Counterfeit Revival
Just before to the second coming of Christ, the Scriptures predict that there will be a great counterfeit religious revival. Jesus Christ foretold that the message of the false prophets would be so deceptive. And He added that “if it were possible, they” would “deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:23–27). When that time comes, only a true love for the truth and obedience to the Scriptures will guard the believers. Thus, they will be able to resists the deceptions of the devil, the lying spirits, and the doctrines of people (Hosea 4:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:9–12). Except for those who know, cherish and obey the truth, the whole world will be led astray by falsehoods.
The Appearance of Satan
“And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Satan, claiming to be God, will attempt to support his claim by great miracles (2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10). These supernatural acts will deceive people into believing that the new religious system, the image (Revelation 13:14), has God’s approval.
The Lord warned His end time church that Satan will “performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Revelation 13:13–15). [See What is the image of the beast?]
United Evangelistic Movement
As the nominal Christian churches unite, Charismatic religious leaders will see in this unity an impressive movement to evangelize the world. This false revival immediately precedes God’s last great message of mercy and warning in Revelation 14:6-11; 18:1-4.
God’s warning states: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven… saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come…And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God …” (Revelation 14:6-11). [See What’s the message of the first angel of Revelation 14?]
Peace and Safety Message
The false religious leaders will prevent the people from accepting God’s warning through a “peace and safety” message. Through this false message, Satan will calm people into a false sense of security, one from which they will not awake until it is too late (1 Thessalonians 5:1–5; Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11). In this great counterfeit religious movement, all who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof will join forces (2 Timothy 3:1- 5).
Inasmuch as the false revival will carefully look like the true, Christians should diligently study all what the Bible has revealed regarding these things and test them by the truth (Isaiah 8:20) in an attempt to be prepared for the great crisis that awaits the church. Whatever religious leaders may preach that is not in harmony with that Word, means they have “no light” in them.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
