California’s Governor Newsom just banned all singing and chanting in California Churches. This is not the first attack on Christianity by the California governor but, it is a sign of how far things have deteriorated, at least in California. Scriptures warn us of times like these. Revelation tells us of a soon coming war in the heavens in which the Devil will lose and be thrown down to the earth.

Michael Defeating Satan

“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. … Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” – Rev. 12:7-12

Now Satan has many evil spirits and demons working for him and chief among them is the spirit of Antichrist. This evil spirit has been on earth a long time but his activity is growing greatly as we near the end and it is aimed chiefly at Christians!

“and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” – 1 John 4:3

He wants to silence the Church. He will infiltrate the Church and promote lying doctrines to steal the church’s power and he will influence political leaders to stand against the Church and it’s message. Like Balaam of old, he will bring into the Church doctrines of immorality and encourage sexual sins. Because he knows these will cause God’s Grace and presence to be lifted off of the Church. The Book of Revelation has a message for churches in the end days – it is found in the letters Jesus dictated to the churches.

“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.” – Rev. 2:14

“Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.” – Rev. 2:20

So we have women pastors promoting abortion and blessing abortion clinics, we have women pastors promoting pornography, and we have churches ordaining homosexuals. We have whole Church Synods condoning adultery and divorce when the Bible clearly condemns them.

“And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the LORD has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring.

Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the LORD of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.” – Malachi 2:13-16

Don’t you wonder why the Church is so ineffective against the evil and the darkness that is invading our world? This is a major reason why! God ‘does not regard the offering (prayer) anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands’ because the Church has allowed divorce and remarriage among its members. God hates this practice because it robs Him of ‘godly offspring’. Do you not know that having parents that love each other and love and obey God’s commands is a blessing to your children? By divorcing you are robbing your children of a special blessing from God. A special covering of God’s nurture that comes when parents raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

Family is very high on God’s list for receiving His blessings. That’s why the Devil hates family so much and does everything he can to destroy it. He knows, even if the Church doesn’t, that family is the bedrock foundation of any people and of the Church. Now, is there any hope for the people of divorced families? Yes! God always has hope for those who seek Him and He will send the Elijah spirit to “turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5, 6).

In days like these, the true Church needs to obey the word of God like never before. Listen to the words of the Apostle Peter –

“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” – 1 Pet. 4:7, 8

Having ‘fervent love for one another’ does not mean having a ‘I’m OK, your OK’ attitude. It does mean caring enough about one another to correct and admonish each other to follow God’s word. It doesn’t mean ‘you have your truth and I have my truth’ philosophy. It does mean declaring that there is only One Truth, and He is the Way and the Life. And He expects His people to be holy as He is Holy. It means reminding  others that He is coming back for a Bride, and soon.

“that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” – Eph. 5:27

“but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” – 1 Pet. 1:15, 16

“so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” – 1 Thes. 3:13

So when politicians issue edicts and make rules to curtail the work of the Church, and false prophets invade the Church, remember the word of the Lord –

“As for Me,” says the LORD, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the LORD, “from this time and forevermore.” – Isa. 59:21

Therefore, Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you and His glory will be seen upon you.