"I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth." —Revelation 2:13
Jesus
acknowledged in the letter to the church at Pergamos that Satan lived in
their church. This is where Satan lives today, in the churches of America.
Satan already owns the taverns, nightclubs and casinos, so he's not there.
Satan lurks in the churches, where he is able to do the most damage to the
cause of Christ.
A sincere pastor had contacted me some time ago and sent me a video exposing the evils of Santa Claus. He had spent a lot of time and money making the video. He asked for my opinion. I noticed in the video that he repeatedly referred to John MacArthur as a “great man of God.” I wrote him back and commended him for his work on the video exposing Santa Claus; but also told him that John MacArthur is 10,000 times more dangerous than Santa Claus, because MacArthur is influencing thousands of churches worldwide with blasphemous heresy.
For those of you who don't know, John MacArthur is a false prophet, who teaches the heresy of Lordship Salvation. MacArthur also denies the efficacy (saving power) of the literal blood of Jesus, claiming that the physical blood of Christ is insignificant. MacArthur teaches that Jesus' literal blood soaked into the ground at Calvary and stayed there, and that it is only the death of Christ that saves us. Howbeit, everything that the Bible teaches calls MacArthur a false prophet. Carefully notice what the Lord said in Exodus 12:13, “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD, I WILL PASS OVER YOU, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” Don't miss that... WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD, I WILL PASS OVER YOU! The Lord was looking for the applied blood of the slain lamb. A dead lamb wasn't good enough. God wanted to see the lamb's blood applied to the side posts and lintel (top door plate) of the home, in order for the life of the firstborn to be spared. If the Lord didn't see the blood, then the firstborn died. The blood had to be APPLIED. Jesus applied His blood to the heavenly Mercyseat.
Anyone who teaches that Jesus' physical blood doesn't save is a heretic! Anyone who teaches that only the death of Christ saves is a liar! Anyone who teaches a false Gospel that doesn't center upon the precious blood that Jesus shed for our sins, they are in league with the Devil. We read in Hebrews 9:12 in the King James Bible, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but BY HIS OWN BLOOD he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Amen! Many ministers today talk about following Jesus; but that is NOT Biblical salvation. Judas followed Jesus and went to Hell. We are saved BY HIS BLOOD. Romans 5:9, “Much more then, being now justified BY HIS BLOOD, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” We are saved from God's wrath through the literal precious blood of Jesus Christ.
I am not trying to be unkind. I have nothing personally against John MacArthur. He is a gentleman and a nice person I am certain; however, he is teaching a false Gospel. John MacArthur states...
“The life we live, not the words we speak, determines our eternal destiny.”
SOURCE: John MacArthur, Hard to Believe, p. 93.
That is Works Salvation. If the life we live determines our eternal destiny, than how much goodness is required to get to Heaven? How much sin is permissible? How much righteousness is required? If MacArthur is correct, then salvation is uncertain and we must all live in fear of falling short of God's favor. Biblically, MacArthur is wrong, wrong, wrong.
Romans 3:23 teaches that all men fall short of the glory of God. No one can please God in their self-righteousness. MacArthur, as do other false prophets, deceitfully claim to believe in salvation by grace through faith; while simultaneously corrupting the simplicity that is in Christ by making salvation HARD. It's not hard to believe. That's what MacArthur titled his book... HARD TO BELIEVE. We are SINNERS and Jesus is the SAVIOR. It's that simple. Romans 4:5-6 proclaims that we are saved by CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, and none of our own, and a good thing, because we have none to offer God (Isaiah 64:6). A changed life is the FRUIT of genuine repentance; and not a part of the ROOT of saving-faith.
Sadly, the pastor who wrote to me became offended that I exposed his hero for the Satanic imposter that he is. Galatians 4:16, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” I'm going to speak the truth with my neighbor, even if it makes him upset.
I was talking with a Catholic neighbor of mine recently. He said that the way to Heaven is to keep the Ten Commandments. I frankly told him that's not what the Bible teaches, and I witnessed to him concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are saved by Christ's righteousness alone. God didn't give us the Ten Commandments to keep; but rather, as a measuring stick to show us our sinful condition and need for the Savior (Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:24-25). We don't keep God's Law to get saved; we keep God's Law because we are saved (Romans 3:31).
I'm all for exposing the evils of Santa Claus—a fake character intended to lead children away from Jesus Christ. I detest the whole Santa Claus thing. However, I see MacArthur as being even more dangerous, because he is real, going from church to church, corrupting the Gospel and treading under foot the Son of God. Remember, Satan lives in the Church according to Jesus (Revelation 2:13). Read Hebrews 10:29, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted THE BLOOD of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, AN UNHOLY THING, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” Those who esteem the blood of Jesus as not being holy (sacred) are in big trouble with God!
I am not attacking Mr. MacArthur;
I am contending for the Christian faith. MacArthur has written over 200
books and is idolized by ministers worldwide. What all those pastors need to
start doing is what Jesus commanded in John 5:39... SEARCH THE
SCRIPTURES!
COUNTERFEIT BIBLES—SATAN'S MOST EFFECTIVE WEAPON!
Another enemy of our time is counterfeit Bibles... they're everywhere! When Satan came to destroy Eve, he attacked the Word of God (Genesis 3:1). When Satan came to destroy Jesus, he attacked the Word of God (Matthew 4:1-10). Satan is relentlessly trying to destroy the Church today, and his most effective weapon is false Bibles that blind men to the truth.
It is tragic that most Christian leaders today don't have any zeal over Biblical doctrines. The desire for unity has superseded the importance of doctrinal integrity. The Bible speaks of “doctrines of devils” ... “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that IN THE LATTER TIMES some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1st Timothy 4:3). Many have departed from the faith today, pursuing Ecumenical unity at the expense of Biblical truth. Consequently, few churches are genuinely preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” (Romans 1:16). The Gospel is so easily corrupted. Every unsaved Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Mormon, Church of Christ follower and Seventh-Day Adventist believes that Jesus died, was buried and rose again; but they're all going to Hell. Why? It's because they've all perverted the simplicity of the Gospel, adding works to faith, and requiring Baptismal Regeneration of their cult followers.
The Biblical Gospel EXCLUDES all forms of self-righteousness. Biblically, a lost sinner is saved when they acknowledge their debt of sin and trust upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ to save them. Here are the excellent words of the mighty man of God, Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951)...
“The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past …
Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.”
SOURCE: Pastor Harry A. Ironside, from the sermon: What Is The Gospel?
Amen! Salvation is receiving, not giving. Eternal life is the free gift of God (Romans 5:15). A gift is freely given (Romans 6:23), freely offered (Romans 10:13) and freely received (Revelation 22:17).
The deadliest enemies we face today are not abortion, homosexuality and the New World Order; The deadliest enemies we face are lurking within religious circles... false Bibles, false prophets and false doctrines.
