The Warning
Commentary
by Roger Oakland
www.understandthetimes.org
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There is a pattern we
find throughout the Word of God. God always warns before He brings
judgment on sinful man. God is merciful and never reacts quickly without
giving sinners a chance to repent. While He hates sin, He has often
allowed men to carry on even if they do not respond. However there are
always consequences of sin. The Bible states that the wages of sin is
death. Often sin is exposed publically, and others are reminded to get
right with God.
As we read through the
Bible, we see how God has always raised up men and women to warn the
people of coming judgments. The first time this occurred in history was
before the great flood of Noah. Very few listened to Noah. God used Noah
to warn, and then the judgment came. For the majority who refused to
listen, they were wiped out in a global catastrophe.
Of all the prophets,
Jeremiah is the one who seemed to have the toughest job. Virtually no
one would listen to him as he was trying to warn the leaders of Israel
about the judgment they were going to face. They had turned away from
God and were following their forefathers who had turned to the gods. God
used Jeremiah to warn the people and then judged the children of Israel
by sending them into exile where they were forced to live in a society
that was totally pagan.
If history repeats
itself as the Bible states, then it would be reasonable to predict the
same pattern would be repeated today. People who profess to be
followers of God end up following men who follow the devil who then
become Satan’s pawns. As Solomon said, there is nothing new under the
sun.
A brief overview of
what we call the “new” evangelical movement provides a good example of
what is happening today. According to Bible prophecy, the Last Days will
see the implementation of a global One World Religion that prepares the
way for the antichrist. This would mean that we will see all religions
coming together for the cause of peace. Not only will the religions of
the world join up in an ecumenical unity, but so will the majority of
those who call themselves Christian.
We have been watching
this trend happen for over two decades. Without knowing it “Protestant
evangelicals” have been seduced so that they are neither Protestant nor
evangelical. Many churches and denominations have been led astray by the
pied pipers of the Purpose Driven emerging church movement, which
clearly embraces a false hope centered on a P.E.A.C.E. Plan that is
supposed to unite all religions of the world to do good. This plan is
fueled by the belief that we can get closer to God through various
contemplative eastern practices like Yoga and contemplative prayer.
Christ is mentioned in name, but the “Jesus” and the “gospel” is not the
Jesus Christ and the gospel that is supported by the Scriptures.
While I have only been
a born-again Christian for just over three decades, it has been long
enough to see a paradigm shift taking place with regards to what it
means today to be a Christian. Many churches and denominations have
joined hands with pagans. Once Bible-based and Jesus-centered, many
evangelical churches have moved away from messengers of the gospel
towards church-growth programs driven by corporate politics that leaves
biblical Christianity behind. Rather than looking to the Good Shepherd,
Jesus Christ, the sheep are conditioned or brainwashed to look to some
man whom they believe is the answer to all their problems. This cult
style of Christian leadership is not only dangerous, it provides the
backbone that leads towards a One World Religion with an ecumenical
headquarters headed by the pope in Rome.
These pseudo churches
have departed from the faith in such a way that many have not even
noticed. When someone points out the deception that is happening they
are considered to be the heretics. Those with discernment are scoffed at
and told to shut up. Worse yet those who are persistent in shining the
light on apostasy are marginalized, shunned, or declared crazy.
The bottom line is
this: the leaders of the Last Days apostasy are most often too proud to
receive correction from anyone. They call those who stand up and warn
them as unbalanced, out of touch, “haters,” or even psychotic misfits
who are on the lunatic fringe.
The Final, Final,
Final Warning
Just before sitting
down to write this commentary, I was at the John Wayne Airport in
southern Californian waiting for a flight to San Francisco. As I had
time to spare before my flight, I took out a notepad from my pocket and
started to jot down an outline dealing with the subject matter of this
commentary. Unexpectedly, I heard an announcement made over the
intercom: “This is the final – final – final call for United Airlines
Flight 322 to San Francisco.” I looked at my watch and realized I had
nearly missed my flight. The call was for me.
We are living at a
period in Church history when the final-final-final call is being made
to warn the Church to wake up. The apostasy that is underway is greater
every day. Worse yet, fewer and fewer professing Christians realize what
is happening. They have gone to sleep it seems. More and more pastors
are concerned about property, power, and prestige than they are about
people. While many should be repenting from their sins, they are
spending the time they have left here on earth covering up their sin in
order to protect what they believe is their legacy. Others have poured
their energies and focus into trying to “return” America to a Christian
nation, claiming that we need to get back to our Christian roots and
take over our country for Jesus. While there have certainly been many
Christians in the history of America who have served Him faithfully over
the past two hundred years, the fact is that no country is “Christian.”
The Bible refers to those of the faith as “strangers and pilgrims of the
earth” (Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:11). The only solution to our
problem with sin is salvation through Jesus Christ and the finished work
of the cross. Our home is not on earth but in heaven. So while the
majority of Christians are distracted by their worldly carnal ambitions,
they are missing the final call.
Recently we sent out a
general open letter to all pastors attempting to wake up those who
should know better. The letter was written to all pastors even though
the majority of the churches I have spoken at in the past were
fellowships belonging to the Calvary Chapel movement. In my view, the
time we have before God’s judgment comes is short. When the church is
more interested in man-made agenda’s than God’s, the church is no longer
useful. God will simply raise up others to do the job. In fact, I
believe we are fast approaching a time when the apostate “church” will
join up with the One World Religion, and the body of true believers in
Jesus Christ will be forced to the sidelines and even underground
because of persecution.
For those who have
followed the ministry of Understand The Times, you will know we have
been trying to warn the church for the last two decades about the
judgment that is coming. Books and commentaries have been written.
Presentations have been made since about 1990. Some of these books that
were written include: New Wine Or Old Deception, When New Wine Makes
a Man Divine, New Wine and the Babylonian Vine, When
Marian Apparitions Plan to United the World Religions, Another
Jesus: The Eucharistic Christ and the New Evangelization and
Faith Undone.
Not only did I express my concerns about the direction
the church was headed in a public way, I wrote personal letters to the
leaders of Calvary Chapel that we are now making public so the world can
see. You can read some of these letters by going to the following link:
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=5258.
Why am I doing this? The answer is very
simple. Over the past year, I have been accused by some of my colleagues
as being mentally unbalanced and vindictive because I have simply
expressed the facts. I have even been told that I have blasphemed the
Holy Spirit because I have questioned the roots of the Calvary Chapel
movement. Apparently, up until now, no one has dared to do this.
While I have heard the rumors and seen some
of the e-mails regarding what has been said, I will make the statement
again: The Lord has led me to warn what is happening. No one is
listening. I have done this according the Scriptures. When you see
brothers heading into apostasy, you need to warn them, and then if the
warning isn’t heeded, wash your hands.
Finally, I fear no man. I reverence and fear
Jesus Christ and His Word.
The rejection and
ridicule that we have received from many of my former colleagues would
provide the contents for a book, which we will likely write at a later
time. While I refuse to read the blogs and even the threating e-mails
that come to me from pastors and church leaders that I once shared a
common platform with, the time has come for me to speak up. Understand
The Times will not be silenced; we will tell the facts whatever the
cost. Sin cannot be covered up.
Just like Jeremiah, we
have been told that we are crazy and to shut up. Read Jeremiah chapter
21.
Prediction
The truth always wins
out. As someone said, the truth will always chase a lie through the back
door. While I have no personal vendetta against those who conjure up
lies and rumors about me, I will make one final appeal to the
consciences of those who know better.
It is time to fear God
and get things right. You cannot continue to let on that everything is
all right. It is time to warn the body of Christ about the days in which
we live. Your camp is full of leaven. Your sin will find you out.
Be not deceived; God
is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For
he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he
that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
(Galatians 6:7-8)
Read more at www.understandthetimes.org
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