SATAN LOOSED

Article aQ 1989

This article was written because it appeared some believed the end times

would be evil because it was prophesied to be so, rather then because of man's errors and faults.

Man's power of choice in connection to God's foresight is beyond human comprehension, for how can it be that God knows perfectly well if an accident will, or will not happen to you tomorrow, and yet tomorrow you must be careful or an accident will happen to you? How can it be that God knows perfectly well what choices you will make tomorrow, and yet tomorrow as you face those decisions and make those choices they will yet be totally according to your choosing? It is best understood to think of this, and realize this, in the respect that man definitely has the absolute ability to choose but that God in His omniscience simply has power to know the future. In this way God also knows your eternal destiny, yet your eternal destiny will be according to your choices in life and if you are not careful in your choices you will be lost. aQ-1

This article is written because of a concern that men may be thinking, that the perilous conditions of the last times, such as the falling away from fervent faith and love waxing cold, are largely so because things were prophesied to be so, and thus such conditions are not as fully within the realm of man's responsibility, and of less seriousness. Such conditions of the world in the last times are by no means so, because it was prophesied to be so, but totally as such because of man's choices. This truth runs parallel to the fact that the cause of one's evil choices is not God foreseeing he would chose so, but that rather each individual is responsible for his own choices. aQ-2

Apostle Paul did not say in the last times perilous times would come because prophesy has so foretold, rather he said because men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, proud, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God etc. Apostle Paul said, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" (2 Tim 3:13). Jesus did not say the love of many shall wax cold because prophesy has so foretold but rather said, it would be so, because iniquity would abound. Jesus said, because of false christs and false prophets arising, the very elect would scarcely evade deception. aQ-3

Satan was foretold to be loosed in the end times (Rev 20:3). Rev 11:3-12, tells of the two witnesses of God, in the end times, being overcome and killed by the enemy of souls. This occurrence very likely is one with the loosening of Satan, for with the witnesses of God dead, Satan would definitely be loosed to a great advantage. Zechariah chapter 4 also clearly tells of two very similar witnesses. Rev 11 tells that the bodies of these two witnesses were not put into graves but laid on the streets, thus it appears these witnesses yet existed, but the former power of their witness was killed or lost. In considering Rev 11,1-2, together with numerous scriptures it appears that these two witnesses could be speaking of God's chosen people (church), involving both, the Jewish and Gentile peoples thereof. Rev 11, tells that these witnesses, when yet alive, tormented them that dwelt upon the earth. In Old Testament times God's people severely punished evil nations. During persecutional times of the New Testament, the people of God by their clear witness of God's Word and ways, reproved and tormented the conscience of the world so deeply that the world was moved to kill them. Today God's New Testament church, although the gates of hell shall never totally extinguish it, falls short of the witness it had to the world in it's first centuries and the times of the martyrs. Matt 25, speaks of the bride all slumbering and sleeping. God with His own hand in 1975 wrote in the Russian sky it is winter time among my people. Could it be during this dreadful period of time in which God's witnesses lay dead on the streets, God would say of His church at large, as He did to the church of Sardis, "...I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead" (Rev 3:1). The cause of Satan being loosed and the slaying of the witnesses of God is not God's foresight, but men allowing the enemy of souls, by the God of this world, to overcome them. Jesus knowing the dark condition of the last times asked the question, "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). aQ-4

The power of the witnesses of God does not lie in a few chosen missionaries but it lies in the inspiration of the church as a whole wherein they cannot but speak the things which they have seen and heard. It lies in the fervent prayer of the church. "And now Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:29-31). The power of the witnesses of God, lies in the exercising of the spiritual gifts of miracles, healing, prophecy, tongues, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (1 Cor 12, Eph 4). It is true Jesus warned of false signs and wonders, and such it is when performed by those who lack the fruits of true prophets, and lack abiding by the standard portrayed in God's Word for His people. Yet Jesus also said that signs shall follow them that believe (Mark 16:17). The power of the witnesses of God lies in ministering to the Lord and fasting, "As They ministered to the Lord, and fasted, The Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away (Acts 13:2-3). aQ-5

Faith that saves, yet comes by the hearing of God's Word, which includes the voice of the Holy Spirit. Faith that does signs, wonders, and moves mountains yet comes by prayer and fasting (Matt 17:19-21), but how little men do fast. Heaven and Hell are nearer than ever and as contrasting as ever, and yet, oh how little they are considered, with heaven properly desired, and hell feared. Men are to set their affections on things above, lay up treasure in heaven, yet how people's thoughts and meditations almost totally surround this world and the things therein, forgetting that it will melt with fervent heat. Men are to be anchored in God's Word for it will judge them in that last day, yet how ignorant people in general are of it's contents but are trusting in and fitting in with their church or the crowd. What many do know of the Bible they are twisting to fit what they or their social group or church is experiencing or wishes to accept, even if such is not in agreement with the simplicity of the Bible message. And it is sad that most in blindness and deception are accepting a dead faith in exchange for the true faith which saves, motivates with earnest desire, and inspires with fervency of spirit. aQ-6

God's Word and Spirit are forever the same and their saving and keeping power never decrease. Men may allow themselves to become adrift from God's Word and Spirit, thus deceived and bound in a wrong standard, "...but the word of God is not bound" (2 Tim 2:9). Sin and evil may abound, "...but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound;" (Romans 5:21). Men have allowed Satan to be loosed and their witness to be killed by drifting from the Word and Spirit of God. Men are responsible for their driftings from the Bible standard for God's people and God's standard will not change because of man's driftings. Men are responsible for their own deception and for the conditions of the world and church in the last times and God will judge as such. aQ-7

Rev 11:11-12, reveals that the two witnesses of God will be revived to life, and very likely just preceding the end of the world. Oh may we desire to be, and be of those who experience this revival! May we not have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof, but rather be filled with the Spirit and power. This scripture tells that these witnesses arose to their feet, great fear fell on them that seen them, a great voice from heaven called them to come, and they ascended up to heaven. Could the reviving to life of these witnesses and their nearly immediate ascension to heaven (Rev 12:11-12), be one with the midnight cry within the parable of the ten virgins after which the bridegroom nearly immediately came (Matt 25:1-13)? Very possibly the slumbering and sleeping of the ten virgins is one with the witnesses of God laying dead on the streets. In closing may we today become soul wise for ourselves and others and thus not be of those who were found without oil when the Bridegroom came, because of trying to get oil when, alas to late. aQ-8

(Count 1616 2/17/01)