The Wisdom of Serpents

Joseph Herrin (09-04-08)

Matthew 10:16-17
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves. But beware of men...”

I awoke this morning with a message upon my heart to deliver to the children of God. It is evident from the many e-mails I receive, as well as by reading the news, that the sheep of God’s pasture are failing greatly in heeding the admonition of Christ found in the verses above.

I have received a number of e-mails from Christians asking for comment about the current political scene and the presidential race. I have been reading many news items relating to the selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate. Many evangelical leaders are gushing over this selection, believing that America’s Christians have one who will now champion godliness and a return to sound judgment. They are failing sadly in being wise as serpents, and they have not heeded the warning to “beware of men.”

There needs to be a disillusionment of the minds of God’s children. They need to see that the world and its play actors are not as they appear. There is a malevolent mind at work behind the scenes bringing all to an end that his wicked and cunning heart has imagined. And behind this there is God who will turn all the schemes of men and angels to His own ends, to bring about the future and hope that He has promised to those who attain to conformity to Christ.

I have recently quoted the passage from Isaiah:

Isaiah 42:19-20
Who is blind but My servant, or so deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is so blind as he that is at peace with Me, or so blind as the servant of Yahweh? You have seen many things, but you do not observe them; Your ears are open, but none hears.

This is not a description of being as wise as serpents. It is a lamentation concerning the failure of God’s people to walk in wisdom, perceiving accurately the world they live in.

Let me begin by speaking about the kingdoms of this earth. Many Americans are under the delusion that their nation is a Christian nation. If one were to even perform a superficial inspection of the rotten fruit of this nation they would not be able to continue to espouse such a conclusion. The Lord did not say that we would recognize others by their confession, but by their fruit.

Luke 6:43-46
"For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit; nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush... And why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

America is a nation that calls Christ Lord, but it is the greatest of delusions to actually think that she is filled with a people who are set upon performing the commands of Christ. America has elevated the pursuit of mammon to a lofty virtue, yet Christ said “no man can serve God and mammon.” America has filled the world with the filth of her immorality. America is a nation that idolizes violence. What is the actual difference between watching re-enactments of scenes of the cruelest types of violence in one’s home, and the Romans who went to the forums to watch men slaughter one another?

America has removed prayer from the schools, the ten commandments from her courthouses, and religious symbols of Christianity from her public squares. America has embraced abominations, having murdered over 40 million babies since Roe v. Wade was passed as the law of the land in 1973. Her citizens are pursuing a profligate lifestyle, demanding that the state sanction their abominations. Homosexuality is taught as an acceptable lifestyle in the public schools. Homosexual marriage is becoming the law of the land, and these are but some of the more egregious transgressions. In what area of secular life has America not become polluted and stained with excesses of sin?

And lest the church should declare that these things are taking place against her wishes, let us also cast down this hypocrisy. A church that refuses to accept the message of the suffering of the cross, but who has made her goal the attainment of prosperity, ease and comfort, has tolerated all manner of wickedness so far as her own selfish pursuits are not threatened. The church has departed from sound doctrine. She has lost all discernment as was witnessed en masse during the recent events in Lakeland, Florida. It is specifically the church of God who has incurred His wrath, for she has given her heart to many lovers and has not devoted herself to a single pursuit of her Lord and Husband. Yes, America and the church within her, call evil good, and good evil.

Satan is effectively distracting many Christians by highlighting external enemies and setting forth champions that Christians can rally behind in their war against unrighteousness. The real enemies are within the heart of man.

Matthew 15:19-20
"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man...”

Luke 17:20-22
"The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."

People, the weapons of our warfare are spiritual, to produce righteousness within the temples of our bodies. Yet Satan has caused the church to believe that the kingdom of God will be established by legislation, political activism, voting, public demonstration, and other carnal means.

II Corinthians 10:3-4
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

The church is warring according to the flesh. Satan has deceived them. Many think that the war will be won at the voting booth, when the only means to establishing the kingdom of God is by taking up one’s cross and following Christ wherever He would lead.

Acts 14:22
"Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

Yet Christians love their deceptions. By focusing upon an external enemy and carnal means of warfare they are able to continue in the pursuit of their own soul’s desires. They are able to avoid the cross, choosing what sacrifice and obedience they will offer to God, rather than counting the cost and hating their own life. It is much easier to go to the voting booth, and to rant about the evil of society and politicians, than it is to deny oneself and take up the cross daily, living only to do the will and pleasure of the One who purchased us by His own blood.

There is a great deception among those who believe there are Christian nations, and who believe that a return to moral government will bring forth something in this earth that is pleasing to God. God wants far more than moral government. He jealously desires that His Spirit be established upon the throne of every heart. He would bring all men to an end of all personal initiative, until they can say with Christ, “I live to do the will of My Father.” This must be our only reason for living, and having accomplished this one purpose we are to desire nothing beside it. Do any really believe this comes close to describing the pursuit of America, the core of all her desires, the passion that motivates all action and thought?

Let all be ashamed for ever having uttered the expression from their lips that America is a Christian nation. How many Christians have been content to pursue with hope that which is called “The American Dream.” It was enough for them to own a home, and some possessions, and to live a life of peace and contentment in a nation whose citizens were free from oppressive government. It was enough to enjoy some worldly comfort and ease now, rather than pursuing with a whole heart the will of the Father. The American dream is a cheap and unworthy substitute for what God has prepared for His children.

Hebrews 11:14-16
For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

God revealed at that first Passover in Egypt, that as soon as the blood of the Lamb is applied to the door of our hearts, we are to have a change of diet and are to come out entirely of the world. We are no longer to desire and pursue the things of Egypt (a symbol of this fallen world). We are to set our eyes on our inheritance, and begin our journey with steadfast gaze toward it. Though we must journey through wilderness places where the leeks and garlic and flesh of Egypt is no longer our portion, we are not to turn back with desire toward these things. We have a heavenly city prepared for us, and it is necessary that we endure difficulty and distress on our journey toward the goal.

Most Christians today have applied the blood of the Lamb to their hearts and remained firmly in Egypt. They still consume the same diet as the rest of Egypt. They live in the same houses, shunning the life and wilderness wanderings of a disciple. They say to themselves, “Let us reform Egypt and make it into a Christian place.” What folly, when God says we are no longer of this world, but our citizenship is now in heaven.

Philippians 3:18-20
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Yahshua Christ...

People, there is a link between a love of the world and the things in it and Christian’s involving themselves in the world’s politics. Our heart will be where our treasure is. Those who have treasures in this earth want to protect them. Those who are living a good life want the prosperity to continue. They therefore involve themselves in the world’s system to try to insure that the nation’s leaders will not upset the apple cart.

If Christians heeded the words of Christ and left all behind to follow Him then they would not feel such an attachment to the world, nor would they be so driven to protect that which captivates their hearts. Those who do not want to suffer by taking up the cross of Christ have adopted a new paradigm which they have devised. They would like to keep all the nice things that are theirs in the world, so rather than forsaking all to follow Christ, they say, “Let us make the world a more Christian place. Then we can dwell here and keep the things we love.”

People, the world is under the dominion of Satan, and will remain so until that day when the kingdoms of this earth become the kingdoms of our Lord and Christ.

Revelation 11:15
And the seventh angel sounded; and there arose loud voices in heaven, saying,

"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."

Christ has not set a Christian nation in the earth at this present hour. All is Egypt, and our attitude as children of God, born again of the Holy Spirit of the seed of heaven, is that we are no longer citizens of this earth. We are aliens and strangers. I am not an American Christian. I am a Christian who dwells in a nation called America. My identity is wholly in Christ. My brothers are not Americans. My family is not even those of my own household. My identity is not natural, but spiritual. I belong to those who have the Spirit of Christ.

Mark 3:33-35
And answering them, He said, "Who are My mother and My brothers?" And looking about on those who were sitting around Him, He said, "Behold, My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother."

I am a fellow citizen with all those who do the will of God. My brothers and sisters are from all the nations of the earth. They are those who were once not a people, but now they have become the people of God.

Let me pass on to speak of the deception of the enemy as he seeks to bring forth his desire to rule over all the earth with all men worshiping him. There is behind all the actions of the political working of the nations, the hand of Satan. He has determined to bring forth a one world government where he is the ultimate ruler, where all men will swear allegiance to him. He is advancing his plans swiftly for he knows the hour is late.

Satan has at present placed his own pawns upon the thrones of the world’s government, and this is especially evident in the United States which is the seat of the United Nations. Foolishly, a great number of Christians voted for George W. Bush, not understanding the great evil this man would perform at the will of Satan. By voting for him and placing bumper stickers on their cars espousing their support, they have become sharers in his evil deeds.

I Timothy 5:22
Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thus share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.

There has been no president in America who has been used for greater evil than this man. I have written elsewhere of how he has championed the false religion of Islam. His statements at the annual Iftaar dinners held in the White House are filled with a foreshadowing of the evil to come. (See the writing beginning here: http://www.heart4god.ws/id554.htm)

I have refrained from writing about the government’s involvement in the events of 911, but I am convinced, and I believe firmly that I have the witness of the Spirit of Christ on this, that the attacks on that day were orchestrated by America’s own elected government officials. At the same time, these acts were brought forth as a judgment from God who has given America into the hands of evil men who are set upon her destruction. Remember the words of Christ to His disciples, “Be wise as serpents... Beware of men.”

It is a small thing for Satan to use men to perform acts of atrocity upon their own countrymen for the sake of some selfish agenda. There are conspiracies in this world, and only the most naive do not perceive it to be so. Even Scriptures testify to the presence of these conspiracies.

Acts 4:24-26
"O Lord, it is Thou who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Thy servant, didst say, 'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples devise futile things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ.'”

Satan was the hand behind the evil men and rulers who conspired to put the Son of God to death. He stirred up jealousy among the Jewish rulers. Satan entered into the heart of Judas. Satan delivered Christ into the hands of Pilate and Herod.

John 19:11-12
Yahshua answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me up to you has the greater sin."

Yahshua understood that all the kingdoms of this world are under the ruler of this world, who is Satan. He received his authority in the Garden of Eden when man bowed down to him in obedience.

Romans 6:16
Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey?

The greater transgression belonged to Satan, and he will be judged in the end. He continues in his scheming to this day, and the Scriptures reveal what his plan is for the end of the age. He will establish a one world government, and he will place his agent upon the throne to be worshiped by all. Satan knows that to establish a one world government he must bring all nations to an end of any patriotic fervor of nationalism. The nations must see that national competition has brought forth such destruction to the world that they will cry out for a world ruler to be established who will bring all peoples together to dwell in peace as one nation upon the earth. This is Satan’s great counterfeit to the rule of Christ over the earth, and for a period of time God has determined that Satan’s plans should be advanced until the time for His Son to take His rightful place over the nations.

I will tell you plainly what I perceive Satan to be doing at this very hour. He is setting the stage for the most devastating wars and bloodshed the world has ever witnessed. America is currently his chief tool to bring forth global war. America is instilled with a rampant patriotism where her citizens believe she is the greatest nation upon the earth, morally superior, technically superior, intellectually superior, superior in her form of government, to all other nations. America’s leaders are set upon a path to create a unipolar world where America controls all things through the exercise of her might, economically, politically, and militarily.

President Jimmy Carter had an adviser by the name of Zbigniew Brzezinski. This man served as National Security Adviser in Carter’s administration, and he has continued to be a power behind the scenes, much like Henry Kissinger. Brzezinski is currently Barak Obama’s adviser on foreign affairs. To know what this man believes, and the agenda America’s political elite have been carrying out behind the scenes, one need only read a book he authored back in 1997 titled The Grand Chessboard. As a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and The Bilderberg Group, Brzezinski’s views in the book can be taken as a setting forth of these elite globalists’ policies.

In the book you will find many quotes that reveal a plan that has been acted out with precision by the current government of George Bush, including the creation of a crisis in order to foster American hegemony over the rest of the world and its resources. Following are some key quotes.

"Ever since the continents started interacting politically, some five hundred years ago, Eurasia has been the center of world power."- (p. xiii)

"... But in the meantime, it is imperative that no Eurasian challenger emerges, capable of dominating Eurasia and thus of also challenging America. The formulation of a comprehensive and integrated Eurasian geostrategy is therefore the purpose of this book.” (p. xiv)

"In that context, how America 'manages' Eurasia is critical. A power that dominates Eurasia would control two of the world's three most advanced and economically productive regions. A mere glance at the map also suggests that control over Eurasia would almost automatically entail Africa's subordination, rendering the Western Hemisphere and Oceania geopolitically peripheral to the world's central continent. About 75 per cent of the world's people live in Eurasia, and most of the world's physical wealth is there as well, both in its enterprises and underneath its soil. Eurasia accounts for about three-fourths of the world's known energy resources." (p.31)

“Never before has a populist democracy attained international supremacy. But the pursuit of power is not a goal that commands popular passion, except in conditions of a sudden threat or challenge to the public's sense of domestic well-being. The economic self-denial (that is, defense spending) and the human sacrifice (casualties, even among professional soldiers) required in the effort are uncongenial to democratic instincts. Democracy is inimical to imperial mobilization." (p.35)

“The momentum of Asia's economic development is already generating massive pressures for the exploration and exploitation of new sources of energy and the Central Asian region and the Caspian Sea basin are known to contain reserves of natural gas and oil that dwarf those of Kuwait, the Gulf of Mexico, or the North Sea." (p.125)

"In the long run, global politics are bound to become increasingly uncongenial to the concentration of hegemonic power in the hands of a single state. Hence, America is not only the first, as well as the only, truly global superpower, but it is also likely to be the very last." (p.209)

"Moreover, as America becomes an increasingly multi-cultural society, it may find it more difficult to fashion a consensus on foreign policy issues, except in the circumstance of a truly massive and widely perceived direct external threat." (p. 211)

People of God, we are called to be as wise as serpents. Are you so naive that you do not perceive that the American population is one of the most highly propagandized societies the world has ever known? Day after day, the news carries reports of the global threats to America’s safety and power. Crises have been purposely created, such as the events of 911, to provide the rationale for government leaders to carry out their pre-determined wars and acts of aggression against other nations in order to establish America’s power and influence over the entire world.

Those with even a little discernment will realize the myriad of discrepancies that have arisen as this evil agenda has been carried out. There were no weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq, though the President and Vice President said they had indisputable evidence of their existence. Iraq was not found to be a center of Al Qaida training, and none of the terrorists of 911 were from either Iraq or Afghanistan. This event simply provided the crisis necessary for America’s leaders to rally the support of the American populace to invade these nations.

Will the people of God be so lacking in discernment that they will believe the official story of 911, and swallow whole the arguments given for the present wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? We are told to “beware of men.” Ultimately we are to beware of the one who is behind these men, for they would have no authority had it not been granted to them from above, even from Satan, the ruler of this world.

I have observed such a gullibility in the minds of Americans and Christians, as they have bought into the party line, and have aligned themselves with the actions of evil men. A simple study of the 911 commission report by doing a search on the Internet, will reveal that it was highly controlled and manipulated, and people in key places of oversight controlled what evidence was included and excluded. Consider how extremely swift the government was to clean up the site of the World Trade Centers. A desire to ascertain all evidence of the masterminds behind the attacks would have mandated a slow and careful study of all material excavated. The best minds and criminal investigators would have been brought in. Instead, it was sealed off, and carted away without careful examination just as quickly as was humanly possible. All the rubble was taken to the “Fresh Kills Landfill” outside of New York, and the metal has already been sold for scrap and converted to other uses, negating the ability to study it to see if explosive charges were planted in the building, or there were other causes of the collapses of the buildings aside from burning jet fuel.

I could fill reams of books with evidence of the involvement of our own government in this matter, but it is not my intent to campaign against man. Others have done excellent work in setting forth the facts of the matter. There is abundant evidence that the government leaders had the motive and the means to carry out this evil work, and any who wish to explore the topic will find the evidence overwhelming in its abundance.

My entire intent in speaking of these things now is to cause Christians to be wise in their thoughts. Do not ignorantly or naively embrace the politicians of this hour, nor believe the words they speak. Let the lives and actions of all men be examined with great scrutiny. There are men who are carrying forth an agenda, and these men are skilled in deception. Like a sidewinding serpent, they can be facing one direction while traveling in another. A good deception always leads people away from a focus upon the real goal in mind.

Satan is seeking to bring forth a unified government over this entire world. He uses men who at times see a part of his plan, while he deceives them about the end. I do not know how much men such as the President and Vice President know, or men like Brzezinski. They may only know as much as stated in the book The Grand Chessboard. They may truly believe that America can achieve dominance over the entire world, and in their hubris, their great pride and ambition, they are seeking to bring it about.

Yet Satan’s plan is not for America to achieve her goal. His plan is for America to overreach, and for her ambition to become so obvious, that the nations of the world are incensed at her proud nationalism. The hour is close at hand when other nations such as Russia and China will strike back at America, to secure their own interests, and this world will see a war that makes the previous world wars pale in comparison. Nuclear weapons will annihilate millions. Plagues will be released by one nation upon another. Crops will be destroyed. Millions will endure famine, and the entire world will be brought to such reeling that those who remain will cry out for a savior to arise who will put away all warfare and unite the world as one.

In that hour, America will no longer be a world power. God has been signifying that America’s fall is coming swiftly. Her leaders have betrayed her in their ambition, and whether intending to or not, they have set her on a course for great calamity, such as will beggar the imagination.

Revelation 18:8-11
"For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong. And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying,' Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more...”

People of God, Sarah Palin will not be the champion of the religious right. She is surely deceived. In her recent speech at the Republican National Convention she parroted all the party lines about the need to stay the course in the war against terror. She is ignorant of the wiles of the men who are using her as a pawn to entice evangelical Christians to vote for their chosen man and party. She is ignorant of the greater schemes of Satan behind these evil men, to use America to foment war among the nations, providing an example of the evils of national pride that leads to the death of millions.

By vilifying America’s nationalism, and all the death and destruction that arises out if it, Satan will set the stage for his man to take his seat upon the throne of a unified world government. National patriotism will be held in such contempt due to the destruction it has caused, that the nations will gladly put away their individualism and sovereignty in order to attain the promise of peace.

I was speaking to a brother recently who lives in America, but was raised in Germany. He told me that one thing that he immediately noticed in America was her great patriotic fervor. He said that there was no such overt patriotism in Germany, for the people saw what this attitude had led to in the previous wars. German’s were ashamed to manifest a national pride. This aversion to national pride is the result of the great evil that was the consequence of war and all the lives lost.

Consider then the impact upon the world when America follows a similar path. Her excesses of nationalistic pride will be castigated. The nations of the world, reeling from the terrors unleashed upon the world will respond with revulsion toward any nation that manifests a patriotic nationalism, and all will submit to a one world leader in order to attain the promise of peace and safety.

These are the things the Spirit testifies are coming to the world. These are the things the Scriptures reveal will transpire in these last days. If you have been getting your world view from the newscasts and newspapers, which are controlled by the same elite globalists as those who have devised these plots, then you are not walking in the wisdom that Christ commanded. Ignorance is not a virtue, neither is naivete.

Ephesians 5:15-16
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

The apostle Paul declared, “in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes” (II Corinthians 2:11). I write these things to you that you might not join yourselves to a work of the enemy. Do not lay hands on any man (or woman) suddenly, and thereby share in the sins of others. Satan is constantly scheming, and he sets snares before the feet of the unwary. He is a master of getting Christians to be unwitting participants in his works.

Be discerning about what is really transpiring, and know that you are no longer a citizen of this wicked and fallen world. Your citizenship is in heaven. We are aliens and strangers here, and the methods of a fallen world will not bring forth the kingdom of God. Do not become involved in the affairs of this world system. You are to be led of the Spirit in all things.

Before concluding, I want to say that Yahweh’s hand is behind all things. He will use even the evil of men and the schemes of Satan to accomplish His ends. As Joseph testified,

Genesis 50:20
"And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result...”

The apostle Peter testified the same in his day.

Acts 2:23
This Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

Note that although godless men acted in a conspiratorial fashion to put the Son of God to death, all was according to the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God. Yahshua could have avoided the cross, but He chose to freely lay down His life to accomplish the will of the Father.

In the events occurring at this hour in the nations we see the agency of evil men in collusion with spiritual forces of wickedness, while at the same time all is going according to the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God. Yahweh will use what others meant for evil to bring forth good. Even the fall of America, whose end is being precipitated by the actions of prideful men and godless rulers, will result in good as a purified remnant will come forth to the glory of God.

It is a time to walk wisely. We should discern the forces at work in this hour. Our response should not to be to advocate change using carnal means, nor to protest the wicked actions of world rulers. What have we to do with judging those outside the church?

I Corinthians 5:12-13
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges.

Yahweh will vindicate Himself. He both raises up and abases the rulers of this world. This was the testimony of King Nebuchadnezzar after Yahweh dealt severely with him.

Daniel 4:34-37
"But at the end of that period I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, 'What hast Thou done?...' Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise, exalt, and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride."

May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063