The devil is very active these days. From what I see in the Bible, in my theology studies, my dreams and visions, street preaching, and my daily experiences–I’m going to draw some conclusions here. But I think that they are far from being comprehensive conclusions. At best, they are general conclusions.

1. Atheism. The devil is moving immensely in the area of atheism these days. This may come as a shock to some; or as simply “stating the obvious” to others. Not only does my experience with hecklers on the streets prove this, but so do statistics: in American and Australian case studies, only 50-60% of my generation–Generation Y–born around 1985–believe in the mere existence of God or gods! The other 40-50% is either ATHEIST or AGNOSTIC altogether! That is alarming! And those who do believe in a Creator–that’s about as far as they go. There are no deep theological views about who that Creator is, or what the Bible is for, or what God’s will for humans is. The commandments and laws of God have been completely forgotten! With such an enormous amount of people born around 1985 believing like this, it follows that many of my generation who ever “go to church” are really just atheists in their hearts. They don’t really know that God is REAL. They simply “go-to-church” because of family tradition. Who is to blame for all of this atheism? Charles Darwin, and atheist evolution concepts being taught in our public school science classes. Our nations have been indoctrinated like Communists!
There is an article in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) on “Atheism“: it explains that there are four different kinds of atheism. (1) Classical Atheism is the denial of the existence of pagan mythology gods like Zeus, Hades, and Hercules; the early Christians were often accused of this by the Greeks and Romans. (2) Philosophical Atheism is the pantheistic concept from Hinduism that there is no “God” or “gods,” but merely a mysterious force that brought the world into being, perhaps by natural and evolutionary means. This concept is in Star Wars. It denies that any real God exists, or speaks to people; and is especially anti-Christian; and rejects the existence of the God of the Bible. (3) Dogmatic Atheism is the absolute denial of the existence of God. The strong atheism of conviction. This kind of view: “There is no God! I’m sure of it!” It is often backed up by many anti-Christian arguments, skeptical reasonings, and logical “proofs” for why God probably does not exist. Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Bertrand Russell would fall into this category. It is because of this movement that atheism has entered the colleges, schools, and churches. It is responsible for the now popular concept, “The Bible is full of contradictions and can’t be trusted; and God didn’t create us–we all came from monkeys and evolution millions of years ago.” (4) Practical Atheism is not the denial of God’s existence outright, but is “to live as if there is no God.” The writer of the article, Jacob Kapp expresses this elegantly accurate:

“It takes the form often of complete indifference to the claims of the Divine Being or again of outbroken and defiant wickedness (Psalms 14:1). That this form of atheism is widely prevalent is well known. It is accompanied in many cases with some form of unbelief or prejudice or false opinion of the church or Christianity. Dogmatic atheism is no longer a menace or even a hindrance to the progress of Christianity, but practical atheism is widespread in its influence and a dangerous element in our modern life (compare Isaiah 31:1; Jeremiah 2:13,17,18; 18:13-15). Whatever the form, whether it be that of religious agnosticism, denying that we can know that God exists, or critical atheism, denying that the evidence to prove His existence is sufficient, or dogmatic, or practical atheism, it is always a system of negation and as such tears down and destroys. It destroys the faith upon which all human relations are built. Since there is no God, there is no right nor wrong, and human action is neither good nor bad, but convenient or inconvenient. It leaves human society without a basis for order and human government without foundation (Romans 1:10-32). All is hopeless, all is wretchedness, all is tending to the grave and the grave ends all.”

This last kind of atheism–the practical atheism–is TO LIVE YOUR LIFE AS IF GOD DOES NOT EXIST. The Bible is irrelevent, the commandments of the Bible have no bearing upon the way you think, or feel, or behave, or talk, or relate to people. God is not really known consciously as a Living Being in your life. MANY PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH ARE PRACTICAL ATHEISTS. Or, as Mr. Kapp put it, “religious agnostics”: they don’t really KNOW for sure that there is a God. But they keep on going to church and saying their prayers, as if to a “God” billions of miles away up in Heaven. They have no EXPERIENCE of God. He is no more real to them than Santa Claus! But hey! At least they go to church and say their prayers–right? No, that leads them all to Hell. “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists” (Hebrews 11:6). There is a book that recently came out in 2011, which drives into this issue way more deeper than I have: The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living as if He Doesn’t Exist by Craig Groeschel.

2. Occultism. A great number, it seems–sorry I don’t have the statistics–are increasing in Universalist ideas about God (if they do believe in a God). That He is the Father of all children, of all faiths. This is the diplomat’s god–a convenient and political god that doesn’t offend anyone. The god of the United Nations and Unitarian-Universalists. It’s in the Catholic Church, the United Methodist Church, and many of what you may call the popular “mainline” denominations. These are not churches that hunger after THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE, but who are decieved by the POPULAR LIES OF SATAN. Behind this “world religions” movement of non-judgmental love, acceptance, and tolerance, is a PSYCHIC movement inspired by yoga and Far Eastern meditation. Those who really get into this CO-EXIST thing, are called NEW AGERS–and they are all over the churches! This has been going on since the 1960s and before. Except, to a very limited extent, in those churches which claim to uphold Fundamentalist and Conservatve Evangelical orthodox Biblical viewpoints. But even those lines are becoming more and more blurry.

3. Marianism. In the last 150 years since the Marian apparitions at Lourdes, there has been a dramatic increase in the Marian movement in the Catholic Church, which is the most popular denomination in the world. Throughout church history, Catholics have acknowledged Mary as the mother of Christ, with other saints. Only occasionally were there some “cults” that had higher and more exalted views of her. But now, there have been multitudes of visions and apparitions all over the world, claiming that Mary is the Queen of Heaven, and the only way to salvation! These things have not been officially accepted by the entire Roman Catholic Church, but the movement is increasing in its influence. Many bishops and cardinals are approving these demonic messages, and the last Pope John Paul II approved them. This actually goes against the traditional Catholic view that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). But this is changing more and more because of these fallen “angels of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). The documentary movie Messages from Heaven (2000) goes into detail about this.

What’s a Christian to Do?
The Bible tells us: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Submission to God is living your life for Jesus Christ. Loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:37-40). He who loves Jesus Christ, must keep His commandments (John 14:15). Keep your faith in Jesus’ death on the cross for your sins strong, and guard it with all your heart. Be sure to “cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NKJV).
There is no doubt in my mind: as a Christian, as a thinker, and as a human being–that the devil exists, and that these are the things he and his demons are up to in the world. Resist these things in your hearts and minds. These subtle evil things of satan and evil spirits. Use the Name of Jesus in prayer. Think against these things. Feel against these things. Pray against these things. Speak against these things. Write against these things. They are drawing multitudes to Hell and sinking sand. Do not compromise what you think or feel for the sake of “not offending” someone, or being diplomatic. Light and darkness cannot co-exist. There must be a separation of the two. GUARD YOUR FAITH! STAND UP FOR JESUS! BE STRONG TILL THE END OF YOUR LIFE! FINISH STRONG! Remember:

“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NKJV).

Put on the full armor of God, and be a soldier for Jesus Christ! Amen.