“Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” is another characteristic of the end times predicted by Christ. In our time, we have seen this prediction at least begun to be fulfilled in the rise of the cults and we have watched in amazement—even astonishment—as one after another false prophet or false Messiah or false Christ—really antichrists every one—has pushed himself forward, saying, “I am Christ” and “the time draweth near.” Also quite disturbing are the numbers of people who are perfectly willing to move from Christian to cultic without even noticing their own spiritual defection.

Everyone should have material available for those who now knock on the door promoting one or another cult as well as for those who are even now being deceived by some cultic promoter. Appropriate to this is our small 32-page booklet entitled, The Marks of a Cult. We have had this booklet reprinted as a part of the “Publishers Together” series with the hope that you will help us get it into the hands of those who need it most. Some of the eleven marks of a cult include: “Extra-Biblical Revelation,” “Salvation By Works,” “Presumptuous Messianic Leadership,” “Defective Christology,” and “Financial Exploitation.” For more information, please call 1-800-777-8806.

Let us make no mistake about it, spiritual warfare is upon us and the people of America and of the world—especially our young people—are in great peril. New “cultic evangelism” in many places of the world will be a mounting problem to true Christianity. One can believe that we are seeing the fulfillment of the Scripture,“In the latter times some shall depart from the faith” (I Tim. 4:1).

Speaking of cults and cultic promotors, a very strange—even bizarre tale of death and destruction has recently unfolded in the African nation of Uganda. It seems that literally hundreds of followers of a doomsday cult known as “The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments” have met with brutal and untimely deaths at the hands of cult leaders who were concerned that they were losing control over the lives of their followers. Unbelievably, over 924 bodies have been unearthed at a number of sites making this “the worst cult-killing in modern history.” The death toll actually exceeds the 914 who died in the Jonestown, Guyana mass cult suicide of 1978.

Also worth noting is the seeming near indifference displayed by the media coverage of this horrendous massacre. Media coverage, or lack thereof, could lead one to believe that this was a mere footnote in history—barely worth mentioning. Have we as individuals and as a society become so desensitized to evil—has it become so commonplace as to be met with a shrug of the shoulders or, worse yet, no reaction at all? This points up the truth of Christ’s prediction of the end of the age: “Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” (Matt. 24:11) and also of Paul’s warning to Timothy that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived (II Tim. 3:13).

“We are in the midst of a media revolution. Never before have so many entertainment alternatives been available to us.” Motion pictures, television, CDs, video games, the internet and DVDs “are all in tremendous competition—not only for our time and money—but also for our affections. When watching a movie, most people believe they are simply being entertained. Likewise, when they hear the news, they believe they are simply getting the facts. Nothing could be further from the truth. All communication involves the persuasive transfer of ideas. And when technology is added to the mix an entire system of manipulative techniques are made available to those who control the process” (Taken from the video Death By Entertainment).

We have been thinking much about freedom in these recent days. The Fourth of July holiday has just passed, reminding us of the terrible price our founding fathers paid to secure freedom for us in this great land called America. It is a land founded upon biblical principles, guaranteeing us the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I am thankful that God allowed me to be born in this great land of religious freedom and personal opportunity. It has allowed me to do many things for the Lord that I might not otherwise have been able to do.

But our political freedoms in this life, as wonderful as they may be, pale to insignificance when compared with the marvels of the spiritual freedom that comes from knowing Christ as Savior. I remember my own personal “Independence Day.” It was the day I believed on Jesus Christ and asked Him to come and live within my life. Never before had I known such true freedom!

Jesus said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). It has been many years since the Savior set me free, and I can tell you that it has provided me with a life that satisfies more than words can tell.