In 1997 Satan launched an unpre-cedented blitzkrieg on the Church. As heaven's former music director, as some perceive him (c/f Ez 28:11-19 with Is 14:12-21, Luke 10:18 & Rev 12:12), he has inspired his demons to take "church" music to a new low, producing an altered state of consciousness that is being confused with God sent visions and revelations. Structured church leaders all over the world, in their unhealthy and unrealistic pursuit after so called revival and Signs and Wonders, have been deceived into thinking the Church is in REVIVAL NOW. In fact we are experiencing what the Bible calls THE GREAT APOSTASY - see 2 Thess 2:1-12.

The next items on God's Agenda for the world is the manifestation of the Man of Sin followed by the GREAT TRIBULATION and for the Church the appearance of Christ and the RAPTURE of His Bride (c/f 2 Thess 2:3; 1 Thess 5:9; Heb 9:28; 1 Thess 4:13-18). No one knows the timing or the precise sequence of those events. Based on 2 Thess 2 some teach Christians will still be on earth when the Man of Sin begins to exert his influence (vs 2-4). Others believe that he will be manifest only After the Rapture has taken place (vs 6-8). The important thing is to be ready for either eventuality.

Are we prepared to lay down our lives for CHRIST and for TRUTH? Are we keeping ourselves pure so that we are READY TO MEET Him at any time?

During part of 1997 I watched with incredulity and horror video footage emanating from Pensacola and Toronto and their satellite churches, which show that many Charismatic and Pentecostal leaders don't know their Bibles and haven't learned from history. The cycle of history is being repeated in our time by these count-erfeit revivalists and false prophets.

With the introduction of an OT altar at Brownsville AOG, when 1200 pastors and their spouses lined up to cast incense on the flame and with the blowing of the Shofar (ram's horn) to produce revival, we have a return to legalism as serious as that exposed and corrected by Paul in his Epistles to the Galatians and the Colossians. With the sensuous, hypnotic sound and unbiblical lyrics of the music emanating from so many modern "churches", reported by Joseph Chambers in his excellent videos, we have a worldliness and Satanic incitement to evil which is parallelled only by such movements as the Convulsionaries of the mid 1600's in England and early 1700's in France and the Animal Magnetism of Maestro Anthony Mesmer and Jesuit Priest, Father Hell later that century.

In his book
"Extraordinary Delusions and the Madness of Crowds"
(pub 1841), author Charles MacKay LLD documents events and manifest-ations which parallel, to a most amazing degree of accuracy, what's happening in the current Toronto, Pensacola and the Revival Now movements. But it's worse than that

Peter Wreford, editor of JOY, the AOG magazine in UK, reports that Wesley Campbell of the Toronto Airport Church actually dresses in full Celtic war costume, paints his face blue, just like William Wallace in the Braveheart Movie and imitates his speech, to rouse the Christians. This is not the Spirit of God.

After hearing about what Peter Wreford wrote I actually hired the video "Brave Heart" to see what it was all about. As a Christian I couldn't watch the film. On a number of occasions we had to fast forward it. The amount of graphic violence is sickening. Part of the speech to which Wreford refers is couched in indecent language, certainly not something to inspire godly conduct or commitment of any type. And Wreford reports that Campbell has done this act all over the world. The Church has reached a sad state when this sort of thing goes on and people think it's revival.

That notable Church leaders should support something which the Apostle Peter so clearly denounced in his appeal, "Save yourselves from this untoward (ie perverse) generation" (Acts 2:40). That the official British AOG magazine should report it as something that is good is a sad commentary on how far a one time godly denomination has fallen. We need to pray as never before for these deluded Church leaders.

Joseph Chambers of Paw Creek Ministries, Charlotte North Carolina in 1997 emerged as a major exposer of the False Anointing that is impacting the Church. While most of what he canvasses on video refers specifically to the American scene it also reflects on what's happening in Australia, NZ and UK. Inspired by his example our colleague and friend Gil Reitsma has a vision to set up a full Video and TV studio in Australia to help expose what's happening "down-under" and encourages prayer for the project. Friends who can help in a practical way may channel finance through our CWM office in Australia.

If something suitable is not already in situ in UK and NZ, this needs to be looked at with all urgency. As I have prayed and thought about the on going challenge to expose the works of darkness, that will inevitably increase in 1998 and on into the future, it has become increasingly clear to me that those of like mind and like precious faith must join hands in the battle. We dare no go our own independent ways. Time and resources are too short and too limited for that. Let us not duplicate where we can cooperate. Those who are projecting the Revival Now deception with their large Churches have huge resources already at their disposal. For example Garden City Christian Church in Brisbane, where Wes Campbell made his Brave Heart speech, distributed a video tape of what resulted called "Flames of Revival" to Assemblies of God throughout Australia in an attempt to spread this thing.

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Appeared in Volume 4.1 January/February 1998