Sorting Out The Signs And Wonders Of The Last Days!

by Paul Benson

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.  Luke 21:11

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders…  2Thessalonians 2:9

For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.  Revelation 16:14

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.  Mark 16:20

The Bible speaks of not only true signs and wonders from God prophesied to transpire in these last days, but also false signs and lying wonders designed to lure us away from the path of righteousness. How in the world are we supposed to sort all this out and make sure we are following the right signs? Is there any sure-fired way to distinguish between the two, and keep from being led astray? I believe there is!

Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. -the Lord Jesus Christ

It is amazing to me how many people think the verse above is about false Christs. About people coming along declaring: ‘Follow me; I am the Christ!‘ But that is absolutely not what Jesus was getting at! Our Lord was warning of those in the end days who would come to us in the name of Jesus, declaring Jesus to be Christ, yet speaking words of much deception. Christians deceiving other Christians with the falsehoods they have themselves been seduced into accepting!

What a mess!

This sad but true reality is one of the greatest hallmarks of the last days prophesied in the Scriptures: A departure from the truth by God’s own people! (I personally believe this is one of the greatest reasons the Church WILL go through the terrible testing and purifying purge of the great tribulation.)

The Apostle Paul warned the day would come when the Church would turn its ears away from the truth and unto fables (2Tim. 4:4); and also that in the last days God himself would send strong delusion (2Thess. 2:11-12) to turn aside unto damnation those given to defilement! A deluding influence that would thoroughly sift the Body of Christ; leaving only those with a genuine love for the truth and who have a heart after righteousness. We are now living in that day of apostasy and delusion; and we had better learn some discernment as to the signs and wonders of the last days!

So many believers just don’t quite comprehend the level of deception at work in the Body of Christ today. American Christianity is completely backslid! It is a stench in the nostrils of a holy God! But the purge IS coming; whether you believe it or not. And if we were wise we would purge ourselves now so God doesn’t have to later!

Signs Of The Times

He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? Matthew 16:2-3

God does give signs! And as believers we are to watch for these signs. Signs from God are given to provide us information. Some of these signs are prophetic (Jonah’s 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the fish was a sign prophesying Christ’s death and resurrection); and some are given to inform us of our current position in the flow of God’s timetable. The Bible details many signs that herald the last days; and more specifically many that herald the Return of Christ. Although some are teaching there are no signs that precede the Coming of Christ for the Church this is not so. This ‘No Sign’ theory is one of Satan’s many deceptions about the last days.

And he spake to them a parable; Behold *the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Luke 21:29-31

*(The Parable of the Fig Tree is not about the rebirth of Israel! That is a distraction from the purpose of this parable. I explain that in THIS ARTICLE.)

The parable of the fig tree was given to teach us how we might know when we are in the season (the season – not the day or hour) of Christ’s Return. He said, ‘when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.’ (Matt. 24:33). What things? The things he had just discussed in his discourse on the end-times. After detailing certain events (the beginnings of sorrows) that would lead up to that great day he gave some very clear and unmistakable signs to watch for that would indicate the time was now at hand.

Signs in the Heavens

…and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. Luke 21:11

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:25-28

The Scriptures clearly prophesy some amazing events are going to be witnessed in the sky just before the Coming of Christ. Are you watching for signs in the heavens? I sure am! I have always had a fascination with the night sky. The heavens contain such great marvels that it is almost too much to comprehend. Articles on comets, asteroids, and solar flares always grab my attention and I read each one carefully.

 

I don’t put much stock in the recent craze about astrological alignments;  and I personally feel some of what is being promoted by the ‘Planet X’ crowd is out to lunch. But I am expecting something very similar to a Planet X event or an asteroid strike (or possibly both – plus more!) If Jesus said there would be events in the Sun, AND in the Moon, AND in the Stars which would cause folks to perish from fear I think maybe we ought to be on the lookout for those things!

Before the Return of Jesus for the Church we will see astonishing things in the heavens that will greatly impact this planet. And those who know to recognize these signs will know it is the season of his return and our gathering together unto him. Come quickly Lord Jesus !

The Danger Of Seeking After Signs

Although we are to be watching for signs from God, recognize them when we see them, and be instructed by them, we are NOT to be caught up in seeking after and chasing after signs and wonders. That may seem like a bit of a contradiction, but it is really not. There is a big difference between recognizing signs when they happen and seeking after them. A lot of that difference has to do with what motivates one to seek after those manifestations in the first place.

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:38

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; Matthew 16:4

Do you need signs and wonders to convince you of God’s existence; or of your connectivity with him? You shouldn’t! Not just once, but twice (Matt.12:39 + 16:4), Jesus rebuked the people for seeking after a sign from Heaven! Instead of taking Jesus at his word, and placing their faith in those words, they were asking for manifestations to believe in. This angered our Lord; and we need to get that! Our confidence is to be in the validity of the Word of our God, and not in the manifestation of signs and wonders. Not all supernatural manifestations are from God; including those taking place in churches and ‘Bible conferences’!

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders…  2Thessalonians 2:9

For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Revelation 16:14

Many people will follow anyone who seems to evidence any kind of supernatural powers at work. They lack the discernment to tell the difference between what is of God and what is Satan’s counterfeit. A misplaced focus in this matter has multitudes following after *the false prophets and false teachers of this day thinking they are being led by God’s champions. But the Bible clearly teaches that devils (and the false workers they have deceived) have the power to do deceptive miracles and lead people astray.

*(And YES, I am talking about the celebrity ministers of the Bethel/K.C./N.A.R./Seven Mountains Mandate crowd! They are not preaching the gospel of the Bible! And as time progresses, and we see the ecumenical direction these hucksters are traveling in, it should be increasingly clear they are on THE ROAD TO ROME. And therefor leading folks into the coming global religion!)

Signs That Accompany The True Gospel

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:17-18

Although I speak out quite frequently against the deceptive teachings that have infiltrated the Body of Christ, and against all the weird nonsense many are claiming is ‘revival’, I DO believe in the present manifestation of the Spirit in the form of signs, wonders, miracles, and healing.

God is still in the signs and wonders business! God still heals the sick!

Many are foolishly, and deceptively, claiming the signs and wonders (and the gifts of the Spirit) that early Church knew and experienced are not for today. They are speaking falsely! When Jesus spoke of the signs that would accompany the preaching of the Gospel he did not say ‘these signs shall follow the preaching of the early Church but no one else’. He said they would follow those who believe!

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.  Act 2:38-39

God is still calling people in this day, and still filling them with the power of his Spirit, no matter what our ‘Cessationist’ brethren are trying to convince us. For many (such as myself) you are just trying to convince us we cannot attain something we already have attained!

But there is a crucial point I want to emphasize here that many of those among the charismatic and prophetic movements seem to have lost track of:

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Mark 16:20

True signs and wonders are given to confirm the truth of the Gospel. But we need to know that both the true Gospel AND the false gospel have signs that follow them. False signs and lying wonders are Satan’s way of mimicking the confirmation of God’s truth; and are his attempt to give credence to his counterfeit of the Gospel. Just because there are supernatural manifestations happening does not mean that what is going on is the true work of God. It may very well be Satan at work!

The standard is not whether or not signs and wonders are taking place!

The standard is this: Is what is being presented in line with the true message of the Bible, or is it some seductive modernized or hybrid counterfeit? But since most of today’s believers are so Bible illiterate, and lacking in spiritual discernment, false teachers can dish out any old pile of horse crap they want and call it truth; and the masses eat it up like candy as long as there is some sort of ‘manifestation’ involved! As long as there is something supernatural going on it must be of God, right?

Wrong!

We need to be very wary of the deceptive signs and wonders following many ministries today. And the best way I know to tell the difference is by examining what is being preached. Is it the same message that the Apostles preached; or has the apostolic message been shelved to make way for a false gospel disguised as ‘new revelation’? Is it more than just a promise of blessing; does it convey a strong warning about living in sin, and the call to repent of that sin and embrace a life of holiness? Or is it just a bunch of entertaining and ear-tickling fluff? A Cotton Candy Gospel?

Is the focus upon Jesus and his sacrifice, or is the Cross and the power of his Blood rarely (if at all) mentioned? Is it a message to lay down your life and embrace the sufferings of Christ; or a flattering diatribe that is all about your wants and desires being fulfilled here on earth? Is the preaching all about signs and wonders; or about the One whom true signs and wonders ought to exalt?

True signs and wonders and the true Gospel are joined at the hip so to speak. But God is not going to confirm deceptive teaching or a counterfeit gospel. Signs and wonders that accompany a gross aberration of the Gospel are not from God, but from Satan! And yes, Satan can imitate healing; and also the gifts of the Spirit. If he has the power to inflict with sickness or disease does he not have the power to withdraw that affliction giving the impression someone was touched by God?

Have you never heard of the manifestations which mimic the gifts of the Spirit that happen in Eastern, African, and South American satanic religions? Do you think that is God? We must not underestimate the power of Satan to deceive and distract. But how can we safeguard ourselves from this lying and deluding influence?

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15

…and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: John 10:27

Again, the safest way to discern the validity of any signs and wonders is to examine the Scriptural correctness of the message being promoted. Read your Bible! Pray daily, and earnestly, seeking to draw near to God! Those in touch with the truth of God’s Word and filled with his Spirit will NOT hearken to the call of deception! You will discern it to be the enemy. And, if you want to get right down to the nitty-gritty of it all, the best way to keep ourselves from following the wrong signs is:

Do not chase after any signs to begin with!

(Yes, I know that simple truth might be a little short on the WOW! factor to hit home for some. But it is truly wisdom from the heart of the Father!)

We are not called to follow signs, but to follow Christ!

We are not to be led, or swayed, by signs, wonders, and supernatural manifestations! Signs have a definite purpose; they tell us our location as we travel along the highway. But it is truly the Spirit of our Lord, and the truth of his holy Word, that will lead us to our desired destination.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14

May God keep us from the false signs and lying wonders of this end-time generation; and from the soul damning counterfeit of Christ’s Gospel they confirm! In Jesus name!

Blessings to all who love our Christ;

Paul Benson

www.paulbenson.me

 

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