I have been wired by the Lord to study my Bible sequentially, page by page, from cover to cover. This is not a doctrine; it is a personal dealing. Early on as I pondered why, I began to notice that it was quite common for the Lord to arrange my reading of certain chapters and passages to coincide with current events. This is mainly how He prophetically speaks to me while I am awake: by His word, the more sure word of prophecy (2 Peter 1:19). As a result, I have learned to not frustrate the grace of God when He slows me down and causes me to encamp at a certain place for days or even weeks. I have also learned not to grow frustrated when there seems to be a roadblock to my continuing further. I have come to rest, by way of His personal dealings with me, that He has numbered my days and therefore even my progression in the revelation of His word cannot surpass His timing.
This past Sunday then, Christians around the world celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ on a day commonly known as Easter. Though, for those who are not aware, Easter in itself has pagan origins, Christians have chosen to use that day to remember the Lord’s resurrection. I will not split hairs with the body of Christ by getting into the details of that statement today, as I have an infinitely more crucial matter to address.
Fittingly on Easter Sunday, my daily reading, not by choice but by His divine timing as aforementioned, was 1 Corinthians 15. In this chapter, the Apostle Paul starts by reminding the believers in Corinth that their salvation is dependent upon their continuing to hold fast to the Gospel that he proclaimed to them unless they believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). He then proceeds to lay down once again the foundational truths upon which this Gospel rests, namely: The Messiah’s death for our sins, and His resurrection on the 3rd day, and the hope of resurrection for those that believe in Him. Further down, he discusses the importance of Christ’s resurrection (verses 12-19), the order of the resurrection (verses 20-34), the method of resurrection (verses 35-50), the promise of immortality to the believer (verses 51-53), and he closes with our final victory over death through Christ (verses 54-58).
The day after, Monday, I picked up my Bible to read and there was no peace. I could not go on further. So, I continued to meditate on this chapter and the ones leading up to it until I felt His release. Just a few hours later I came across a tweet made by a certain popular pastor named Raphael Warnock, I quote:
“The meaning of Easter is more transcendent than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Whether you are a Christian or not, through a commitment to helping others we are able to save ourselves.”
I woke up this morning, Tuesday, trying to go on with my study, and there was no grace. The Lord wanted me to address this matter and as much as I wrestled with the idea, I must declare the word of the Lord if I will continue with Him.
I will now try to be as short and direct as possible.
Raphael Warnock, you must repent! And if you choose not to repent, the blood of those bewitched by this utter foolishness of a blasphemy will be on your hands!
I must address the believer reading this post: it is scriptural for the Lord’s true shepherds to bark at such foolishness from the mouth of ravening wolves in sheep’s clothing. This statement along with many others that this man has made is the biblical example of a false preacher and apostate, whose words cannot be allowed to prosper from the pulpit, but whose destiny is destruction… if he chooses not to repent!
Where is the watchman cry? Are the Lord’s watchmen blind, ignorant, dumb dogs that cannot bark in the house of the Lord, sleeping, lying down, and loving to slumber? (Isaiah 56:10) What would cause men of God to bring correction to those who preach confidence in the flesh, live as enemies of the cross of Christ, whose god is their belly and have set their minds on earthly things from the pulpit? (Philippians 3).
I rejoice in that the current spiritual climate is causing men to blurt out publicly what they think in private so it can be dealt with. The word of God is true, and everything that is hidden will be revealed. We are in that season of exposure and it is just getting started. To the sheep: are you good fruit inspectors!? (Matthew 7:16-23)
We can agree to disagree on things that do not present a direct affront to salvation and the resurrection of Christ (for instance, things like head coverings or even spiritual gifts, you fill in the blanks). But when it comes to topics that threaten the basis of salvation and trivialize the supreme transcendence of the resurrection of Christ, there should never be any sort of ambiguity in the mind of a believer. None!
For this reason I will bark, yea I will sound the alarm! I will defy Mr. Warnock to a holy confrontation in his own congregation. My only warning to him will be that I will not come in the eloquence of filthy human wisdom, as I can see that he is well versed in the worship of his true goddess, Ishtar. I digress. Yea, I will come in demonstration of the Spirit and the power of God, to break the yoke under which many are being enslaved to darkness from his mouth, to proclaim liberty to those he has made captive, and the opening of the prison to them that he has bound by his speech.
Nay, my speech will not consist in debating human philosophies, theologies, and ideologies. I will come in the fullness of the power of God to preach Christ, Him crucified, and Him resurrected as THE transcendent reason for life and the living, for He is the God of the living. I will come trusting that He, by His finger will cast demons out of their midst and bind the brokenhearted that their eyes be open to behold the True God, so the salvation of those that truly want to believe may be firmly established.
It makes no difference to me what “denomination” or “church building” you may be a part of, or what “title” you may have: if you preach any other means of salvation than grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, made possible by His death on the cross and His bodily resurrection, then you are an enemy of the cross of Christ. I am calling it like it is. In fact, Paul uses even stronger words: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8)
If as a “Christian” you find any greater meaning to what we should celebrate on easter, than the resurrection from death and the quickening Spirit that Christ Jesus became (1 Corinthians 15:45), then you are NOT believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ and you are NOT saved. Once again, it is not about what happens on easter, but the truth that governs the foundation of your faith. For that matter, we should not keep our celebration of the risen Christ to a one-day affair but we must celebrate Him daily.
Mr. Warnock and the likes want you to find another way to save yourself and your fellow neighbor by helping each other. Perhaps it is the politician in him speaking and it sounds noble on the surface, but it is the kind of "pastoral" rhetoric that will lead you to eternal damnation if it is meant to supersede the significance of the resurrected Lord for mankind. Let me put it this way: “For just in connection with Adam all die, so in connection with the Messiah all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22) There is no other way to salvation but Christ, and Him resurrected.
Helping all the people in the world will not save you or them, because in Adam (man) there is no life of his own, except that which he himself will borrow at the resurrection from Christ Jesus, Life personified. Yea, even Adam in his perfection prior to sin was made a living human being, deriving his life from God. But Christ became that Life-giving Spirit, as He is Himself the fountain of Life. Hallelujah! Only in Christ, by Christ, and for Christ can we pretend to be of any help to fellow humans as far as salvation is concerned. Every other way is a dead-end.
My heart breaks for the tens of thousands of people who are eating this garbage and re-sharing it. How great is the delusion upon the people! I am crying out: Wake up out of your slumber, men like these are leading you straight to the slaughter! Do not take it from me: get on your knees, grab your Bible, and ask the Spirit of Truth to lead you into the truth of this matter for yourself. He desires you to know Him more than I do.
To the true shepherds, those that are really called by God: we must preach and teach the truth and not be silent. Some of us will give an account for our silence to such rubbish. If no Adam (man) listens to you, Christ does, so preach on with fire and compassion. That is the loving thing to do.
I usually do not come out publicly to call out people, but salvation is THE MOST FOUNDATIONAL and MOST BASIC truth of the Way. As someone who has been radically saved by the glorious gospel, I cannot see such blatant pollution at the root of it and remain quiet, especially if it is done so publicly. This is not about Warnock as a person for I do not know him, and as a preacher I would care to know nothing else in him except Christ, and Him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2) It is about preserving the truth of God in an evil generation, and the souls for whom Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price. This about ensuring that those that come in the Kingdom in the final harvest be anchored in the Spirit of Truth instead of a lying farce.
I can also not afford to let men like these preach unity and watch the body of Christ submit to any form of unity in worship that is false at the root. If we cannot agree that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ and that His resurrection is transcendent over all other human endeavors, then we have absolutely no reason to unite in worship! We may come together for birthday parties and social gatherings, but we cannot bend the knee together in worship, no! “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes.” (Romans 1:16)
To Mr. Warnock and those that willfully lead men astray: you still have time to repent, even as the Lord Jesus gave time to Jezebel to repent. Be reminded that God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness suppress the truth; because what is known of God is plain to you, since God has made it plain to you. Therefore, you have no excuse; because, although you know who God is, you do not glorify Him as God or thank Him. On the contrary, you have become futile in your thinking and your undiscerning hearts have been darkened. Claiming to be wise, you became fools! This is why God has given you up to the vileness of your heart’s lusts, even to the shameful misuse of each other’s bodies. You have exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, by worshiping and serving created things, rather than the Creator – Praised be He forever. Amen. (Romans 1:18-32)
In January of 2018 after a time of fasting and prayer I wrote: “the line of demarcation between the wheat and the tares is being drawn. You will begin to see it more clearly as it becomes more obvious by the day.” I may post the full word in a separate article.
Until next time, let us boast in this: darkness can never be mixed with, nor overtake the Light.(John 1:5) Let us therefore take our stand with the Light of mankind with courage and boldness, lives and eternal destinies depend on it.
Shalom.
Ulrich Tofack