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SIGNS AND WONDERS WILL NOT BE THE DISTINGUISHING MARK OF GOD'S REMNANT PEOPLE IN THE LAST DAYS
There is a very good and Biblical reason why signs and wonders will NOT be the distinguishing mark of God's end time remnant people and this is such an important issue because Satan is going to deceive many in the last days regarding this. Many professed Christians in this world are more focused on signs and wonders and miracles than on the truth of God's Word. They are more persuaded by feelings than by truth and sadly, this places them in prime position to be deceived by Satan.
"Because they received not the love of the truth ... God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.' (2 Thess.2:10-12)
Now we are not saying that God's remnant people will do no miracles at all, because we know that the Holy Spirit is going to be poured out soon as the 'latter rain', and who can stop the Spirit of God doing miracles? What we are stating here is that miracles and signs will NOT be the distinguishing mark of God's true people. But why? Because the main feature of Satan's deceptions in the last days will be signs, wonders and miracles, look:
Revelation 13:13-14 ...'And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth BY THE MEANS OF THOSE MIRACLES which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.'
2 Thessalonians 2:8-9 ...'And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with
the brightness of his coming, Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.'
Do you see why signs and wonders cannot be the distinguishing mark of God's people in the last days? It is because signs and wonders are going to be the very thing that Satan uses to DECEIVE the whole world.
Just look at what it says in Revelation 13 above. How does Satan deceive the world? BY the miracles he had power to do. And as 2 Thessalonians 2 confirms above, just before Jesus returns, Satan is going to work with all power and signs and wonders. So what is going to happen to all those in the churches who live by 'feelings' and 'miracles' instead of the truth? They are going to be taken in by Satan's deceptions. Which is why the distinguishing mark of God's remnant people CANNOT and will not be signs and wonders. So what will be the distinguishing mark of God's true people? We will get to that, but first take a look at WHERE and BY WHOM Satan's miracles, signs and wonders are performed:
Matthew 24:24 ...'For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.'
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ...'For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.'
Oh friends! We need to understand what is being said above. Who will Satan use in the last days to deceive the whole world and even if possible, the very elect of God? Satan will use the churches. He will use the ministers, church leaders and professed Christians to perform signs and wonders, making them "appear as ministers of righteousness." But what will be the ONLY way to determine whether they are of God or not? By testing what they preach and do with the TRUTH of God's Word. So do you see why signs and wonders CANNOT be the distinguishing mark of God's people? Now let me say again, God's true remnant people, when filled with the Holy Spirit WILL do miracles, if those miracles bring glory to God and lead people to the TRUTH. But miracles, signs and wonders CANNOT be the distinguishing mark of God's remnant, because Satan will also be performing them to DECEIVE. So what will be the distinguishing mark of God's true church?
3 John 1:4 ...'I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.'
Psalm 119:142 ...'Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.'
Revelation 14:12 ...'Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.'
1 John 2:3-5 ...'And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.'
Revelation 22:14-15 ...'Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.'
Isaiah 8:20 ...'To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.'
What is the distinguishing mark of God's remnant people? Signs and wonders? No. They are those who keep the commandments of God and HAVE the faith of Jesus Christ. They are those who walk in the truth (3 John 1:4).There is no guile in their mouth and through Christ they are without fault before the throne of God (Revelation 14:5). Just like the prophet Daniel, whom when his enemies sought to find any wrong in his life, they could find none, for he walked in the truth of God's law. And why is it that the world and the apostate churches and Christians will fall for Satan's deceptions, signs and wonders? Because they do NOT have a love for the truth:
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 ...'And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.'
Do you see why truth is so important? Do you see why truth will be the distinguishing mark of God's end time remnant people? The reason why this ecumenical movement can exist today with the Roman Catholic Church, is because the churches are doing away with truth, making it of little importance, which is setting them up for Satan's final delusions, which God will ALLOW them to fall for, because, as Paul confirmed above, they don't have a love for the truth. But John tells us in 1 John 2:5 that we may KNOW if God is in any movement or people. How? If they LOVE and KEEP God's Word and commandments (1 John 2:3-5).
What did Jesus say He is? ... "I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life." (John 14:6). So by rejecting truth and making it of little importance, the churches are rejecting Christ Himself!
"Oh but I walk in the Spirit, so I'm ok." Well, what is the Spirit? "the Spirit of TRUTH" (John 14:17). You cannot have the Spirit of God and reject truth, because the Spirit IS truth, as Christ IS truth.
Friends, when the Spirit of God is poured out in the latter rain upon His people, there will be miracles performed. But miracles CANNOT be the distinguishing mark of God's true people, because Satan will also be performing them himself through his apostate churches and will be deceiving the whole world through them. The distinguishing mark of God's remnant people in the last days will be the fact that they will be living by the truth of God's Word and keeping His commandments, having the faith of Jesus Christ (Rev.14:12). They will be shining God's true character to the world - love and righteousness (Matt.5:3-12, Exodus 20:3-17). They will be standing apart from the world and the things of the world (2 Cor.6:14-17; 1 John 2:15-17). This will be the distinguishing mark of God's true people in the end times. Does the Bible say we will know if someone is of God because they are doing signs and wonders? Did Jesus ever ask for His people to be sanctified by signs and wonders? No. The Bible says we are sanctified by the TRUTH and we know if people are of God if they are keeping His Word and law.
1 John 2:3-5 ...'And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.'
John 17:17 ...'Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.'
So let us have a love for and walk in the truth of God's Word and law. Then we will be safe from Satan's end time delusions!
Please see our present TRUTH messages for today:
THE THREE ANGELS MESSAGE OF REVELATION
THE FINAL TEST IS COMING - WHO'S AUTHORITY WILL YOU SUBMIT TO?