The Official Journal of the Ensign Trust, London

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THE ENSIGN MESSAGE

CHAPLAIN’S PAGE – “BE ALARMED”

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This could be the most challenging  article you will ever read! If you do not wish to be challenged, and have the stark facts of our current  national situation brought to your attention, then read no further.

Assuming that you do wish to read further, then what you are about to read is the plain truth. Everything that is taking place in our nation today bears  testimony  to the absolute truth and accuracy of the Scriptures.  Never at any time in our history has  there been such  a concerted effort worldwide, to destroy God’s truth as given to us in His Living Word. This relentless attack is orchestrated  by God’s arch enemy, Satan. He knows full well that the time he has left is short, very short.  Two thousand  years ago, Jesus was confronted by two men possessed by devils. When they saw Him they cried out

what have  we to do with thee, Jesus, thou  Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?’  (Matthew 8:29) Two things to note:

1) the devils recognised who Jesus was, and did not question  His authority,

2) they clearly understood that there is a time appointed for their destruction. As they knew that two thousand years ago, we can well see why Satan and his angels are working furiously today to bring about the final destruction of Christianity worldwide.

The average man and woman in the street, including many Christians, are blissfully unaware of the immense spiritual dangers that we are facing in these last days. A text which is the key to understanding the current situation  is Hosea 4:6 ‘my  people  are  destroyed (margin, cut off) for lack of knowledge: because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also  forget thy children.’

This stark truth of the lack of spiritual knowledge has stalked the nation throughout  our history, never more so than today. Although we faced great dangers in the 1940s, we were at that time a Christian nation, and not ashamed to invoke Christ’s name.  The national days of prayer ordered  by the King, instantly brought victory to the allies, and gave us renewed strength. Today, Islam is being actively encouraged, and Protestant truth is being systematically  marginalised.  This aggressive  attack emanates not only from  the  government, but much worse, also from the church.

The previous Archbishop of Canterbury,  Rowan Williams, dismissed clear Scriptural statements such as Leviticus 18:22.  ‘Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” His answer was that ‘it is an abstract  deployment  of a number  of very ambiguous biblical texts.’ He also went on to say ‘that we should not read Scripture with a kind of biblical and thoughtless obedience to every word as if it simply represented the  mind  of God.’   This self confessed destroyer of God’s Truth has now returned to Academia, where he will be well placed to destroy the faith of those who believe they have been called to the ministry of the church.   Thus will future generations of ministers  be corrupted, if the Lord tarries. It is of interest to note that he has now joined the House of Lords as a life peer with the title of Lord Williams of Oystermouth.   (How appropriate)

Not only is the Established Church infected with the enemy within, so too is the Baptist Church, which was noted for the quality and integrity of its ministers.  Rev. Steve Chalke has stunned  the evangelical community with   two  startling pronouncements which are deliberately designed  to destroy the faith of Christians throughout the world. Firstly, he has stated that he does not believe in Penal Substitution. It is, he says ‘a violent, pre-Christian theory’ He has ignored that text which is a foundation stone of the Christian faith, ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten  Son, that whosoever believeth  in him should not  perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16.) He then goes on to say ‘it is biblically, culturally, and pastorally deficient and even dangerous.’

Can he get any worse, you may be thinking by now. The answer is yes, and  he does.  ‘God  died  for homosexual Christians.’  In an hour long Premier Christian Radio broadcast on the 14th January 2013, he was further encouraged to develop his views. He stated, ‘God  has  given  me  a  platform  and  a voice  to say something  that needs to be said. There are traditional churches that have not yet understood where  Biblical studies  have got to.  It is now possible to understand that the Bible supports same sex marriage.’  In the event that you are thinking by now that nobody will believe such evil, you will be astonished to learn that he has a considerable following. The British Church Newspaper attempted to contact Peter Kerridge of Premier Radio in an attempt  to understand the reason why Chalke was given valuable air time to view his evil teaching, but he was ‘unavailable’ for comment! (Surprise, surprise!)

Steve Chalke already stands  condemned in God’s Supreme  Court of Justice,  as one  who,  in his official capacity as an ordained  minister, is openly challenging the Holy Spirit. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable  for doctrine,  for reproof, (rebuking,) for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly  furnished unto all  good  works. (II Timothy 3:16 and 17.)

Rowan Williams, Steve Chalke, and others who have set out to destroy God’s Living Word, are Satan’s agents. And whosoever was not  found written in the book of life was cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:15.) Many Christians still remain in churches where their ministers mock the Scriptures.  This raises the question,  should they remain, hoping no doubt,  that their presence will bring about a change of heart to the erring clerics.  Let Scripture answer  the question.   Jeremiah was a man torn apart by the idolatry of Judah.  How he tried to save them from God’s wrath which was on the horizon, but failed. He was mocked and afflicted for his efforts to get them to repent.  He had no choice other than to separate himself from them. We can feel his frustration and anger:

I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced: I sat alone because of thy hand:  for thou hast  filled me with indignation (Jeremiah 15:17.)

Jeremiah had no option other than to put space between himself and the mockers of God’s truth when he  was  not  actually warning   them  of God’s  great displeasure. This incident is, I believe, a great lesson to all those today who are members of churches where their ministers are scoffers of the truth. Paul also suffered an evil generation  of religious teachers,  the Pharisees and Sadducees, who not only tried to discredit him, but also Jesus Himself. In Romans chapter 2: 6-11 Paul wrote:

Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek   for glory  and  honour and  immortality, eternal life:

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey  the  truth, but  obey  unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew  first, and also of the Gentile;

But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew  first, and also to the Gentile:

For there is no respect of persons with God.

From the beginning of Israel’s history the priesthood has erred from the truth, and, prophets were sent by the Lord to warn them of the great harm they were causing the nation:

For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. (Jeremiah 6:13)

For both  prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:11)

There is always an awesome responsibility on the shoulders of the priesthood.  Even more so today than times past.  Previously, there was usually time for repentance, and to make a fresh start.  However, today we stand on the edge of the cliff of final destruction.  The forces of evil, many in clerical garb, are gathering  to destroy God’s precious word, and the very Elect, once and for all.

This final and  massive  attack  is corrupting  those ministers whose  hearts  the Lord has hardened.  You may well ask, why would the Lord do such a thing? For the answer we  should  think  of the  Pharaoh of the Exodus. The Lord gave him ten opportunities to repent of his evil intentions on the Israelites, but he dismissed them all.  Thus it must be on the erring clerics today. Because  they have ignored God’s warnings,  He has hardened their hearts and they are deceiving, and being deceived themselves,

But evil men and seducers shall wax  worse and worse, deceiving,and being deceived.(II Timothy 3:13)

Not only are churchmen being deceived but also our secular leaders. Tuesday 5th February, 2013, stands as one of our nations blackest days. By a clear majority, a bill was passed which will have deep and lasting repercussions. The clear warning of Scripture was ignored,

Thou shalt not lie  with mankind, as  with womankind:it is abomination. (Leviticus 18:22)

An ‘ambiguous’ text, according to Lord Oystermouth. Indeed, the visible church is crumbling before our very eyes! (See Church Survey Report 2005.)  One thing that Satan cannot  possibly achieve  is to quench the Holy Spirit. In every generation the Lord always has His faithful remnant.

Except the Lord of Hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. (Isaiah 1:9)

Thank God for this ‘very small remnant.

The nation today has lost that spiritual vision which marked  us out as something  special in other nations’ eyes. Faithful Christians are becoming more and more marginalised.  It is an amazing  fact that a persecuted church is always a strong  church.  The wonderful example of Christians in at least fifty countries today, is proof of this fact. Could such persecution occur in our islands and the USA? Indeed  yes, as more and  more legislation is passed making it more difficult to preach God’s Word, and to live in accordance with His precepts. Very soon,  many ministers may be forced to conduct ‘marriages’ against their  strong   held  belief  in the Scriptures.

It is important that we are made aware now, before the going gets any harder, that this great spiritual battle should not frighten  us,  but it should  alarm  us!  The purpose  of being alarmed  is to prepare  for battle.  This great final battle between the forces of good and evil is already ringing in heavenly places.   There is no doubt whatsoever of the eventual  outcome, and even Satan knows!  Even this does not deter him.  In his arrogance he believes, even at this late stage, that he will become King of this world.  He is not satisfied with his present title of Prince. He wants the top job, no less. Thank you Lord, the war is won! There is now only the final battle, where  only those  things which  can stand,  will stand. Everything else will come crashing to the ground as the old makes way for the new.

This article began by stating that it is a challenge. In what way is it a challenge? It is a challenge to every one of us who is alive in the final days of this age.  Jesus, when  talking one day to His disciples  about  this time period,  made -this poignant  statement, He that  shall endure unto the  end,  the  same shall  be  saved. (Matthew 24:13)

Or he who stands firm.  Will we stand firm when the going gets really tough? Remember, this is not a scenario for some future age that need not concern us so we can go back to sleep.  This is a fact of life for today. Already the screws are being tightened.  The great majority will fall by the wayside and renounce what little faith they did have.  Why is this so?  The reason  is crystal clear; because they lack knowledge of Scripture.  If they had this knowledge  their faith would  be sufficient for the day. Thus it is paramount that we live and breathe God’s Word. Those who come through will have been refined in the Refiner’s  Fire.  They will be partakers  of their rightful  inheritance prepared for  them  before the foundations of the world were laid.

And I will bring the third  part through  the  fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them  as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah  13:9)

Finally, our  reward  will  be  according to  our works. Even so  faith, if it hath  not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:17)

This is not the time to sit down  and  rejoice in our salvation.  This is the time for action,  for time is short. This means us!

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