We understand, then, that the doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture is no mere error in eschatology; rather, it is a time bomb planted by the enemy, the purpose of which is to prevent the present-day Christians from preparing themselves for the tribulations that are just ahead.

Another distortion in Christian thinking is the so-called "faith message." The Lord appears to be inviting us to move mountains by supernatural processes. If God has been so kind as to pardon all of our sins unconditionally it must be His will to give us whatever we speak "in faith."

We are without sin, they claim. Let us, therefore, use our "faith" (which is not true faith at all but an attempt to "believe" something into existence) to make sure we are living a pleasant life surrounded by all pleasurable things and circumstances. What an abomination! How totally unscriptural! How well suited to an age in which people love pleasure more than they love God!

The "prosperity" message is an expected sequel to the "faith" message, just as "Reconstructionism" is the expected sequel to the faith and prosperity messages. The emphasis is that Christians ought to be prosperous, commanding by faith the resources of the material realm.

In spite of the warning of the Scriptures from Balaam to Judas, from Gehazi to Ananias and Sapphira, the Christians (of the wealthy nations) have been seduced into believing they are to be rich in the present world system. The love of money is characteristic of the worship of Antichrist.

The deception concerning the desirability of material riches would not have been successful had the Christians not been convinced that sin no longer is an issue in their lives and that they now are to have the best of this world—and Heaven too.

The preliminary deceptions of the pre-tribulation rapture, of "speak it into existence," and of the righteousness and desirability of possessing material riches, have brought the Charismatic believers to Satan's goal. It is to convince Christians they are to rule the present world before the Lord returns.

If the followers of Christ no longer need be concerned with the worldliness, sin, and self-will of their own personalities, they can afford to turn their attention to gaining control of the civil governments. Then they will have a godly world to present to Christ when He appears. This totally unscriptural concept has gained wide acceptance among Charismatic believers under the name of Reconstructionism.

The Reconstructionists already are revealing their guiding spirit by their harsh attitude toward society and by their anti-Semitism. They will succeed in bringing persecution on all Christians as they seek to force their standards of morality on non-Christians.

The outcome of the Church Age will not be the conversion of the nations to the will of God but a company of royal priests who will rule with the Lord Jesus over earth's peoples. Their rulership will begin when He and they appear—not before.

To be continued.