The Skin Of The Serpent

few years I found myself examining a  newer concept for me in the computer universe as I discovered a software program which was curiously identified to me as a "skin." For those who are not conversant in computers, at the Christian Media Network, we broadcast on the internet, and listeners are able to hear the daily programs using a free software program called a "player."

I learned that many computer savvy people have learned to redesign the interface to some of the players (we use a free player program called Winamp), so that it has a control panel and a look that they prefer.

Bear in mind, it's the identical program, but by "wrapping" it in a customized "skin," it looks like a completely different program. They have skins that have controls functions that are metallic and shiny, and they have skins that make the buttons look like rainbows, teardrops, or just about any combination of animal, mineral, or vegetable. In short, there are skins with racy images, customized slogans, or skins with simple black box features; however the functions and the program itself never actually changes -- only the look of it.

This chameleon-like ability to be portrayed in many different fashions that is found in computer programs reminded me of the Scripture that tells us the Devil can assume a pleasing shape when it tells us this ability is "no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" (II Corinthians 11:14).

The context of the prior passage is actually all about false teachers, and those who are seeking to lead the believers in the wrong direction. This phenomena was widespread in Paul's time, and it has continued to this very day. In fact, as I pondered the idea of the multitude of prophecy teachers who are led by the Spirit of Antichrist, but actually believe they are moving within the will of the LORD, I began to see that they periodically "re-invent themselves" -- in effect, they don a different skin.

For instance, several years ago I met another "Christian" Shortwave radio host who was seeking to make his living through donations to his radio program. He often spoke about the great "falling away" (II Thessalonians 2:3) that is occurring in our time. He decried how the churches had "left their first love (Revelation 2:4), and how the leaders of America have turned towards evil; but his program continued to languish as he just seemed unable to generate a following that felt strongly enough about his teaching to help support the show with the requisite tithes and offerings need to keep a program on the air.

He then reinvented himself, and embraced the preterist doctrine -- the view that says the tribulation has already happened, and Christ returned invisibly in 70 AD. There weren't many preterists on Shortwave in those days, and when this occurred, the LORD revealed to me that my former friend only embraced that view so that he could distinguish himself from all the other hosts. In short, he changed his skin.

On a related track, one of the central revelations of prophecy I've received from the LORD is related to the falsity of the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine. However, that's only half the story as He has also shown me in the Scriptures that pre-trib is false because it is inconsistent with our true standing as "the sons of God" (Philemon 2:15) and the "remnant of Israel" (Zephaniah 3:13).

Intriguingly, it is in the arena of what could be called non pre-tribulationists that I've located significant numbers of these spiritual pretenders who are all wearing the same post-trib skin.

There are Jewish Supremacist non-pretribbers and there are 7th Day Adventist non-pretribbers. There are Sacred Name non-PT's, British Israelite non PT's, and pre-wrath Judaeo-Christian non pre-tribbers -- and many other categories as well.

To phrase this perspective a bit more bluntly, just because someone has abandoned the false doctrine of pre-trib (a false doctrine), and strapped on the skin of post-tribulationism (a Scripturally sound doctrine), does not mean they are not false prophets. In fact, many believers that are just discovering the basic truth concerning simple issues of timing find themselves jumping out of the frying pan of pre-tribulationism, and into the fire of another false doctrine. 

So it is in the spiritual wilderness where we find many serpents (and scorpions) wearing various skins.

October 12 2005 -- James Lloyd

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