In this chapter:
» Difficulty in Discerning the Core Doctrines
» Deception
» The "word-faith" legacy
» The City Church
» In Reality: Division
» Unity vs Truth?

How does the movement's doctrine compare with the Bible's message about the end times?

We have looked in detail at the movement's doctrines concerning the end-times. So, what does the Bible have to say about the end-times? How does it compare to the Latter Rain teachings?

The Bible does not predict a great endtime 'revival' or a spiritual super-race defeating death and ushering in the kingdom of God, but rather the very opposite: increasing evil, times of peril, a huge apostasy of those who profess to be Christians, false teachings, false prophets, deceptive signs and wonders, and a delusion that will even deceive God's own people if or when possible. Please read:

Matt 24:24 ; 2 Tim 3:1-5 , 13 ; Luke 18:8 ; 2 Tim 4:3-4 ; 2 Th 2:1-12 ; 2 Pet 2:1-19 ; 1 Tim 4:1 ; 2 Pet 3:3-4

We are warned that the deception that is to come will be so difficult to discern, even those who genuinely love the Lord might be deceived. I'd like to take a moment to look into the falling away and deception as it is described in 2 Thess, chapter 2, verses 1-3, 9-12, & 15, from the Amplified Bible. (Parentheses, italics, and dashes are theirs) - -

There are several things we can draw from this passage that are very applicable to the present situation in the church. First, that a ''great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians'' has been predicted and will certainly happen. This is something we should always keep in mind when hearing about NEW 'revelations' and teachings.

Secondly, that we are not to be ''kept excited'' or alarmed, by any supposed new revelation- whether it appears to be from the Spirit, or by word, or even a letter alleged to be from Christ's Apostles.

Third, this apostasy is the preparation for the revealing of the Antichrist, Satan's counterfeit Christ.

Fourth, this will ''be attended by great power,'' (Aha! That word again) and will include all sorts of pretended miracles, signs, marvels, and so on, which are lying wonders - wonders which will seduce one away from the true Christ. (Remember, Satan just aims to keep the 'anti' silent in Antichrist.)

There is an attitude today that we should not examine purported 'miracles' too closely or we might 'offend God.' We see here that the opposite is true - if miracles are pretended, God holds us accountable to find that out and act upon it. We also know we are to turn away from even authentic miracles if they do not support the truth of who God is as revealed in His word.

Fifth, we see the importance of truth to God. He sends the delusion on all those who refuse truth, for the purpose of judgment. People will not objectively seek to determine the truth of this delusion because it is going to appear to validate what they want to believe.

What place does truth hold in your value system? Is it as important to you as it is to God? Do you actively pursue it?

Sixth, this delusion is sent upon ''those who are ''going to perdition'' / ''perishing'' - that is, the entire unbelieving world. Unlike the ''narrow way'' that few find, this delusion will be acceptable to the whole world- it will fit handily into the ''broad way.''

Finally, we are to ''stand firm and hold fast to the traditions and instructions'' we were taught in the New Testament by Christ's original Apostles. This excludes any ideas of ''God doing a New Thing,'' ''the very definition of Christianity'' being changed, or any other new doctrine not taught in the Bible.