About this post
Is your church a real church? Are you a world-aware Christian? The list of criteria is more extensive than just what is presented here, but what is presented here is as relevant as anything else to those who purport to be a church or a Christian (more so than even 2,000 years ago, during the earthly life of Jesus). If your congregation believes and functions as if they believe what you read here, the answer is yes; otherwise—sadly—no, you miss the point of meeting altogether, and you are not accepted by neither the One you worship (God) nor the One in which you rejoice (Christ Jesus).
Deny, deny, deny...
One of the most shocking aspects of the demonic plague is not that demons and their people have constructed a complex and systemic means to ostracize and otherwise dispense with those who would not deny their presence and influence in this world—means that involve both arbitrary arrests and wrongful incarcerations, unspeakable acts of violence and, lately, the obscene denial of proper medical care or violations of housing rights—but that Christian soldiers, whose commander-in-chief, Jesus Christ, is the head of a Church whose first charter is to withstand the Gates of Hades, deny the problem, too, thereby acquiescing to the inhumane treatment of those who cannot help but cry foul as they and those they love are butchered alive.
There is no excuse for this, and any such denial that our governments, our lives—both individually and collectively—and our societies are fully intertwined with and wholly guided by those we cannot (or do not often) see is contrary to the Word of God in all respects. Not only that, but any congregation that denies what their eyes have surely seen is a liar, and is not guided by or a part of any meaningful work with which the Lord has charged them. In fact, you are a perpetrator of deceit to a degree that causes souls to be lost:
Yes, and the Apostles wrote about it in a way to emphasize that the existence of such a kingdom must be at the forefront in the mind of every follower, that it was the threat they faced along the Way, but not in a way to introduce it to them or convince them that it really exists:
The Truth is this: They did not fall, they are as big as ever, and their existence is well-proven and spelled out in the Book of Revelation. They are a conglomerate of demons and people, and they have formed the army that is described by the Apostle John.
Is the Church expected to acknowledge the demonic presence and its influence and atrocities in this world?
Yes, it was known 2,000 years ago, as it should be known today. It was the church's focus then, and it should be a part of your focus now. It is the point of congregating, to form an unstoppable army against the evil perpetrated by the dark and evil powers-that-be [see The Life of a Demoniac: Selected Posts (Preview) now available on iTunes/iBooks Stores]:
Yes, at least twice in the Book of Revelation:
Does Christ provide a tool or means for you for this specific situation?
Yes, a specific kind of peace that keeps His own focused on Him, and not worldly distractions. It's reasonable to be afraid of extremely powerful, hate-filled and homicidal beings of superior intelligence and bodily strength, but it's not conducive to productive labor. Christ, having charged you with His work, knew this, and left you with a tool specifically for handling that fear—not the fear from your knowledge of the threat, but from calling it out, and taking it on, head-on:
The answer to this, a most important question is, yes; it is not only a command, but an inextricable part of the Lord's work [see BIBLE | The Study Notes of a Demoniac, Revelation 1-2].
In sum: the cause of Christ is more relevant today than ever, and His concerns have only increased. Many who would have said that they would have preferred to live during the earthly life of Christ, and to be with Him during His ministry, just don't get it, in that the purpose of His life then was to fulfill the needs of those living today and beyond, needs that are larger than 2,000 years ago, and needs that can only be filled by and through His power as the Risen and Ascended Saviour.
If you think about it, you'd prefer to live as close to the Apocalypse as possible, not the birth of Christ; it's where there is the most need, and thusly where there is the most availability to the Christ that strengthens you.
Is your church a real church? Are you a world-aware Christian? The list of criteria is more extensive than just what is presented here, but what is presented here is as relevant as anything else to those who purport to be a church or a Christian (more so than even 2,000 years ago, during the earthly life of Jesus). If your congregation believes and functions as if they believe what you read here, the answer is yes; otherwise—sadly—no, you miss the point of meeting altogether, and you are not accepted by neither the One you worship (God) nor the One in which you rejoice (Christ Jesus).
Deny, deny, deny...
One of the most shocking aspects of the demonic plague is not that demons and their people have constructed a complex and systemic means to ostracize and otherwise dispense with those who would not deny their presence and influence in this world—means that involve both arbitrary arrests and wrongful incarcerations, unspeakable acts of violence and, lately, the obscene denial of proper medical care or violations of housing rights—but that Christian soldiers, whose commander-in-chief, Jesus Christ, is the head of a Church whose first charter is to withstand the Gates of Hades, deny the problem, too, thereby acquiescing to the inhumane treatment of those who cannot help but cry foul as they and those they love are butchered alive.
There is no excuse for this, and any such denial that our governments, our lives—both individually and collectively—and our societies are fully intertwined with and wholly guided by those we cannot (or do not often) see is contrary to the Word of God in all respects. Not only that, but any congregation that denies what their eyes have surely seen is a liar, and is not guided by or a part of any meaningful work with which the Lord has charged them. In fact, you are a perpetrator of deceit to a degree that causes souls to be lost:
A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.Was the kingdom of Satan really a guiding factor in the development and work (or otherwise a consideration) of the early Church?
— Proverbs 14:25
Yes, and the Apostles wrote about it in a way to emphasize that the existence of such a kingdom must be at the forefront in the mind of every follower, that it was the threat they faced along the Way, but not in a way to introduce it to them or convince them that it really exists:
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
— Romans 8:38-39
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places
— Ephesians 6:12
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.All verses imply that it was the powers-that-be that got the attention of Christ, and it is they who He came to save us from. They are His target, we are His charges. As you have undoubtedly seen with your own eyes (haven't you?), these very powers are very much at work today, and in greater number, influence and strength. Why would Christ's church be necessary in the same way as when founded if not? And, as some say, for all the other reasons it was established, then who is deceiving your eyes, and at what date and time and under what circumstances did the Gates of Hades fall?
— Colossians 2:15
The Truth is this: They did not fall, they are as big as ever, and their existence is well-proven and spelled out in the Book of Revelation. They are a conglomerate of demons and people, and they have formed the army that is described by the Apostle John.
Is the Church expected to acknowledge the demonic presence and its influence and atrocities in this world?
Yes, it was known 2,000 years ago, as it should be known today. It was the church's focus then, and it should be a part of your focus now. It is the point of congregating, to form an unstoppable army against the evil perpetrated by the dark and evil powers-that-be [see The Life of a Demoniac: Selected Posts (Preview) now available on iTunes/iBooks Stores]:
And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros –a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra –a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].
— Matthew 16:18Does Christ explicitly acknowledge the fact that Satan's kingdom surrounds you?
Yes, at least twice in the Book of Revelation:
Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life...I know where you live—a place where Satan sits enthroned.
— Revelation 2:10, 13a AMPHe mentions no other obstacles that will be encountered as you work and you pray and you labor everyday in the Kingdom of the Lord, save that of self-appraised value and unchecked sinfulness.
Does Christ provide a tool or means for you for this specific situation?
Yes, a specific kind of peace that keeps His own focused on Him, and not worldly distractions. It's reasonable to be afraid of extremely powerful, hate-filled and homicidal beings of superior intelligence and bodily strength, but it's not conducive to productive labor. Christ, having charged you with His work, knew this, and left you with a tool specifically for handling that fear—not the fear from your knowledge of the threat, but from calling it out, and taking it on, head-on:
[Jesus said] Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled].
—John 14:27Are Christians expected to acknowledge the demonic presence and its influence and atrocities in this world?
The answer to this, a most important question is, yes; it is not only a command, but an inextricable part of the Lord's work [see BIBLE | The Study Notes of a Demoniac, Revelation 1-2].
[Yet] you are clinging to and holding fast My name, and you did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed (martyred) in your midst—where Satan dwells.
— Revelation 2:13 AMPPart of the demonstration of your faith in Christ is inheriting His concerns, and His chief concern was the Gates of Hades, and its wrongful influence on you, and its threat to those He calls His own.
In sum: the cause of Christ is more relevant today than ever, and His concerns have only increased. Many who would have said that they would have preferred to live during the earthly life of Christ, and to be with Him during His ministry, just don't get it, in that the purpose of His life then was to fulfill the needs of those living today and beyond, needs that are larger than 2,000 years ago, and needs that can only be filled by and through His power as the Risen and Ascended Saviour.
If you think about it, you'd prefer to live as close to the Apocalypse as possible, not the birth of Christ; it's where there is the most need, and thusly where there is the most availability to the Christ that strengthens you.
NOTE | The enlightened, informed and true Christian would say today that these bad times are really the best times. Even while the sky fell around you, you would know nothing but interminable joy. That is the Truth.