Triumphalism and the False Prophet
Triumphalism and the False Prophet
Previously in this essay I have alluded to the False Prophet. I have not preached much about the False Prophet during my ministry, but I have mentioned this topic in some of my writings. I do not recall ever hearing anyone preach about the False Prophet, although you probably have.
Antichrist, the spirit of the world, comes out of the "sea," that is, out of the ranks of mankind. His greatest activity appears to be buying and selling. We certainly can see his spirit in America! We indeed are a materialistic culture.
And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. (Revelation 10:1)
However, the False Prophet does not come out of the sea of mankind but out of the "earth," out of the souls of individuals. He comes from the love for the world, sexual lust, and the desire for achievement and preeminence that are in those who are self-willed. Thus, the False Prophet is the heart of Antichrist and will assist Antichrist in several manners.
Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. (Revelation 13:11)
Right here we discover the identity of the False Prophet.
"Horns" in the Bible represent power. The False Prophet has "two horns like a lamb." "Like a lamb means like the Lord Jesus. The False Prophet manifests power similar to that demonstrated by the Lord Jesus. The False Prophet will work miracles "like a lamb," that is, like Christ, and probably in the name of Christ.
The False Prophet speaks like a dragon. This is to say, it speaks as Satan does. Those words are: I will; I will; I will.
How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I WILL ascend to the heavens; I WILL raise my throne above the stars of God; I WILL sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon [in the remotest parts of the north].
I WILL ascend above the tops of the clouds; I WILL make myself like the Most High." (Isaiah 14:12-14)
It is my point of view that the False Prophet consists of Christian people who are behaving according to their own will rather than the will of Christ. They are not bearing their personal cross and following the Lamb wherever He goes.
I myself am a Pentecostal, or Charismatic we might say. Yet it appears to me that it is the Pentecostal-Charismatic believers who are most likely to become the False Prophet.
Why do I say this? Because unlike some of the other branches of Christendom, we stress the miraculous. We are accustomed to Divine healing, speaking in tongues, prophetic utterance, and other supernatural occurrences.
Miraculous events are encouraged in our churches. But there is one aspect of the Christian discipleship of which we, in many cases, are ignorant.
I am referring to waiting on the Lord until we understand His will.
Christian denominations often give the impression that they do not follow the Lamb, they trust the Lamb will follow them. They pray earnestly for Christ to bless their endeavors as they seek to save and heal a "lost and dying world." They take it for granted that if they move in this direction Christ will be with them and bless them.
The truth is, they often do not really know what Christ wants them to do at any point in time. They are assuming He wants them to "go out and get souls saved." If you caution them that they are making assumptions that may be unfounded, you might not be a popular person. You might receive the left foot of fellowship.
"Our work is God's work." Is it? Have we heard that from Jesus?
I set myself in Bible school, many years ago, to do only what Christ was asking of me. I have made numerous mistakes and have been deceived once or twice (I am an expert on being deceived!).
Deciding to do the will of God without compromise, as I look back after more than sixty years of discipleship, was far and away the best decision I possibly could have made.
I have kept plodding on behind the Lord, and today I am convinced more than ever that the right thing to do is to ask Jesus about everything and to make as few assumptions as possible.
Some Christian leaders are claiming we cannot hear Jesus today. They are mistaken. Perhaps because they cannot hear Jesus they suppose no one can.
So I find myself today alerted to the rise of the False Prophet in America and am setting myself as a watchman on the wall to call out to the believers that we are being deceived.
The immediate error I am noticing is that of the spirit of triumphalism. I first heard this term from Jan Willem Vanderhoeven, who probably is still residing in Israel. I haven't heard from him in many years.
The spirit of triumphalism entered the Latter Rain movement, although I am here to testify that in the beginning the movement was of the Lord.
Two choruses I remember are as follows. I remember only fragments, but they illustrate the spirit of triumphalism.
One was, "Sons of God march forward, in the power of the latter rain."
Another was, "Now is the time to take the Kingdom; rise up ye strong, 'tis Christ's command. For every pow'r and dominion, is given now into your hands."
The truth is, rather, that every power and dominion is given into only one pair of hands—those of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I heard Kathryn Kuhlman say on one occasion, "I do not have the power to heal. Only Jesus Christ can heal." This indeed is a liberating truth!
Without a thought of casting aspersions on whoever composed these exciting choruses, let me point out that they are not biblical.
Let your mind roam through the New Testament. Try to find any passage of the Apostles that encourages the attitude of triumphalism.
Let us think for a moment about the eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews. This chapter is a definition of "the just shall live by faith."
There is not a whiff of triumphalism in this chapter. Rather it is a record of people by faith obeying God, often in difficult, painful circumstances.
In fact, the third temptation of Christ, the invitation to step off the pinnacle of the Temple, is the temptation of presumption, of triumphalism. What would have happened if the Son of God had marched forward in the power of the latter rain?
He might have ended up in the Kidron Valley with a banana peel on His head! His Father would not have honored His Son's presumption.
But we hear this all the time, don't we? "Step out in faith." "Give a check when you do not have the money in the bank; God will honor your faith." (This is an excellent way of ending up in prison.)
I remember a girl in Bible school who was having trouble reading. She told me she had gone to a healing revival. The evangelist had an anvil on the platform, and he invited people to come and smash their glasses. She did. Somehow God did not honor this presumption!
Maybe it is true that the preaching of "step out in faith" is providing the foundation for the coming triumphalism; for the False Prophet.
I suppose some of the preachers are sensing that Christ is drawing near to us. The Ark is coming down the road. So they are rushing to take hold of the Ark and try to use it for their own profit.
One teaching, that seems to have several branches, is the idea that the present coming of Christ to His churches is to give them power so they can establish the Kingdom of God before He comes.
Just think of it! We can praise God until the walls fall down. We can take the Kingdom. Every power and dominion will be subject to us.
If you are a red-blooded American, the thought of going forth in the power of the Spirit of God to do great things for God may be enough to get you moving, although you may not know where.
I preached somewhat along this line one Sunday morning.
After the service a brother said to me, "The two witnesses are going to work miracles, so there is nothing wrong with doing great works of power."
I said, "Here is the difference. The two witnesses are clothed in sackcloth, signifying that they are the most humble of all people. Like their Lord, they make themselves of no reputation."
The triumphalists of today parade about as apostles and prophets who are going to bring in the Kingdom of God, which will, of course, bring great glory to them.
They have no concept whatever of the Lordship and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Should He appear in His Glory they would faint, as did the Apostle John. These apostles and prophets, like myself, are nothing and less than nothing. They can do nothing at all unless Jesus does it through them.
Next Part This is one colossal ego trip.