We begin our survey by reading the following scripture:

5:1 "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." 1.Thessalonians 5:1-3.

Is there anyone who has an idea of what kind of times and/or seasons we are in? And notice both nouns (times, seasons) are in the plural. Well, if not, would you agree that we are living now in `times' the events of which occur around the world, and that they remind us of Bible prophecies, how they describe the time toward the end of the world? Yes, that are the `times' we live in these days, and that we shall populate with events and happenings which astonishingly support the supposition that we are indeed living near the very close of time of the history of this world of sin.

You know, it would hardly be possible for a mother not knowing she was pregnant, right?

Which woman would not know that she has become a mother?

The same way, it is hardly possible, for those who know the Bible, not to realize that we are living in the final days.

What supports that view? Lets read a scripture that sheds some more light,

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places." Matthew 24:7.

We may say, this scripture speaks about the contractions before birth, the birthing pains, the beginning of sorrows as we heard it at times in days gone by. But the verse itself speaks more directly about nations making war against one another, race against race, rich against poor, ambitious nations against sleepy nations . . . and all of that activity will lead to what?

Right, it will lead to

"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." Matth. 24:9.

And you know what? These signs we just read, are meant for us, for you and me.

`To be afflicted" means, we will be persecuted, be incarcerated and be probably killed. People will come and do violence against all who pray, believe in God, never cut their lawns on Sabbaths, never go to the store on the seventh day, etc.

"To be afflicted" is a sign that terrible times come our way shortly. Terrible afflictions which we can hardly imagine. Yet, we are to be ready in our character to endure things like Jesus did and all the great prophets, apostles, missionaries, or so-called heretics. . . .

`Our affliction' are our sign that we will suffer hardship, hard and cold concrete floors with no food, sympathy or even a kind word. They will treat us as those at Bugenhagen.

Why? What have we done? We believe in the Living God who gave us His Bible to know what is happening and what must be done, to strengthen our faith and pass on the `Good News of Salvation.'

So, if these are in fact the last days, `What do you think we should be concerned about?'

No responses? There is one, there is another - ok, let us read a scripture that tells us where we are going with this.

We read,

"And after these things, after what things?, I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. . . . Rev. 7:1.

But then what happens?

"... And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea." Rev. 7:2.

Will the angel get your and my attention? I hope so.

"Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." Rev. 7:3.

At this point we may ask, `How are God's faithful people sealed anyhow?'

Or, `What kind of people will be sealed?'

What is the answer?

By way of contrast we may say, since the seal of God is the opposite of the `Mark of the Beast,' God's people must believe and/or live by opposite principles then those who receive the dreaded mark, and about now we remember the scripture where it says,

"Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." Isaiah 8:20.

Therefore to be sealed by God means to faithfully keep all of His Law - the 10 Commandments as we find them in Exodus chapter 20.

Why is God's law so important - especially in these last days?

Because it says ...

"Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is truth." Psalm 119:142.

So we ought to realize by now, to be considered His own, by God, we must believe His truths, for everyone else is a liar.

Since ages gone by, the suppression of the truths (doctrines) of God has always been the cause for God to bring judgments upon the world. Who suppresses God's truths? From the Bible we learn that it was the false prophets, or people who claim to be spiritual leaders, who were instrumental in that.

They could often succeed, because people fail to proof everything by the word of God - since they do not read and much less study the word of God. Thus they are easily mislead and follow the ways which lead to utter destruction. - For, you see, there is a living God in heaven who will bring all things certainly to pass as He still does and will do today, Gen. 50:20; Isa. 28:21.

That is why Jesus warned,

"Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Matth. 24:4.

So, we can tell now, if we are the people who know God's truth, we are like Jesus who is the truth.

And the only way we can be in the presence of God, who is the truth, is, that we are keepers of these true truths we learn from the word of God by following the texts which speak of it and reveal the truths of God.

Today there will be many, and many more will come out and join with the truth because of the witness of God's persecuted people since they suddenly realize we are living in the time of the end, in the critical moment, and to fail now is to be lost eternally and die the second death.

Friends, no one needs to die the second death - if they would choose God's truths only and mistrust the sayings and opinions of mere men and women who sprout up in many places, who have charisma, they are likable, they are popular, they exploit mankind's wishes of riches and fame, easy religion with no yokes or contrary things to what the society at large - who does not know and believe the only true God - has established.

Dear people,

"Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Rev. 12:12.

We have only a short time left.

Look around! What is happening everywhere? People are sore afraid of what is coming.

How do they react? Some blame the religious people for everything because of having been deceived by influential people speaking falsities, yet they are not readily discerned to be false.

Then, a few verses down we read,

"... the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 12:17.

Do you recognize it?

Today the devil focuses more and more on God's true church. It is a protesting church, a church proclaiming the truths of God that

1. Judgment is coming for Jesus is coming again
   
2. to please God we must keep His Commandments which means we must read them and put away any other commandments which do not read the same way.
   
3. it means not to follow those who promote violence, religious violence, for it is forbidden in the Word of God, Luke 3:14.

Why?

Because,

"The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" 1.Peter 4:17.

In other words, if judgment begins in the church, how much less can those outside succeed to please God.

About now we come to our title text, where it says,

"The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 1.Timothy 4:1.

This expression "expressly" means what is being referred to is extremely important.

Why?

It is that important because only It, what the Spirit speaks throughout the pages in the Bible, can save you from dying the second death.

People everywhere ought to equip themselves with a solid understanding of the Word of God, rather then trust in man.

You see, if they had equipped themselves through studying themselves - they would not have followed the false prophet who denied that we may not know the hour of God's coming, only when it is near, and they would not have been misled.

Seducing spirits are those who contradict the plain words in the Bible. The Bible says, depart from such. Disengage yourself from false prophets who test to be false prophets - the one we referred to had given in the 1990' false dates for the end of the world . . . and he still does even after the failure in May 2011, and some still trust him - they are deceived.

Yes, those with a certain charisma we are to be especially careful of.

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17.

That "hearing" does it mean `hearing' only?

No!. It means also reading the word of God ourselves and believing the plain utterances - the words as they read in the Word of God.

Well, here a warning may be due or overdue. Today there are many bibles around which do not contain anymore the unadulterated word of God. We mention one by name for it is a most dangerous version, the New International Version, the NIV.

A Bible text we can test this version by is Isaiah 14:12 where we read in the King James Version for instance,

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!" Isaiah 14:12.

But in the NIV we read,

"How have you fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn!" Isaiah 14:12, NIV.

What is so different about this? On the surface they both are allowable rendition of the original text. But on closer, thoughtful inspection, they oppose each other for Christ is called the "morning star" in other parts of the Bible. Christ is not Lucifer, the fallen angel.

Ok, chapter 14 in Isaiah contrasts what that wicked one (hell) will do, the one who leads the godless people, who look upon him as one of their own who fell from heaven, as the `shachar' (#7837,), which means, dawn, early light, morning.

At some point, "the light bearer" became by his own course of action, "the adversary", the devil who advocates self aggrandizement, self-elevation, self-exaltation, selfishness, who wants to take the place of God on earth. He whose "... heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God." Ezekiel 28:12-15. He who is exposed as seeing himself as "the prince of this world" John 14:30.

The expression, "the sides of the north." It means extremity, the limit. So Lucifer said, "I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit in the uttermost north." Now take another text, Psalms 48:1, 2, 3. "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion, in the sides of the north,"or in the uttermost north. Here we have the same expression: "God is known in her palaces for a refuge."

The wicked are admonished not to be so proud: "Lift not up the horn: Lift not up your horn on high; speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh; neither from the east nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge; he putteth down one and setteth up another." Psalm 75:4-7. Where does promotion come from? - From the north. That is to say, that wherever the nations are scattered, the people cannot promote a man. All the kings of the earth cannot promote a man to honor. Only God can do that.

Which power do we find on earth which does just that?

The original Hebrew text says, " " pronounced "Heylel". It means `shining one' and is a reference to Babylon (the tower of Babel), in its wickedness, thus it means "Lucifer" the prince of the fallen angels (Lk. 10:18), Satan himself, and those whom he uses as his tools and representatives.

Next we consult the Bible what "Morning Star" means. There are two Bible texts,

"But unto you . . . Thyatira . . . as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
And I will give him the morning star." Rev. 2:24-28.

Who is the morning star in this scripture? It is Jesus Christ Himself.

And who is it in the following?

"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." Rev. 22:16.

The issue is clear, we cannot exchange what Isaiah says with what John says in Revelation.

Why? Because evil originated with Lucifer (Satan), who rebelled against the government of God. Before his fall into sin he was a covering cherub, distinguished by his excellence. God made him good and beautiful, as near as possible like himself. Of him it is written, "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." But self-exaltation entered his heart. Inspiration records the charge against him: "Thine heart wast lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness." "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend unto heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." {RH, September 24, 1901 par. 4}

This Lucifer, the NIV tries to make him into Jesus Christ, thus doing violence to the plain words of God. And we ought to remember that the NIV contains over 300 changes and omissions. It attacks the true nature of Jesus and God, and in its stead promotes the `New Age Movement', the `Celebration Movement' and even what became known as `Neuro-Linguistic Programming,' the foundations of which started during Vatican II, which ended in 1963.

We ought to know that our discernment must be improved for there are cunningly devised fables around in many places, especially in some churches. We must know the Word of God inside out - the fine nuances, and critical texts, for the enemies of God's word sure know how to wield these to turn the world away from faith in the only true God in heaven and direct it at themselves and their inventions. It is a massive attack we are witnessing today - those who follow the trends in the world on these matters.

So, remember,

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Colossians 2:8.

In Practice, What Does All of This Look Like?

One channel which speaks in the way of spiritualism is the elderly man Benjamin Creme who apparently reorganized the `New Age Movement' into a more viable force to reckon with today. The Messiah they promulgate is "Maitreya", an Asiatic sounding name - to make it easier for those religions to fall in the fold of world spiritualism. [Tokyo, May, 2008, `Friends House London #10.']

Thus in their language they say, `Messiah is master of all the masters, the subtype of human history.' [B. Creme]

They regard him as the first time world teacher who is slated to bring peace, truth, trust - in the year of the tiger, when big changes are slated to occur. In other words the devil knows a little of what his role will be.

B. Creme says things like, prepare yourself to meet Maitreya. Once the media, the journalists and news organizations are ready to accept him, he will make himself known for the first time on live television. - And pleas understand, we are talking now about the ungodly powers of this world, what they plan to do and as it relates to and is foretold in type, in the word of God.

Creme says, when people are ready Maitreya will come as their messiah, which means that right now (2011) there must be a process in place for him to come. That process is what? It is the "one world". His discovery depends on that the media will identify him and receive his message.

This is akin to what another soon to retire female tv personality said, that we may have a `christ consciousness'.

There are some organizations, secret societies, whose belief is purified through externalization. It is supposedly what happens on the outside.

What will the people do about these trends today?

They will love it and accept it. Then they want more. They will put all their hopes into it, to make them rich once again and satisfied. Then they are led to look at what will bind them in bundles together, the signs of those secret organizations - having subliminally been exposed to them since their tv watching childhood days - they will accept the `all seeing eye" of the US dollar bill, which is also reflected in the symbol for CBS News, MTV, CNN, the Simpsons, Rocawear, Jay-Z, Fox News and all these entities. Who owns Fox News? Follow that lead and find out what else he owns and why he would own the rights to sell NIV bibles and you probably find yourself wagging your head about ever using that rendition again when consulting the word of God perhaps except as to show its errors.

We probably will find out that Lucifer's World Order is Lucifer's New Age Movement (Allister Crowley).

Open Your Mind and Eyes to Recognize the New Age Agenda

Most of us have hardly been aware about the inroads achieved by the powers of darkness to this day. Before we do that some more, we ought to be grounded ourselves in the word of God first; and we are reminded of the words,

"These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb." Rev. 14:4.

Following the Lamb, Jesus our Savior and Redeemer, means to keep our mind fixated on heavenly things without which we cannot advance the Lord's work through His people, us who know Him, on earth. These "virgins" are those who kept themselves pure - does that mean they never sinned? Well, we know all of us are sinners, we all were once rescued out of a life in sin, therefore, no, they must be "virgins" after they committed their life to God. Thus they "follow the Lamb" ever since their commitment, testifying, proclaiming, writing, telling, living and preaching God's word to help usher in God's kingdom - which activity is nothing less than a spiritual revolution. But we must be fixated on heavenly things, on the sanctuary in heaven, where Christ is ministering just a little longer, before He changes His priestly robes into His royal robes to come again to take His people home. That is the triumph God's people wait for. And we realize we are a movement, not a stopped and still standing army of Godly workers, and that is why "the dragon" is "wroth . . . to make war with the remnant . . . which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 12:17.

God's word even tells us that we are engaged against a growing movement in a spiritual warfare for it says, the dragon "went to make war" (Rev. 16:13).

Since, they move, means, we must move. "They come out" (Rev. 16:13) means, we must get up and parry their movement (at least to some extent) - for they use seductive speech and education for they are like "frogs" (See Exodus 8, one quacks here, another there, and its hard to locate them), like Egyptian high priests of magic and mysteries so that they make it even to be used as the third plague in the end, the last deception of Satan, for after the third Egyptian plague, the emissaries of Satan were unable to simulate the rest of the plagues.

What does that relate to in our days?

We have the threefold power, the dragon, beast, and the false prophet, which we may say, parallel . . .

1. the last deception by the devil, Rev. 12:9, whose title is "serpent" for we read, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus." 2.Cor. 11:3, cmpr. Gen. 3:1. God's church at first had a pure relationship with Christ, like in a good marriage relationship, which later soured.
   
2. the New World Order, also referred to as the New World Economic Power or authority; the globalisation as promulgated by the United Nations.
   
3. the false prophet, the leader of the NWO speaking of the anticipated success of their agenda and plans.

When Eve went on her lonely walk to near the `Tree of the knowledge of good and evil", her eyes wandered around. And we may ask, `What does the Bible say about our eyes?' We read the words of Jesus to find out,

"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matthew 6:22,23.

Our eyes stand for discernment between light and darkness, truth and error. But thankfully our eyesight can be sharpened . . .

"The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes." Psalm 19:8.

. . . sharpened by what?

By the `commandment of the Lord.'

Some, however, may ask, `Can we find a balance between truth and evil?'

In the case of Eve, how long did it take the snake to deceive Eve and cause her to sin?

Surely, it must have taken only a few minutes.

Likewise, staying on enchanted ground flips our belief system, it is a movement of spiritualism that took Eve and can take us too in a state of unreadiness by surprise.

Therefore, we cannot interpret these issues without direction from the Word of God. We must daily dwell in the Word of God to be well grounded on a sure foundation.

The New Age Movement

The New Age Movement is a formidable system created to inculcate in us a new belief system. Alice Baily, the founder of the `Lucis Trust,' wrote many books on spiritualism. Today her headquarters is the UN.

She promulgates the thoughts of Freemasonry while using terms like "purified" to mean to externalize something makes it attractive and desirable for masses of people. She wrote out 10 principles or goals of the NWO. They are their agenda.

1. Eliminate religion out of the school system.
   
2. Break the traditional Judeo-Christian family ties and destroy the spiritual values system by giving the child excessive rights.
   
3. Remove restrictions on sex.
   
4. Promulgate that sex is the greatest expression of man's enjoyment of life (Christians know it is trust in Christ which is that in truth).
   
5. Make free abortion of unwanted children available.
   
6. Make it desirable to develop `soul bonds,' - allow free divorce and all that goes with it.
   
7. Diffuse religious radicalism; eliminate Christianity's that Jesus is the only way.
   
8. Silence Christianity and promote other faiths and religions and create interfaith harmony.
   
9. Use the media: television, the press, news media, computer games . . . to influence mass opinion. Debase the arts in all its forms: art, poetry, music, etc.
   
10. Get the church to endorse all nine principals - then legal ground is formed to give them a foothold.

What a list! And we see it being implemented throughout the whole world today. But how does it look in more detail? Here are a few examples to show what is going on.

One of the more prevalent items of the `New Age Movement' are old pagan ideas and signs - like `the all seeing eye' that we find on each US dollar bill where Franklin D. Roosevelt had it put. It stands for disobedience against God.

It is implanted all around us often in such a way as to trigger subliminal messages. When people see these over and over again, it leads society gradually to be reeducated and they don't even know how it is done.

Other examples include

1. repeating signs of `Baphomet - Lucifer.' Holding the hand so that only the pointing and little finger stick out - `the horned hand' - to symbolize the horn power, Satan.
   
2. showing only one eye: the right eye = sun, light; the left eye = moon, darkness.
   
3. making with your hand the 666 sign by placing your pointing finger on your thumb and let the others extent out which makes it look like 666.

Some Examples to watch for.

If you look for it, you can find the `all seeing eye' in just about all tv broadcasts: in television commercials, computer games, children programming, etc. I refrain from naming them in order not to give them advertisement. Such uncalled for occult symbols are often in products which do not relate with each other. That shows, that those, who place them there, have a common agenda, the agenda of the New Age Movement. It will prepare those who thoughtlessly imbibe in tv watching to accept the `mark of the beast' when the day comes where it is openly pushed on the whole world for that is where to all of these things are tending - whom are you worshipping, our dear God in Heaven, or the god of this world?

Where you can find SOP warnings:

"Those who stand under the bloodstained banner of Prince Immanuel cannot be united with the Free Masons or with any secret organization. The seal of the living God will not be placed upon anyone who maintains such a connection after the light of truth has shone upon his pathway. Christ is not divided, and Christians cannot serve God and mammon. The Lord says, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, . . . and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18). {2SM 140.1}

As we near the close of time, there will be greater and still greater external parade of heathen power; heathen deities will manifest their signal power, and will exhibit themselves before the cities of the world, and this delineation has already begun to be fulfilled. By a variety of images the Lord Jesus represented to John the wicked character and seductive influence of those who have been distinguished for their persecution of God's people. All need wisdom carefully to search out the mystery of iniquity that figures so largely in the winding up of this earth's history. God's presentation of the detestable works of the inhabitants of the ruling powers of the world who bind themselves into secret societies and confederacies, not honoring the law of God, should enable the people who have the light of truth to keep clear of all these evils. More and more will all false religionists of the world manifest their evil doings; for there are but two parties, those who keep the commandments of God and those who war against God's holy law." {8MR 322.1; October 23, 1903, the days when Alice Bailey was writing her books.)

"These societies offer some advantages which from a human point of view appear like great blessings, but not so when judged by the Lord's measurement. Behind their apparent advantages are concealed satanic agencies. The larger the income drawn into the treasury, the more and deeper is the evil. The ungodly gain which has enriched these societies will, when traced out in all its bearings, be seen to be a curse. The words which Eliphaz spoke to Job are true in respect to these associations: "I saw him 'taking root,' but I 'cursed his habitation'" (Job 5:3). They are Satan's traps, his net to entangle souls." {2SM 131.3}

"These societies, that are not controlled by the love and fear of God, will not be found true and upright toward man. Many of their transactions are contrary to justice and equity. He who is of too pure eyes to behold evil will not, cannot, be a party to many things that take place in these associations. Your own conscience will bear witness to the truth of what I say. The talent and skill and inventive power with which God has endowed men are, in these associations, too often perverted to instruments of cruelty, of iniquity, of selfishness in practicing fraud upon their fellow men." {2SM 130.2}

"The teaching of the demon-gods, in ancient times, fostered the vilest license. The divine precepts condemning sin and enforcing righteousness, were set aside; truth was lightly regarded, and impurity was not only permitted, but enjoined. Spiritualism declares that there is no death, no sin, no judgment, no retribution; that "men are unfallen demigods"; that desire is the highest law; and that man is accountable only to himself. The barriers that God has erected to guard truth, purity, and reverence, are broken down, and many are thus emboldened in sin. Does not such teaching suggest an origin similar to that of demon worship? {Signs of the Times, June 30, 1890.}
Mystic Voices, Mediums, Clairvoyants, and Fortune-tellers.--The mystic voices that spoke at Ekron and Endor are still, by their lying words, misleading the children of men. The prince of darkness has but appeared under a new guise. The heathen oracles of ages long past have their counterpart in the spiritualistic mediums, the clairvoyants and fortune tellers of today. The mysteries of heathen worship are replaced by the secret associations and seances, the obscurities and wonders, of the sorcerers of our time. And their disclosures are eagerly received by thousands who refuse to accept light from the Word or the Spirit of God. They speak with scorn of the magicians of old, while the great deceiver laughs in triumph as they yield to his arts under a different form." {Ev. 608}

"Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen, restlessly waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are watching and waiting and working for our Lord's appearing; while the other party are rapidly falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. They look for a God in humanity, and Satan personifies the one they seek. Multitudes will be so deluded through their rejection of truth, that they will accept the counterfeit. Humanity is hailed as God." {Mar 140.2}