Q4. Apathy

[PressThrough]

Q4. Why are so many churches a "hotbed of apathy"? How can we combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves?

I heard an expression not long ago about the church being a business and that Pastor's will try to keep people there who tithe no matter what, so they can keep the money flowing in!

That right there may be a cause of the "apathy" - like, whatever, have your opinion & say what you want, just stay.

So income false brethren unaware, corrupting the church, and thereby being lukewarm. But are the false breathren really unnoticed (unaware)? I think not.

To combat this spiritual apathy, God has already given us instruction: to cut it off and cast it out; it's better to go to heaven mamned then the whole body perish!

The congregation all being of one mind & accord unto God will revive our witness in God! Having Virtue: Goodness, Knowledge, Self-Control, Perseverance, Godliness, & Brotherly Kindness with Agape Love!

[DebChats]

Why are so many churches a "hotbed of apathy"?

Many churches begin with a vision. A person or group of people, envisions how the church is run and where it will be the most effective for the community. These people carry out this vision and the church becomes as they envisioned - This church is both grand and seemingly effective to the masses and to the community. It is a large and grand building that houses hordes of members (some quite elite members) and does great things in their own eyes. Libraries, hospitals, youth-centers, etc do the same thing (Nothing wrong with these buildings, but the church is to be separate). A church should always begin with the leading of the Holy Spirit, and strive to please Jesus, not the masses.

How can we combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves?

By keeping in mind that even when something appears to be effective and working, it can have grave consequences if not putting God first. Put aside ourselves and our visions and earnestly ask God to both guide and lead us in all matters .. Especially the church.

[alisicia]

The reason is because, the majority of the churches beleive in the "Rapture Theory". The word "Rapture" is (not) in the "BIBLE". That theory came from a sick old lady, by the name of " Margaret Mc Donald", who on her death bed, had a dream, and there were two preachers, who listened to what she said, (even though she told them that it was a evil dream) took it, and produced something, that has been going on for about 150 years. This happened in the year A.D. 1830. I strongly reccommend that you read, "THE RAPTURE PLOT" and "The INCREDIBLE COVER UP", by (Dave McPherson). Also, study with "THE SHEPHARDS CHAPEL", and "THE WATCHMEN BIBLE STUDY GROUP CHRISTIAN BIBLE STUDY" They are OnLine. "Seek and ye shall find".

[Barbara1]

A lot of churches are a hotbed of apathy because they have lost their first and formost motivation,JESUS. They have put numbers and money ahead of the love that Jesus taught us to give.

To combat spiritual apathy we need to learn to give all of ourselves back to the worship and praise of the who sacrificed the most for our salvation. We need to start talking more about Him and what He is doing in our lives than what we are doing. We need to start telling people about how He does listen and acts to bring us closer to Himself.

[Skroehr]

By reading Revelations we discover that Christ has come back and is living among us. That the Holy Trinity is a living reality. Hard to be apathetic when that really sinks in. When we celebrate the Mass, or the divine liturgy, we are actually in communion with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and are for that time in Heaven itself, celebrating the Lamb's Supper with the Saints and Angels. Pretty riveting. No apathy here. I guess if "apathetic" churches would perhaps refine their understanding of the liturgy, and understand the living trinity, then they could feel the action in their parish/congregation, and get energized again. It takes a lot of work on the part of clergy and other parishinors to stay inspired. If you pray for guidance sincerely, it will come.

[mommyoliver]

Q4. Why are so many churches a "hotbed of apathy"? How can we combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves?

We need to take an active part in our faith we need to take a stand and let people know where we stand we cant be a lukewarm in our faith or our church life. We need to be a witness to these who dont know who God is or what even is in the Bible and show the people not all the churches are all bad like always telling us we need to tithe more or this and then you see the pastor having an affair or something else is totally wrong and then the church family starts to suffer because of it.

[Katzen]

Churches can be a "hotbed of apathy", because community/government sometimes makes an example of churches because they don't want churches to become too powerful. Churches sometimes get too comfortable in their routine and end up doing things on "auto pilot". Churches also are afraid to take a stand and figure that there's always another church that will take a stand. There are just so many reasons that a church becomes apathetic, that it's really hard to list them all.

[chenista]

The Word has become so watered with false doctrines based upon cultures, traditions, opinions, and Pharisee that it takes a keen sense of discernment to sit through any sermon these days. You cannot know God unless you know the Word, faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word. So many "Christians" get invovled in church for the wrong reasons, often selfish reasons, without considering what they can do for God.

The deadly sins are gluttony, ****, avarice, sloth, anger (wrath), acedia (spiritual sloth), and vaingloryand pride. They are deadly based upon the degree from which they offend against love.

The seven virtues are humility, meekness, charity (love), chastity, moderation, zeal and generosity. Practicing virtues protects one against the temptations of the seven deadly sins and keeps your heart seeking the Kingdom.

Apathy has its foundations resting upon the loss of your first love - Jesus. That's why we are to seek the Kingdom first. If we do as the Bible instructs, we would not be faced with growing apathy within the body of Christ and hence, within the churches. The problems with the church and with people is as stated above, the Word has become so "watered" with culture, tradition, Pharisee, opinion, etc. that we removed God greatest and most wonderful character from it.

God gave us free will - society and culture, tradition, opinion, Pharisee, etc., has removed the free will and the freedom that Christ gives us through the cross by mandating unbiblical doctrines and attempting to support these views with scriptures used out of context completely divorcing the intent of God. People, churches, and society do this because they think they have a better way and that God had no way of knowing what our society would face today.

Well the Word is the same today as it was yesterday as it will be tomorrow and God is not some weak link in a cosmos cycle - he is all knowing - when people think God had no way of knowing about what our society would do today - read the Bible again! It is all in there, sin is not new, nor has it changed. Bio technology forces its way into the chambers of creation and people of the church protect this mandate as if it came from God screaming that its okay to pro-create! Well it isn't! Only God can create life - only God was meant to create life - that was NEVER given to us - it has and always will rest only upon God - and just because we think we can, doesn't mean we should. ANYTHING not done in FAITH is SIN. We plant embryos and claim they are sacred human life - human life only comes from God - seeds planted from God - seeds nurtured by God - if someone is not healed by faith, they are not meant to be healed as we know healing to be! We are perfected in Christ, we are whole only when we are with Him. Believers never die! There is a reason for this and God knows what it is even if we don't. But we defend technoloy and forsake our God as if he is some helpless bythought on the sidelines of eternity - and we do this in His name. Have we no shame!? It's idolatry - it is very sad. God gives and God takes away - this is not humankind that can do this. All the glory is for God and isn't given to us to remove him from our lives, it is given to us to create a deeper and richer faith and dependence upon Him.

Healing takes many forms - we associate it only with physical healing because we are so limited and so spoiled. We try to manipulate God with our prayers and demand that He do what we want Him to do, forsaking His plan and His will and we do this in His name. If we pray anything other than the will of God, we are engaging in witchcraft and we do it in our churches all the time simply because people do not know what the will of God truly is and to pray for it and believe for it and accept it when it manifests - because we are too caught up in what WE believe God wants!

Many people are still awaiting a Mesiah because when he came, he did not do what THEY thought or wanted him to do. Selfishness is rampant and it masked so deceitfully and wrapped in scriptures used out of context that only those who know discrenment and the Word based upon biblical truths and ONLY biblical truths can recognize what is happening. And it is these few who are praying on behalf of the churches - for the movement of Holy Spirit to awaken the truths that are written upon the hearts of all believers.

I suppose I've said enough about this now.

[alisicia]

REVELATION

Chapter 9

"Events of the Fifth Trumpet"

In the eighth chapter we opened the final seal, and four trumpets were blown. Though the seals are not in order as they are numbered, the trumpets are. The trumpets are sounded to alert the people on the earth that a certain event, or happening is about to start. God is in control of all actions in these final days, and God is even using Satan to carry out part of His plan. If we are in Christ, regardless what Satan does in his roll as the Antichrist, those sealed in their minds are given victory over the Antichrist, if they but take it.

When you understand what Jesus Christ is telling you in this ninth chapter, it will become clear to you that you simply do not have to take part in that system of Satan's. You don't even have to plan an attack against Satan [the Antichrist], for in that hour you will be called to give account for your belief in Jesus Christ. Jesus said in Mark 13:11 it will be the Holy Spirit that will speak through you. Your not even to think about it in advance.

When the third trumpet sounded, we observed the "star" called "wormwood"; and saw how he would turn many waters, or people of all the world to his bitterness [wormwood], or world system. That one world system has formed, and is now tightening it's grip daily on every nation on the face of this earth. The third trumpet is current affairs on the news daily.

Then the fourth trumpet sounded and the clouds darkened, and only a third of the signs and symbols that will be present at Jesus Christ return, started to occur. When we observe the world today, and the signs even within our nation, community, and homes; it becomes very plain that these events of the signs and symbols are here, right now. The four hidden dynasties have taken control of the our lives, and that of our nation. Those hidden dynasties are education, economics [commercial, industrial, and banking], politics, and religion. Satan's kids, the Kenites, are using these signs of the end times announcing our Lord's return, to deceive the world, and prepare the way for the false Christ, "Antichrist". This period we are in is a test by God, to see how many of His children have read his letter [the Bible] to them.

Revelation 9:1 "And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit [pit of the abyss]."

The "star" that falls to the earth is the star of Isaiah 14. The star is "Lucifer", who will be the Antichrist once he arrives on earth. Satan is given the key, or authority to the bottomless pit, for this is where Satan's fallen angels are held.

Satan is to be God's executioner of God's divine wrath that is to be poured out upon the earth. God is going to give Satan the right to have his way with all who are blind to God's Word.

Remember, God removed the wall of protection around Job; for Satan. The only stipulation God gave Satan was that he was not allowed to take Job's life. Job had the will; Satan did the testing, and God allowed it. This is an example of what is to happen in these end times; and that is why we must be ready, and with our spiritual armor on.

Right now, today, Satan is not in that bottomless pit, but in heaven. He is the accuser of the saints before the throne of God. The fallen angels are in the pit, or the abyss. The pit is not a place, or location, but a point of degradation. It's a similar statement to Satan being told he would always crawl on his belly, as the serpent. No Satan never became a snake, but he was a deceiver and his actions were as that of a snake.

Revelation 9:2 "And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit."

This is the pit that holds every evil spirit that is on the earth and in God's confinement. This smoke comes from the pit, and it darkens, not eliminates the sun and air. When Jesus Christ returns the sun, moon and stars are eliminated. This darkening is talked about in Revelation 8:12, where one third of visibility is gone, at the sounding of the fourth trumpet.

This smoke is setting up the people of the earth for the supernatural things about to happen. Just like in Job's case, God will set limits how far Satan can go. What is important to us, as Christians; is that we be able to identify Satan, and his works, by what ever roll he plays, or name he choses for himself.

Revelation 9:3 "And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power."

This locust army that comes upon the earth is Satan's army of demonic forces. They are the fallen angels, and demons, both coming with Satan, and those that are already here upon the earth.

The "power" in the Greek, is "exousia"; it means "authority", or delegated power by God to them. It is the right to carry out the wrath of God, in His [God's] behalf. When they strike, or exert their power on the deceived, it is a spiritual power, as we see in Ephesians 6:10-20. This is because we are in a spiritual battle against Satan and His forces.

If you are looking for bombs to fall, fire from heaven, or as such, you will be misled. In a spiritual sense, their striking will be deadly; spiritual deadly, for they will exert their authority in the same manner as a scorpion renders it's prey harmless and defenseless. We will discuss this later.

Revelation 9:4 "And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."

God will not allow any physical damage to any part of the earth. Not the grass, trees, or any physical matter you can think of. This is a spiritual warfare, and it is a battle for the minds of men and the commitment of their souls to him. God is very specific as to what they can do. Their targets are only the people; The "Anthropos" in the Greek, the individuals of man, not any animal, and only those "that have not the seal of God in their foreheads".

What is in your forehead? It's your brain, of course. As we saw in earlier chapters, the "seal of God", is "knowledge" that is contained in His Word, the Scriptures. God want all of His children to know what He intends to do, and it is because of this that John was brought to the "Day of the Lord" by Jesus, and told to write it down. God has also given us many prophets, and the writings of His Apostles in the New Testament. There is nothing that is going to happen that God has not told us in His plan [the Bible].

Remember in the seventh chapter, the angel said stop, don't let this come to pass until we have sealed the 144,000 in their foreheads. Well, this locust army troops of demons can't start their spiritual destruction until the last of the elect, or chosen of God, and the 144,000 children of God are sealed in their minds. In this fourth verse, they are on the earth, which means you had better be sealed with the knowledge by the time of this prophecy. This knowledge has not started to this date in time.

The limits that God puts on the fallen angels, and demonics, fully protects God's chosen. The "Chosen" are all Christians who know the truth and are ready, watching, and have their spiritual armor of Ephesians 6:10-20 on. The Chosen can observe and identify the events of the final day when those events come to pass, as they stand against the fiery darts of Satan.

In fact the first time Satan strikes out at two of God's children [the two witnesses], God's wrath boils over, and that marks the end of the Antichrist's [satan's] rule on earth. That will be discussed in chapter eleven. How far then can Satan go with the others, the non-elect, or those not sealed in their minds?

Revelation 9:5 "And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man."

God has given us a good clue as to how long Satan will rule as Antichrist. That time is five months. The book of Joel describes in detail how this method of the locust works. The result of that torment is exactly as the torment of the scorpion that "striketh a man". So lets try to understand more of both the locust, and the scorpion.

This is that locust army of Satan that will deliver up the sons and daughters to prophecy against the Antichrist, as spoken of in Joel 2, and also by Peter in Acts 2. What these sons and daughters say will only be those words that the Holy Spirit speaks through them.

Joel said this locust army would march forward, and not miss a stride. Remember, it's not "locust" but men, and the battle which this army enters is a spiritual battle, where the victory is in their deception. Their battle cry is with words like love, joy, peace, brotherhood, equality, and a mixture of words promising peace and prosperity. In the Antichrist rule [the five months] everyone will be satisfied, as long as they continue to yield to this Antichrist.

The time "locust" has four stages, as stated in Joel 1. The part of the locust that exists in the swarming stage is five months. That five months staging period is always between May and September; so God is even giving us the season, or time frame when Antichrist will appear. And by that season, we have an hint of when the seventh trumpet will sound, and Jesus Christ will appear. However that instant is known only to the Father.

Jesus warned that "we pray that ye not be taken out of season", in Mathew 24:20, and Mark 13:18. This is to alert us that being taken out of season means we have been deceived and fallen for the wrong Christ [Antichrist]. The Antichrist will rule between Passover, and the feast of the tabernacles [trumpets].

Why then the torment as that of a scorpion? This locust army will use the same methods a scorpion uses to attack it's prey and render it's prey harmless, during this five months period. Satan and his locust army will not be in any special form, but will appear exactly as a man, as we do. Satan was in the form of a man in the Garden of Eden when he tempted Eve, and his fallen angels appeared as men in Genesis 6:1-8, when they married the daughters of men and had "children" [Nephelim] by them.

The scorpion has a tail with a stinger in the tail. When they strike their prey, he sneaks up to it's prey and infects it's poison into the victim. Near it's mouth, it has a set of pinchers where it latches on to it's victim and pulls it to it's mouth. This is important, because the scorpion has no stomach, so it cannot digest it's own food within itself. Therefore the scorpion stings with the poison of it's tail to paralyze the victim, and then it vomits it's digestive juices [acids] into the body of the victim, then the victim's skin and body actually become the scorpion's stomach.

The acids turn everything it touches into mush. Then the scorpion inhales the mush from the victim's body and is gone. The victim is left defenseless from the beginning of the scorpion's strike, because the poison from the tail rendered the circulatory system and nervous system totally paralyzed, while the digestive acids turned the body to mush. Once stung by a scorpion, instantly you have no defense. You can't fight, run, or even think. You lay helpless to the devouring process of the scorpion.

Now that we see how the scorpion attacks, and the methods used by them; let's apply their methods, to Satan and that of this locust army. Satan and his army of fallen angels will take the lies [traditions] within your religion, and the false teaching that you believe to be true; and use it against you. All religions, Christian and otherwise, will be approached on the level and beliefs of their own understanding. They will use the doctrines of their choosing, and through that, the spiritual darts of lies and deception will come.

Like the scorpion uses your body for it's battle, and attack, so the angels of the locust army [not human] will use your mind as it's battleground. That is why you must be sealed in your mind [see verse 4] and with the proper armor on, which again is in Ephesians 6:10-20. Your battle is a spiritual one with the king of all demons, Satan, and he is ready for you.

The Antichrist has the authority from God, and the right to do business on earth, from the giver of all authority. He knows all your weaknesses, and he knows the Word as well as any theologian. Satan is set to do battle in your mind; and if your relying on false doctrine; like the rapture theory, your gone before the battle starts. If Revelation is still a mystery to you, you don't have a prayer of a chance.

You are about to go against the master of all deception, and the truth of God's word is the only thing Satan can't fight against. That is because the truth written in God's Word sets the limits God placed upon him as the Antichrist. How are you doing, friend?

The great apostasy is now taking place, and well underway. It is being put in place by Satan's kids, the "Kenites", doing the interpretation of God's Word for you if you allow them. They have a club, and it is easy to join; you just accept their dogma. Part of it is given through the "World Council of Churches", and the other parts are in any church that allows it's doctrine to vary even the slightest into false teaching.

Remember, only the "sealed of God", in your mind will allow your escape from all of the Antichrist's deceptions.

Revelation 9:6 "And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."

Many people who have sat in church all their lives looking for this "Rapture" to take place, in an instant will fall to Satan. When they finally wake up to the fact that they were deceived by Satan, the shame will be great and on them. These are those deceived Christians taken out of season who will pray for the mountains to fall on them. They will seek death, but it will not come. The death of this physical life will be over, and then all will be in the spirit, or soul body.

Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15:50-52 how at Christ's return, at the last trump; all will be changed, in the twinkling [wink] of an eye to a incorruptible body. No friend, you can not die, but must face the Savior in shame. Ignorance is no excuse, even though your pastor taught you to climb on the first wagon [rapture] out of here. You had God's Word in your home and hand, and it is your responsibility.

Revelation 9:7 "And the shapes of the Locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men."

We know by this that the locust are not real locust. Their crown were "like" gold, [fools gold], fakes. They were all something different then what they will called themselves; false priests, and fake what ever they pretend to be. Nothing will be real, for they will make themselves into what ever you want them to be. If you want to fly away, I'm sure they will accommodate you.

If your a Sodomite, They will agree with you, for they know all about Sodomy, that's their life style. They are Satan's rotten bunch. They have faces of men, because they are men.

Revelation 9:8 "And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions."

"They", these fallen angels will have "long hair as a woman", meaning they will be gentle as a woman. Yet, they will take their prey ruthlessly. They will rip at your mind until they can destroy your soul. That is what will happen to you when you fall for their deceptions and chase after the Antichrist.

Revelation 9:9 "And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle."

The breastplates were that of priests, of religious orders, however they were in the form of iron. Joel discusses how rapid and with swift order they will cover the earth. When this happens, the media will be by their side. There will be order and speed to their ministry, and the world will be taken in instantly by them.

Revelation 9:10 "And they had [have] tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months."

Why? Back in verse five, God allowed them to work as a scorpion, to paralyze instantly, making them defenseless. Again we see the five month season of the locust. They are given permission by God to sting all the people "who had not the truth of God in their foreheads [minds]".

Revelation 9:11 "And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the He'-brew tongue is A-bad'-don, but in the Greek tongue hath his [the] name A-pol'-ly-on."

There can be no doubt who the Antichrist is. Jesus is telling us here, through the pen of John. Satan is that King; and "Abaddon" in the Hebrew language means "destroyer" and that is Satan's name. This is verified in the Greek the name, "Apollyon" [strongs # 623, "the destroyer "Satan"].

Revelation 9:12 "One [The first] woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter."

This is still the fifth trumpet.

Revelation 9:13 "And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,"

All the events occurring around Satan's coming to earth are executed by God, to test His children. The "horn on the altar", stand for power. That power is through knowledge from God's Word, and understanding those words written. It is through these words that you will get your ammunition to use on the spiritual battlefield that we are in, and your power is how you will use them.

God sent His prophets to warn us, and through them He tells us in detail what to expect so we will not be deceived. Now our power comes to life in putting that knowledge in our minds, and watching as God's word comes to life. We have been warned that Satan is coming as a minister of God.

Revelation 9:14 "Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in [at] the great river Eu-phra'-tes."

We know from Daniel 9:24-26 that Satan's time as Antichrist is to be three and an half years. However, Jesus told us in Mark 13:20, that "for the elect's sake He has shortened that time". In Revelation 9:5 and 10, we were just told this time is shortened to five months.

Now the sixth angel sounds the trumpet, and releases the four angels bound at the river Euphrates. The river Euphrates has always established the boundaries between Israel and Babylon. To understand how and where these bound angels come and are bound, let's go to the book of Jude.

Jude 4 "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

These were the angels of Genesis 6:1-8, who came to earth, married the daughters of men, and were destroyed [bound] at the time of Noah's flood.

Jude 5 "I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not."

These who were put to remembrance were the Israelites who were brought out of Egypt, only to fall to the sin of idolatry while Moses was on Mount Sinai getting the commandments of God. Those who repented were not destroyed.

Jude 6 "And these angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the Great day."

Following the flood of Noah; those angels were bound by God, and held on earth to be released at a latter time. That Time is the just before the "day of the Lord". Four in biblical numerics is the number representing earth; and it was on the earth these angels of Genesis 6, and Jude 6 are held. They are bound in chains, until they are released to do their final acts on earth. Their acts on earth were that committed in Sodom and Gomorrah, and giving themselves into homosexual acts. They will lead God's people into accepting those acts as a common way of life; and into believing God will accept this perversion. They will tell you it's okay because God is a loving God. However they over-look God as a just God, and condemning all sin. We see today that the world is going crazy over justifying this filthy sinful practice.

Revelation 9:15 "And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men."

This slaying is a spiritual death, and these angels seek out their victim and involve them, exactly as the men of Sodom were involved. They will work in concert, planning their wicked deeds, then infiltration all parts of our society, the schools, government, the work place, and even the homes [through TV].

I feel personally that they have started their movement, as our nation from the very top, and down, are set in their minds to defy God through turning America, as well as the entire world into Sodom. We are told by Jesus, through John, in this verse that one third of mankind will fall to these angels. Only God knows the actual instant of the release of these fallen angels though.

Revelation 9:16 "And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them."

This number represents all of Satan's forces. No, it's not the Chinese Army, but men of Satan's angelic forces.

Revelation 9:17 "And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth [hyacinth], and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone."

"Out of their mouths came fire and smoke and brimstone." The "fire" is representing a false truth, or a false religion. "Smoke" is used here to cover over and hide the truth of God's Word. The "Brimstone" is the final result to them that are taken in by those hoards of Sodomites. This locust army of Satan's angels will lead them to the ashes of their souls, in the lake of fire. "It is God that is the consuming fire." [Hebrews 12:29]

Revelation 9:18 "By these three [three plagues] was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths."

These three; fire, smoke and brimstone are the verbal deceptions. To put the three in vehicles; they would be religion, political power, and the economy. They will be combined together, to buy souls cheap. This deception of perversion comes from their mouths.

It is not a physical death here, but a spiritual death; because God told them in verse four they could not kill mankind. However, when we see the results of their activity, through AIDS, it is obvious that large numbers of human life has already been taken. This is part of the last war, and it is a spiritual warfare. This we must not loose sight of.

Revelation 9:19 "For their power [power of the horses] is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt."

What comes out of their mouths? Their lies and deception come out of their mouth, and that is their only power. Their activity, again, is like the scorpion, as we saw in verse five. Paul told us in II Corinthians 11:14, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed [fashioned himself ] into an angel of light". Satan will come as an "Angel of light", just as our Lord will apear.

II Corinthians 11:15 "Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed [fashioned themselves] as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

When Satan's [Antichrist's] angels assume their roles of righteous men, quote scripture, and speak in their pious voices; it should not be a surprise to any Christian who knows God's Word. Even Satan will try to appear as Jesus Christ.

Revelation 9:20 "And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk."

The important thing to remember here, is that all prophecy given in months pertain to Satan, and Christians being deceived. While all prophecy given in days and years are directed to God's people. These plagues are the lies and deceptions. Those men did not repent for worshipping Satan and his angels, as Christ. They did not also repent for the work they did on Satan's behalf, even in ignorance.

Revelation 9:21 "Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication nor of their thefts."

They became murderers when they had their own kin delivered up, and they followed the sorcerers by their own dealing and in accepting the lies of Satan and his "transformed [disguised] righteous ministers." They "fornicated" when they did not remain "virgins to Christ".

Why did they not repent? Because they did not know that they did anything wrong. They still thought they were walking with Jesus. We will see in the 13th chapter, and the eleventh verse, they think Satan is the Lamb slain, he looks like Jesus, he talks like they expect Jesus to talk, but Satan is a fake.

Remember, the key to understanding the events of the end times is found in the Churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia; They have the "key of David; they know who the "Kenites" are. Those who bring in the false doctrine. "They say they are of Judah or Christ [Jews] but are not." They are of Satan. They are in those churches that allow false doctrine, and they are the ones who cause the compromise of God's Word.

The Shepherds Chapel

[johnd]

Q4. Why are so many churches a "hotbed of apathy"? How can we combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves?

a) The strength of a church is reflected in the strength of it's members. Churches are weak because the membership has become weak. This weakness and apathy occurs when we as Christians become diverted from our primary objective which is to serve the Lord. We succumb to temptations of the flesh and let other activities influence our lives.

To combat spiritual apathy we need to devote our time and energy to the Lord. We need Jesus to be the controlling influence in our lives. We should read, listen and act upon the word of the Lord. As we do these things, through faith and God's grace our Church's strength will increase.

[sister]

Revelation 3:16 So then, because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. If we put God first in our lives. If we look to him for guidance and give him our devotion, I don't believe that spiritual apathy would exist in the church. This is the problem we don't put God first and when we attend church we are going for different reasons than just to honor our Lord. There are so many things one can focus on at church: social activities, meeting friends, church dinners, committee meetings, etc. These things are not bad but if they come before God..this is not where we should be. I believe everyone is guilty of this. We should consider why we attend church. I have never attended a church were everyone put God first. This question has made me think deeply about my own worship at my church.

[charlenereeves]

Q4. Why are so many churches a "hotbed of apathy"? How can we combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves?

So many Christians are lukewarm and neither hot or cold. Lukewarmness is only hurting and creating apathy and many churches are filled with lukewarm Christians. I admit my apathy at individual times when I am being refined but to combat this I try to pray, read the Word more so that I can be stronger the next time.

[Craig]

I believe so many churches are a "hotbed of apathy" because they are filled with non-believers. They have a form of Godliness, but not genuine faith. Many church members need to accept Jesus Christ as their savior and Lord and abandon themselves to God Almighty instead sitting in a pew as dead drift wood. Then apathetic churches will come alive with the Holy Spirit.

[plethra]

Q4. Why are so many churches a "hotbed of apathy"? How can we combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves?

We become apathetic when we loose our 1st love. When God is no longer 1st in our lives. The old saying is 99 and 1/2 won't do gatta have a 100 to make in on through. This is so true. God is a jealous God and will have no other gods before Him. He wants us to love Him with all our heart soul mind and spirit. When we refuse to give Him all, we compromise and become apathetic. It becomes easy to take a back seat and let others do the work and the praying and feel we've done God a favor just by showing up on Sunday mornings. Havn't prayed all week, or read our Bible all week, and haven't been to any services all week, but we will grace the church and God with our presence on Sunday morning. Then wonder why things aren't the way they use to be.

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty to the pulling down of strong holds. If satan can keep us in a cold ineffective state then he has won the battle. So many times the cold and indifferent Christian is the one the the sinner sees and says I'm as good as they are and I'm not even saved. Pray and read the Bible. Seek the face of God. Get involved with the local church and become committed.

[korsgren]

Q4. Why are so many churches a "hotbed of apathy"? How can we combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves?

I am continuing to think about holiness, being set apart for God, the fear of the Lord and our part in the new covenant. I think we

[cheastarr]

Q4. Why are so many churches a "hotbed of apathy"? (Don't rag on other denominations!) How can we combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves?

We have become a lazy generation of people, we are a generation of fast food everything. We want a drive through everything, church, wedding chapel, food, etc. We can't and we don't take time to visit with God anymore. I know whenI was growing up my mom read the bible every night after supper, we went to church on Sunday (twice) and on Wednesday. God was the head of our house and everything was second to Him.

I think that we are weary of the battle a lot of time. We con't or want to "fight" for what we believe in. We dont want our neighbors to know what kind of relationship we have with Gof for fear trhey'll think we are sosme kind of freak.

[JustJeff]

No fire, no burning. Churches today are being taught not the love of God but the kind of love of the flesh. God loves you, no matter who you are or what you do. He wishes that you would be blessed with great material wealth. Once you claim Jesus as your Savior you go to heaven. It is not politically correct to witness. There is no hell and so on and so on. I mean, how could anyone in a church today possibly be on fire for God? They all have it made.

Find a real church. A church that preaches the truth, whether you like to hear it or not.

[dharm]

So many churches and christians today have fallen away from the true Christ in today's culture, growing indifferent to the faith we should have. We should spend as much time as possible in His word and in prayer.

[Bro Steven]

In many churches today most people believe that God is not talking to them and have why do i have to do this they should do this because I have been a christion longer then the rest of the others.

We can combat apathy and lukewarmness by starting our day with a prayer and reading the word of God, by doing so we would keep the Jesus in the center of our life.

[Linda Spilman]

Q.4 Lack of daily study and prayer keeps us from having a vital relationship with God. Unfortunately Christians are as busy as everyone else, hectic lifes, and lots of stress. Many times we are more committed to success, exercise, diets, etc than we are to our spiritual life. We spend time on what we care about. Combating spiritual apathy is choosing to make a commitment to spend time in the Word, praying and hungering and thirsting for His righteousness. We are to be His witnesses but we must have a desire to know the One we are witnessing for.

[mags]

We are called to be hot - on fire for Christ and yet so many Christians are lukewarm! So many people in our churches are prepared to sit back and let someone else do the work - but then complain when it isn't as they think it should be!

We need to make sure that God is our first love and that we are open to His will. We are His slaves and should be ready to do His will - whatever that may be!

[Moses 4]

Q4. Why are so many churches a "hotbed of apathy"? How can we combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves?

The greatest enemy to our faith is apathy.

Spiritual Apathy is the death evil of our day.( A Hotbed) It has also been the downfall of many Churches and , historically know as the devils Work

Why because we have forgotten that we live in God's presence

How to overcome this; is to start living in the footsteps of Jesus

So lets start from the beginning again

Pax

Karl

[sisterlily]

I think so many churches are a hotbed for apsthy is becqause they become comfortable and are just floating along with what they know and when the people act and look satisfied with just enough to get by on they don't feel the need or want to get excited about God again. We as followers of Christ can not give up! we are the ones who have to persevere and show by example to continue to have a thirst for the living God. It is not easy nor passive, nor is anything real personal relationship, as believers in Christ we need to remain in prayer read our bible and call, call call on Our Lord.

[Blssd1030]

I think some churches may have a tendancy towards apathy because of (forgive me if this comes across at all offesive to anyone. It really is simple lack of vocabulary, or what have you, to explain it any more delicately) man made ritualistic ceremony. I'm personaly just not drawn to a church where man's presence is way more dominate than the Spirit's.

I combat spiritual apathy primarily by diligently praying for Christ to fill me.

A Spirit filled believer can never be a dull witness.

[coastershirley]

because they are not listenin to what god is saying to us it is eaiser to sit on the fence by reading gods word taking prayerful guidence of what he is saying to us and by taking Jesus as our example in all things