Pravoslavnik wrote:Thank you Cyprian,
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But, of course, it is completely obvious now--[i]it is [b]not [/b]possible for the Antichrist, or anyone, to deceive "even the very elect!"[/i] How could I have imagined such nonsense?[/quote]
Well then, let's have a looks-see....
“According to New Age thinking, since man and everything else is God, only one reality exists; and therefore all religions are only different paths to that reality. There is no one correct path, for all paths reach the Divine. New Agers anticipate that a new universal religion which contains elements of all current faiths will evolve and become generally accepted worldwide…
As "The Plan" approaches fulfillment, the one-world religion acquires its final shape. "The day is dawning," wrote Alice Bailey, "when all religions will be regarded as emanating from one great spiritual source; all will be seen as unitedly providing the one root out of which the universal world religion will inevitably emerge,” [Alice Bailey, Problems of Humanity (New York: Lucis Publishing Company, 1947; revised ed. 1964), p. 140]. Helen Blavatsky said that this universal religion was "the religion of the ancients," the memory of which was "the origin of the Satanic myth" of Christians. "The religion of the ancients," Blavatsky wrote, "is the religion of the future,” [Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine, vol. 2, p. 378; his Unveiled, vol. 1 (Wheaton, Illinois: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1877; revised ed. 1972), p. 613].
"The Plan" reaches its apotheosis with the coming of the New Age Messiah: the so-called "Maitreya—the Christ." David Spangler speaks in anticipation of this event: "From the depths of the race a call is rising for the emergence of a saviour, an avatar, a father-figure ... who can be for the race what the ancient priest-kings were in the dawn of human history,” [David Spangler, Explorations: Emerging Aspects of the New Culture, Findhorn Publications Lecture Series, 1980, p. 68]. According to Alice Bailey, "angels" will appear with this false Christ in order to convince people that they should follow him. Thus, the final stage of the "New Age" reversal of Christianity will be the worship of the antichrist, whose coming is after the power of satan with all power and signs and lying wonders (II Thes. 2:9).”
(An Excerpt from the Orthodox Word (2004), published by St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood concerning the life and teachings of Father Seraphim Rose.)
Imagine, dear fellow in Christ, if we should bear witness of a man being held up by what seemed to be "angels", appearing to descend from the heavens themselves, perhaps even performing a counterfeit of the Holy Fire to lick up the sacrifices in the Third Temple. By his word causing peace and with all charm and appearance of holiness causing signs in the sky before all men. I am sorry to say, this would entice many an unripe soul to ponder the scriptures and the meanings behind the "Lords return".
Besides, there are some false prophets so bold that they will try to convince you to your very face that they are sent from God. Much more than this, the saints in the end will have to endure.
Even now, I have a certain New Age false prophet that believes that the scripture verses that refer to "the son of man" are speaking about him.
Our particular debate came about by my dismissing an article he wrote, which I posted on my blog (dedicated to the end times), in which he said that the third temple would not be rebuilt, that the Antichrist was not a "real" person and that Christ would not return.
My response was rather humble, nevertheless, he (believing himself to be something he is not) has become rather indignant. Not only about who he "thinks" he is, but also about my very plain and forward Orthodox belief.
Things like this are only a small taste of the things which we will have to bear in the end, if we should endure that long.
Otherwise, if we should be called to bear witness to the Word of God in the last days, we will have to face these false signs with patience as we hear everyone around us say how "great" and wonder this up and coming deceiver is.
But I must confess that with the Obama "thing", you have a point. I will share something I thought to be in poor taste, something most repugnant and mournful. It was and article I found online about Obama, and while it was written in the spirit of "jest", it made my soul quite heavy to see that in fact, most of what was written in the article was indeed direct quotes from various people.
http://www.catholicexchange.com/2008/05/21/112550/
As proof of your point, we can all clearly see that the various Orthodox Church administrations throughout the world are entirely free of any deceitful influences, and, hence, agree completely with one another on all essential matters of doctrine, praxis, and truth!
Yes, they are...Currently. But we have yet to confront political and social pressures from any temptations that may arise from the demonic forces that will rise out of the abyss in the end.
We are yet untested and untried.
We have yet to confront another Orthodox Christian concerning the "signs" performed by the deceiver.
We can only hope that God's grace will see us through the temptations of the great tribulations, if we live to see those days.
That is why they are all in communion with one another!
They, who? Do you mean "world orthodox"?
No one could possibly deceive the "very elect" members of these various Orthodox Christian factions, even one as clever as the Evil One, himself!
I should hope that you're right, but I think it is better not even to trust oneself too much on these matters, as we are all prone to our own deceptions and fallen devices.
