Mike Focht 12/13/2024
Satan is not against preaching. Satan has done some of his most devastating work by commandeering preachers instead of killing them. Ultimately, it is better for him to deceive through the preaching of men rather than stop the mouths of all preachers. A lost man who never heard the gospel is much more likely to turn to the truth of the gospel than a religious man who goes to church, does some religious things, and trusts in the mixed message of a gospel so watered down that all taste of gospel truth is gone.
I believe that the discerning listener can detect Satan’s dark undertone in much of our modern preaching. Allow me to explain by giving two Scriptures that disclose to us the future of Satan’s chief work in the world through the antichrist.
First, Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:9: The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.
Second, in Revelation 18:3, we are told this of Babylon and the world system of the antichrist: For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.
Why do I bring up these two Scriptures? I want to highlight two of the major themes we see. The ultimate work of Satan in this world is couched in terms of supernatural, miraculous acts and material pleasure and prosperity. These are not isolated texts. Numerous Scriptures foretell how the antichrist will deceive the world by lying wonders and promoting a prosperous world kingdom.
How does this relate to modern Satanic preaching? If you could hear a consensus of the preaching in every pulpit, from every church in America (let alone the world), these two themes would come through loud and clear. I use the word ‘themes’ or ‘emphasis’ because God is not denied in the pulpits—He is pushed to the side. The preaching pushes these two themes to the exclusion of those truths that are truly necessary.
You will not hear the gospel’s exclusive truth or God’s powerful work in the soul of man as life in Christ. Nor the kingdom of God arriving in judgment on this world system. Nor holiness of life and our character as strangers and pilgrims. The pure emphasis of the Word is subtly displaced. Over and over and over again, you would hear messages emphasizing supernatural wonders and lifestyle prosperity.
Why would you hear so much of these two themes? Paul tells us the reason why. People have itching ears and gladly flock to preachers giving them what they want to hear. This Satanic preaching is not whispered in hidden corners of the world. It is projected loud and clear in large, packed stadiums. Some churches are filled with thousands of people every week who want to hear these two themes given to them repeatedly. They are looking, longing, and hoping for spiritual miraculous works and the best of life right now. These preachers may not look like wicked men, and some may honestly just be ignorant, but Eden’s deceitful whisper is directing the slant of their preaching. They are preparing the world for what Satan knows he is bringing. Satanic preaching is prepping our world to believe in the antichrist.
Those of us who love the truth should not be deceived. We should detect any preaching emphasis outside of Christ or the truth of God. We should recognize preaching that focuses on and emphasizes supernatural signs and worldly prosperity as a dark cloud preparing the way for a darker storm. If you feel like I am overstating my case, I can only say that I fear I am drastically understating it. When Satan’s chief work in the world comes on the scene, he will give the people the most effective version of miracles and money the world has ever seen, and all those who dwell on the earth will marvel after him.