The Counterfeit Kingdom


Book Description

The Counterfeit Kingdom, shows why Christianity is the fastest declining religion in Amerca. Why Does the Church Need Revival? Why Does the Church Have Buildings? Why Do We Go to Church on Sunday? Why Doesn't the Church Have to Pay Taxes? Why Does The Church Have Clergy and Lay Ministry? Why Does the Church Simply Go Tell Others the Good News and then Keep Right on Going? Why Does the Church Exploit Its Own? Why Do Churches Split?




God's Super-Apostles


Book Description

God's Super-Apostles provides a concise entry-level overview of the key teachings and practices of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement. This is a key resource in grasping the significance of this global, confusing, and controversial movement.




Counterfeit Gospels


Book Description

What if the biggest danger to the church of Jesus Christ is not blatant heresy, the moral failures of church leaders, persecution, the rise of Islam or the loss of our rights? What if the biggest threat is counterfeit gospels within the church, ways of thinking and speaking about the good news that lead to a gradual drift from the truth of Scripture? The gospel is like a three-legged stool. There’s the Gospel Story – the grand narrative of Scripture (Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration). Within that overarching framework, we make the Gospel Announcement about Jesus Christ (His perfect life, substitutionary death, resurrection, exaltation). The gospel announcement then births the Gospel Community: God’s church – the embodiment of the gospel, the manifestation of God’s kingdom. A counterfeit gospel is like a colony of termites, eating away at one of the legs of this stool until the whole thing topples over. This book exposes six common counterfeits (Therapeutic, Judgmentless, Moralist, Quietist, Activist, and Churchless) that would get us off track. The goal of Counterfeit Gospels is to so deepen our love for the unchanging gospel of Jesus Christ that we would easily see through the many counterfeits that leave us impoverished. So come, love the gospel, recognize and overcome the counterfeits, and be empowered for ministry!




Above All


Book Description

Is gospel Christianity dead? Pundits are writing the obituary of historic, orthodox Christianity, but pastor and author J. D. Greear (Gospel, Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart) believes the postmortems are premature. Jesus promised to build his church. He said that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. The church is not going away. Along with this promise, Jesus gave clear instructions for how the church would prevail. He promised to build it on the rock of the gospel. The most pressing need for Christianity today is not a new strategy. It is not an updated message. It is a return to keeping the gospel above all.




The Kingdom of Antichrist


Book Description

We are living in a time when many are asking key questions about the true history of the Christian church, the relevance of alternative spiritualities, and the future of mankind. Western society, a civilization that has for centuries been regarded as ‘Christian,’ is increasingly becoming more accepting of anti-Christian spiritual and religious philosophies. One such philosophy is something known as esotericism, or ‘esoteric spirituality.’ Esoteric spirituality is a belief system whereby only an elite or initiated group of people can perceive and understand its true and deepest mysteries. It is a form of thought often associated with the world of the occult. Recent questions being asked by many in the West all reflect an esoteric/occult influence. Some of these questions include: • Did Jesus marry and have children? • Are his bones buried in a tomb on earth? • Is He really God? • Is there a new age/new world order emerging out of the current global chaos? These questions also reveal the readiness – or perhaps, the eagerness - of society to embrace a less ‘dogmatic’ Christianity, and embrace a new, esoteric Christianity. Kingdom of the Antichrist, by Adrian Isaacs, assesses the emergence of esoteric spirituality in light of Biblical prophecy, revealing the link between the current occult revival in the West, and the coming Antichrist. The main focus is to address this overwhelming anti-Christian, occult influence permeating Western society. Over the past few decades, and especially over the past few years, new ‘revelations’ and theories have been promoted which strike at the very foundations of the Christian faith. These theories have been presented in both a fictional and non-fictional manner. Perhaps the best known example of this assault on the Christian faith is the so-called bloodline of Christ theory, which has been largely promoted by bestselling books and blockbuster movies such as The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, and The Da Vinci Code. While this is one widely known example, it's in fact merely the tip of the iceberg. Many are now being led to believe that the entire Christian faith was founded upon a massive cover-up, that the true history of mankind is not as the Bible presents it, and that mankind will soon welcome a new messiah who will bring about a new age of peace, enlightenment, and global renewal. Each of these concepts is rooted in esoteric and occult thought. Kingdom of Antichrist is a solid, Biblical response to this growing esoteric influence. Isaacs shares his detailed analysis and four key things that are crucial for the reader to understand. First, the reader will come to see that the current esoteric assault on the message and truth of God’s word is by no means a ‘new thing’. Indeed, the roots of esoteric spirituality reach far back to the dateless past, and Satan’s rebellion against the heavenly order established by God. Esoteric and occult spirituality is in fact a satanic substitute for God’s true system of worship. Secondly, the reader will see that esoteric philosophy has been present on the earth from the time of humanities fall in the Garden of Eden right through until the present day. It has surfaced in different forms, and under different names throughout history, serving as a parallel, alternate religious system to the true revelation of God. Ancient occultism and paganism – both foundational to modern esotericism – have often been an integral part of the political systems of the ancient world such as those that were found in Egypt, Babylon, Greece and Rome. In the medieval period, esoteric tendencies could be found in many of the romantic Grail legends that, on the surface, often appeared ‘Christian’. And as the reader will come to appreciate, the Holy Grail is also symbolic of many esoteric beliefs in today’s world. There are also numerous modern esoteric groups and societies with political associations such as the Freemasons that have preserved many of these pagan beliefs and rituals inherited from the ancient world. The third key point the reader will come to understand is the sobering reality that the current emergence of esoteric spirituality in the West is setting the stage for the rise of the Biblical Antichrist. Revelation 17 reveals the astonishing reality of a world-wide religious system known as Babylon the Great that works with the Antichrist in his pursuit of a global, satanic kingdom. This religious system, as indicated by the word Babylon in its name, is rooted in the pagan rituals and beliefs of the ancient world which can be found in the various esoteric and occult theories being promoted throughout the West. In addition to this, some of the unbiblical theories being advanced today concerning Jesus Christ are leading multitudes away from the Biblical gospel, and towards an occult gospel that speaks of a new messiah, the reshaping of Christianity, and the emergence of a new world order. Fourth and finally, the reader will come to see that God is in complete control of time and history, and that He has a definite plan for mankind. Kingdom of Antichrist, which adopts the pre-millennial/pre-tribulation Rapture view of Biblical eschatology, provides an overview of God’s prophetic plan for both the nation of Israel, and the Gentile people of the world. It helps the reader to see that history is not open-ended, and that time is not just randomly progressing, but that God is bringing everything to a grand consummation – the glorious revelation of His Son, Jesus Christ. Kingdom of Antichrist was written with two main groups of people in mind. First, it is concerned with meeting the spiritual needs of those who may now find themselves questioning the traditional Christian message in light of the recent esoteric theories concerning Christ. The book is designed to expose the satanic nature of these theories, pointing readers to the truth of God’s Word. Secondly, the book is designed to educate Christians on the global influence of esoteric/occult spirituality in light of God’s prophetic Word.




Counterfeit Kingdom


Book Description

Is there a new reformation happening in the church? It depends on who you ask. The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a popular and fast-growing new movement of Christians who emphasize signs and wonders, and teach that God is giving new revelation through new apostles and prophets. But is this biblical Christianity? In Counterfeit Kingdom, apologists and NAR experts Holly Pivec and Douglas Geivett show how the NAR’s key tenets distort the gospel, twist the Scriptures, are influenced by New Age practices, and lead faithful Christians to shipwreck their faith. They also offer practical suggestions for readers who are already influenced by the NAR, curious about it, or concerned about loved ones who have been swept up in the movement. What used to be on the fringes of the church is now mainstream, and many are being influenced by it unaware. This book is a wake-up call.




Counterfeit Christianity


Book Description

Historic heresies didn’t die or fade away. Each generation boasts its own. Even while these counterfeit teachings remain outside the accepted bounds of Christianity, modern-day versions plague churches.So how does a church leader or pastor understand and deal with these age-old controversies when they pop up in the congregation? In this book, Roger Olson describes the curses but also gifts that heresies bring the Church. While heresies can occasionally correct a version of orthodoxy, they are not simple confusions or misunderstandings about impenetrable mysteries of divine revelation. Instead they undermine the faith and are dangerous distortions. The author describes major heresies and how the church dealt with them, the players, and what pastors can do to address these faith issues in order to educate congregations about Jesus, God, and salvation. Also included are questions for individual or group study. Also available - a Leader guide with DVD in which Adam Hamilton hosts on-screen conversations with Roger Olson (9781501806360)




Heaven Misplaced


Book Description

Though most Christians refrain from predicting exactly when our world will end, many believe that when earth's finale does arrive, it will be a catastrophe. They expect that before Christ comes back to reclaim His own, Satan will escape his chains and return to wreak havoc on our planet. Details vary, but the general assumption is the same: things will get much, much worse before they get better. But is this really what the Bible teaches? Leaving aside the theological terms that often confuse and muddle this question, Douglas Wilson instead explains eschatology as the end of the greatest story in the world - the story of humanity. He turns our attention back to the stories and prophecies of Scripture and argues for "hopeful optimism": the belief that God will be true to His promises, that His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven, and that the peace and good will we sing about at Christmas will one day be a reality here on earth.




Liturgy of the Ordinary


Book Description

Framed around one ordinary day, this book explores daily life through the lens of liturgy, small practices, and habits that form us. Each chapter looks at something author Tish Harrison Warren does in a day—making the bed, brushing her teeth, losing her keys—and relates it to spiritual practice as well as to our Sunday worship.




New Apostolic Reformation?


Book Description

This critique provides a framework for understanding and interpreting the widespread but little-known New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement. As the authors state in the preface: "We write this book with two major goals in mind. First, to give people an idea of the sheer size and reach of the NAR movement. And second, to systematize its key teachings and practices and evaluate them on the basis of Scripture and careful reasoning . . In our judgment, the NAR perspective crosses these boundaries [that is, certain broad parameters, revealed in Scripture and practiced in the historical orthodox church], and it does so in part because of flawed theology rooted in a flawed understanding of Scripture. We wish to warn readers about a possible confusion: Some critics have linked the NAR movement with mainstream Pentecostalism and charismatics. We do not do this. In fact, it is our contention that the NAR movement deviates from classical Pentecostal and charismatic teachings. This movement has emerged out of independent charismatic churches and, thus, has gained a foothold in many of those churches in varying degrees."