The Coming Super Church

Utopian dreams never materialize, if history is any indicator. Regardless the well intentioned efforts of the founders, given sufficient time, the darker elements of human nature will sabotage even the noblest endeavor. Is this a biblical theme? Is there a better example than Genesis and Eden, a true utopia yet ruined by man’s nature? A quick look back at utopian history soon reminds us of the flaws and failures.

Some Christians look longingly to the church of Acts where they helped each other, held things in common and so forth, as a Utopian period of Christianity but alas short lived. And then there is that alarming Ananias and Sapphira episode. Utopias just don’t make it.

How is a Christian supposed to think then? Jesus, a good Jewish boy, believed and taught as other Jews, that there was a time coming when Messiah would rule and rain for a millennium. But even at the end of this, many would rebel and need destruction. Finally, when the powers of evil and all who follow them are dealt with, only then can “utopia” exist. Even then, the participants have been transformed with new bodies and who knows what else.

A current Christian message from some is the coming super Christian. An end time Christian who knows more, does more, controls more … more of everything. Utopia is starting early for these people and thus ushering in the coming Messiah’s reign.

I honestly do not see this supported in scripture. I am open to the idea, but I just don’t see this coming increasing greatness of the church. For one I think it demeans and underestimates the greatness of the current body of Christ. Many interpret the seven churches in revelation as being historic but also a picture of the end time church. Among that church profile we see a self absorbed and powerless portion but we see a faithful portion as well, able to endure suffering and trusting Christ in and for all things. So if this is what they mean, I agree but they seem to go beyond this view and envision a super church who takes over the world and then Jesus will come.

Many use the “without spot or wrinkle” principle to argue that Jesus will not come back yet because of how spotted and wrinkled the bride now is. We must become “perfected” before he will return. Wow, and we accuse the Catholics of works. (It is when the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled that triggers the return, not the condition of the church.)

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it,
Eph 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,
Eph 5:27 that He might present it to Himself as the glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28 So men ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Notice that it was Christ’s giving of Himself that sanctified and cleansed the church and made it a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. It is about Christ, not us. It is Christ that makes us holy.

I do not want to call spotted that which Christ has made without blemish through His sacrifice.

Can you imagine the glee in Christ’s enemies as John sat imprisoned on Patmos, looking helpless and defeated (and spotted and blemished by weakness) … transcribing the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

I just noticed this tare vs. wheat statement in some super church article, “Even so, we are going to see the power and glory of the wheat greatly overwhelming the tares.”

What scripture reference supports this?

Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest. And in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather together the darnel and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my granary.

The tares and wheat grow up together and are separated by God who knows the heart of man.

Sorry, I may be misunderstanding these people and I don’t want to be criticizing them unfairly. They are Christians and brothers in Christ and accomplishing more than I, no doubt. Some are more extreme in their views than others and the more extreme, the more unscriptural those views appear to me.

If the message is Christians will take over one or any earthly government then I don't buy it. If the message is that revivals will come and renew the church (adding to that faithful part), deeper revelations will be given that clarify prophecy, then I agree that may be possible and seems to be happening. Miracles may and will come as a natural outcropping of closer walks with God and revival (God's sovereign move). All this is possible but not clearly covered Biblically with the exception of Joel's latter rain scriptures which Peter clearly placed at Pentecost as a starting point. Can the intensity of this Latter Rain increase, probably.

We are guaranteed something though ... BigHuge apostasy. We are well served to give diligence to the sound and fundamental teachings of Christ and the entire Bible. Chances are good that each of us believes something that is not accurate. Let us throw all we believe into the furnace of God's Word as illuminated by the Holy Spirit and see what gold remains. Not to prove our doctrines and positions but to distill the truth and refine the gold. If we ask God to clarify He will do it.

An evil generation seeks a sign because THE sign has been given ... Yeshua Hamashiach. He has called out a people beginning with Abraham and continuing with us. Then He perfected them through His own perfect sacrifice. We overcome through the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony. And as a friend reminded me, "loving not our lives unto death." So much for cheap grace.

And this is a BigHugeThing!

Here is a possible history on the Dominionism/Latter Rain movement. Not sure how accurate this is but room for thought. I dislike most heresy hunters but we do want to avoid the coming apostasy, what ever that may be. I love a good miracle as much as anyone and love being in the presence of God's manifest Glory. None of us have perfect doctrine so maybe we should just appreciate God moving among whoever He chooses and stop complaining.
Equal Time to Latter Rain

Here are videos of all this "heresy" in action. One must ask, if Satan is confirming the gospel of Christ with signs following ... what sense does that make?