Help for Today — Hope for Tomorrow
|
We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.
By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. More Info
Do you believe in conspiracy theories? They range from the feasible to the fantastic. Many think that secret groups are plotting to destroy democracy. Some are convinced that American pop singer, Lady Gaga, is a victim of a CIA mind-control program and an Illuminati puppet. Did the government plan and then cover up the 9-11 attacks? And what about schemes to manipulate the world economy and mass media worldwide?
Conspiracy theories are nothing new. You may worry about them or dismiss them as nonsense. But here's something you shouldn't dismiss: Thousands of years ago, the greatest of all conspiracies took root. This is one conspiracy that really matters. It's the one that can't be taken lightly. The one that will affect your life!Stay tuned to Beyond Today as we examine the threat to you and the secret behind the Spiritual Conspiracy.Are conspiracy theories true? The Illuminati, the Trilateral Commission and the Bilderbergers are hot topics on talk radio and the internet, in books, and in movies. Are you fascinated by conspiracy theories and secret organizations that supposedly manipulate the masses?Some trace these kinds of conspiracies back to the early 1700s in England with the Freemasons. Others point to the Knights Templar, that came into the existence at the time of the crusades. But many debate the influence of these and other secret societies. Now, whether you think their conspiracies are real or not, there is one to watch out for.Thousands of years ago, the biggest of all conspiracies took root. This conspiracy is one that really matters to you, because it's the most powerful plot on the planet.Did you know that this conspiracy is revealed in your Bible?Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.×says, “For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world. Against mighty powers in this dark world and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (NLT)There is a great spiritual conspiracy going on all around you! It's run by a powerful evil spirit-being who wants you to fail. He wants you to lose hope. He's the author of depression and discouragement.What is this plot all about and what should you be doing about it? Here's what your Bible advises: “Stay alert, watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:×NLT).This spiritual conspiracy is led by Satan the devil. It's a life or death matter! It's not just a fantasy. He's not just a symbol of evil or a man in a silly red suit with a pitchfork, sitting on your shoulder. Satan is a real being who's conspiring against you and God's plan. True—not all conspiracies are real but, Satan is real.Did you know that in the Bible, God names things for what they are? Satan is called the accuser, an enemy, the serpent, and a dragon. His focus is to deceive, to divide and destroy God's people and defeat God's purpose. The Bible demonstrates that the devil is a very real and dangerous being—not some philosophical idea or superstition.He's your enemy, and he is what his name means: adversary or opponent. The one who opposes. He is hostile. He is contrary. The one who fights against you. Satan is so devious. He is so deceitful and even though you may be unaware, he schemes and conspires to destroy you!Why? Why is the devil conspiring to destroy you and God's plan? Well to find out why, we have to go back to his origin. And that's found in two different chapters of the Bible. In Ezekiel 28, we learn that in the beginning, Satan wasn't evil. He was created by God and described as “the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty,” and as “the anointed cherub that covers” who was “on the holy mountain of God” (verse 12-14). So you see Satan started out as a perfect creation. It says, “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created.” Now imagine that—initially the devil was a flawless creation.But, along the way, something happened. Something terrible. It says, “Till iniquity was found in you.” (Ezekiel 28:15 You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, till iniquity was found in you.×NKJ). You see God gave spirit beings free moral agency, the freedom to choose—the opportunity to make independent decisions. Well Satan became vain. He developed ideas of grandeur that led to disastrous consequences. We're given insight into his thinking in Isaiah 14. He declared, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God… I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; [and] I will make myself like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:13-14 13 For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also on the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. ×NIV)That's where the conspiracy began. Satan actually attempted to depose God. His vanity, pride, lust for power, led him into war against the Almighty. He became the adversary—by his very own choice! It was a deliberate, defiant sin. That sin perverted his thinking. It corrupted his mind and filled him with a violent nature.You know, he wasn't alone in his rebellion. Millions of other angels joined him in rejecting God's leadership and authority. This is symbolically described in Revelation 12:4And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.×. “His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.”You see the Bible uses stars as symbols for angels, showing that one third of the angels followed Satan in this revolt and were cast down to the earth with him.No wonder the Bible refers to Satan and the other rebellious angels as evil, unclean spirits and as demons. You see there are fallen angels who renounced their purpose of serving God and humanity and now have only hatred and bitterness toward God, and His purpose for mankind.Since Satan and his demons failed in their coup attempt, you might think that, conspiracy's over. But, it didn't stop there. Even though he failed to overpower God, He just will not give up. Now, the devil has turned his attention to us, to human beings. While he can't defeat God himself, he wants to disrupt God's plan for mankind—His plan for you!The adversary is a jealous being. He doesn't want you to have a relationship with God. He knows that God has an amazing plan for mankind. God wants people to become a part of His very own spiritual family but, Satan hates that plan. He hates that family relationship God wants with you. So his goal is to undermine it and do everything he can to bring harm.Proof? He wasted no time destroying God's relationship with the very first human beings: Adam and Eve. You know the story.And when you think about it, can you see a direct connection to humanity's problems and the magnitude of Satan's deception? Mankind has had thousands of years to experiment with governments, with philosophies, with all kinds of ways of living. Have our troubles gone away? Why can't we solve our problems? Difficulties persist year after year, century after century. It's evidence that Satan has blinded this world.Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.×puts it this way: “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”Now did you catch that? Satan deceives the whole world! Not just some people, not even many, but the whole world!Society suffers from relentless problems because we've been lied to. We've been fooled. We've been conned into rejecting the true God. 2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:×says: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine to them. ×NKJ)Now, that's an amazing statement. Startling! Who rules this age? Satan is the god of this age. You could say he's the head of state of this world. Things have been just so turned upside down that most don't even realize, they've been blinded. They've been influenced by Satan's attitude of getting all we can for ourselves. Infected with his wrong motives. Induced to hatred and jealousy, anger, and bitterness. He is the master of persuasion. Satan is slyly deceiving us into focusing on anything but God.There is a real spirit world out there that wants to harm you. But the Bible reveals this spiritual conspiracy is working behind the scenes, trying to manipulate the world to his will and his agenda. Now, could you be taken in? How can you avoid being misled?We have a special booklet: Is There Really a Devil? to help you see through the confusion of this spiritual conspiracy. It exposes the real source behind so many of our world's problems and the underlying reason for so many of the difficulties you face in your own life.To request your free booklet, call toll free: 1-888-886-8632. Or go online to BeyondToday.tv where you can download it. Or you can read it online or order your free copy of Is There Really a Devil? Learn about the being who is determined to bend your thinking to his, and more important, what you can do about it. All of our publications are provided free of charge as an educational service so, order your free copy today!You know when you take a look around, it's not hard to see how successful Satan has been in his deception. He's been adept at leading the world to question the very existence of God and doubt the validity of the Bible. Even many Christians have a laissez-faire, do whatever you choose, view of the Scriptures and God's way of life. But, don't underestimate the devil's impact.How does he do it? Your Bible says, “you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2:2Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:×)Satan's responsible for a spiritual broadcast to sway our minds. Imagine it this way: the airwaves are saturated with TV and radio signals that can be tuned in with electronic receivers. In a similar way, it's also saturated with Satan's spiritual broadcast. That broadcast of selfishness and wrong attitudes. His conspiracy is to contaminate your mind into rejecting God and His law. Under Satan's influence, humanity has rejected God's guidance and built this world on the wrong foundation.The spiritual conspiracy of Satan and his demons is multifaceted. He has many strategies, many schemes, and many devices to deceive you. Remember, the devil deceives the whole world! (Revelation 12:9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.×) That means people of every nation. That means you and me. I have been deceived. You've been deceived.Do you think that because you're religious, that you can't be deceived? Jesus revealed that one of the most wide-ranging forms of deception is found in religion. The Bible reveals who is behind many religious deceptions. Notice this: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.×;15).