By Elizabeth Prata
Let’s review what a sign was exactly. Looking at the Greek behind the use of the word sign in verses such as Mt 12:38 or 39, it means sign or miracle. Not every unusual event is a sign but if something was a sign it had certain characteristics. First, it was a miraculous thing, either supernatural or natural. It was something that pointed to Christ or the Bible. It w as something that was either convincing or confirming of the Word. It was consistent with the Word.
The days of signs from Apostles or from God is over. We have the more sure word now. The word of God IS the sign.
Not everything supernatural was or from God! If you think you see a sign that is supernatural, just remember Paul warned in 2 Cor 11:14 that satan appears as an angel of Light. Signs and wonders have been performed by satan’s agents all throughout the Bible, notably in Exodus 7:11-12, and 22. And we are warned in 2 Thess 2:9-10 that in the future there will be signs and wonders performed by satan to deceive. Remember and take to heart that if your own eyes behold a sign or a wonder, not to ascribe it to God, but remember satan’s tricks. Even Pharaoh’s wizards kept up with Moses’ actual signs, for a while.
We are told to test the spirits when we receive a message from a teacher or pastor. How do you test the spirits? First, ask for guidance and wisdom from the Holy Spirit and it will be given to you generously and without reproof. Secondly, you know that “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (1 John 4:2-3).
False teachers rarely ever outright deny Jesus. The actually refer to Jesus often. If they denied him, then you would know they were false! So they do something else to deny Him, they teach a different Jesus. They teach a message that subtly makes YOU the central motivator/catalyst/agent in your salvation. They make Him non-essential.
Does the teaching bear good fruit? By their fruits you will recognize them! (Matt 7:16-20) Pray for discernment and watch to see if the fruit the sign yields is good or bad. This takes patience, because it takes time for fruit to grow.
The end time and especially the Tribulation will be full of false signs and wonders, so remember this important thing: Not everything supernatural is from God!
the-end-time.org 