Philadelphia as the model of the raptured
church stresses the point that this church has only “a little strength” (Dunamis-dynamite power-signs/wonders),
but is rather taken for other stated reasons than miraculous power:

“...I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU AN OPEN DOOR...FOR YOU HAVE A LITTLE STRENGTH (“POWER” Amp.),
HAVE KEPT MY WORD, AND HAVE NOT DENIED MY NAME...BECAUSE YOU HAVE KEPT MY

COMMAND TO PERSEVERE, I ALSO WILL KEEP YOU FROM THE HOUR OF TRIAL WHICH SHALL
COME UPON THE WHOLE WORLD TO TEST THOSE WHO DWELL ON THE EARTH.
BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY!

HOLD FAST WHAT YOU HAVE THAT NO ONE MAY TAKE YOUR CROWN ” Rev. 3:8-10