I believe that one of the great marks of the end of times is the advancement of humanism. The philosophy of humanism is that man is the measure of all things. Most so-called new age religions are really humanism in disguise. They advance the idea that one needs to discover the "god" inside of you. There are no absolutes. There is no absolute authority and no creator. There is no one to whom we need to be accountable they say.
Ten years before I was saved, I had a good friend who was Jewish. I told him, in a disappointing way, that nothing is absolute in this life, that everything is relative. He looked at me and said, "The Ten Commandments never change." I believe that was one of the seeds that caused me to finally submit to the Lord.
I believe that the antichrist sprit and/or the actual Anti-Christ will be the ultimate in humanism. The antichrist spirit will tend to merge all religions into a big "lets get along pot." They will declare that it really does not matter what god you believe in because religion has only brought wars. They will advance the idea that finally man through a new world order will be able to solve the problems that humanity has faced since the beginning of time. Ultimately, the Antichrist will even destroy the apostate religious system and declare himself to be God, Revelation 17:16,17.
For ages, political leaders have united with religious leaders, or have become one in the same. This is a spiritual principle used by Satan, and it will be manifested in a major way in the years to come. Later chapters in this book will go into more detail.
Even some of the most predominant religions in the world are presently practicing humanism. This became so clear to my wife and I as we visited various places in ancient Italy, Greece and Turkey. We could see and feel that humanistic spirit even masked by a religious spirit. This is not confined to Europe; America is loaded with this mixture as well! This is very different than Africa where animism prevails. Animism is the spiritual worship of ancestors gone on to the grave. It is very spiritual as opposed to humanistic. However, in the coming one world order, most if not all, false religions will unify into what the Bible calls Mystery Babylon, the Whore. Later chapters will go into more detail.
This chapter focuses on the ancient Greek culture and how it has spiritually affected Western civilization in many different ways. Although some of it was positive, this chapter deals with the spiritually negative impact it has had. I do not intent to offend anybody within this culture or background by quoting this. I myself have a primarily Greek background. Both of my parents emigrated to the United States of America from Bitola Macedonia, which is, at the time of this writing, only 15 miles from the border of Greece. That region has a definite Greek culture. During past ancient cultures this area was actually part of Greece, and is still considered by many to be part of Greece.
It started with Adam. Adam was created by God to be a fruit bearer. He was to "eat" of the Tree of Life, which is the Word of God. He was told to only "use" and not eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which represents the human intelligence without God involved. Adam decided that he no longer needed to fellowship with God in order to hear Him speak the Word for all things, but that he could make some decisions on his own without hearing from God. That is sin. That is the essence of humanism. That is what caused the Holy Spirit to "move out" of Adam. After that he could no longer be a fruit bearer, but was told that he would then have to make life work through sweat and thorns. Then Jesus came with a solution. By removing our sin, He gave right to the Holy Spirit to move back inside of us, to return us to normal. Normal includes, becoming again a fruit bearer. Strive to hear God speak, go to the Tree of Life constantly and watch the fruit grow for everything you need for life, and for everything that God needs to work through you for others! Don't be like those Christians that eat from both Trees, Repent, turn to the Kingdom of God now!
It often is perpetuated by Christians unknowingly. While there are certain principles that we need to live by in our lives as Christians, like do not lie, do not commit adultery, etc., we are not to live our lives only by principles. That would be utilizing humanism, or the carnal nature. That is what Adam started. We are to live our lives by hearing God, or in other words, receiving divine revelation either from the Word of God and/or the Holy Spirit within. Often what God says to us does not fit into a "principle" that we may be aware of in our natural mind.
For instance, when Job began to suffer, his "friends" tried to tell him the reason he was suffering is that he, Job, must have committed some sort of moral sin because that is what their religious orthodoxy doctrine said. Instead, God was attempting to get Job to not so much understand the cause of his suffering. The reason for Job's suffering was not the issue (we have a book called Job's Journey that goes into that ). God wanted to reveal Himself to Job, which He did in Chapter 42.
Examples of trusting in God's spoken Word rather than principles. 2 Kings chapter 4 contains a story about a woman who could not bear children until Elisha the prophet spoke God's Word to her. Even after her child died, she said, "It is well." (2 Kings 4:23). How could she say that? Because God promised her a son, and God raised the boy from the dead! 2 Kings chapter 3 contains a story about Israel, Judah and Edom being attacked by Moab. Also, they had run out of water, and they were in great peril. Instead of using "the principles of warfare," God spoke through a prophet to dig ditches in the valley. They did and God filled the ditches with water. After that the ditches looked like pools of blood to the enemy, which was their defeat. Read both stories. 2 Samuel chapter 5 contains a story about one of King David's battles. Rather than David just attacking like he had in the past, he inquired of the Lord. The Lord told David not to attack until he heart the sound in the tops of the Mulberry trees. The enemy was defeated because David chose to hear God speak rather than use principles, which principles may have been good ones.
Hearing God speak and either allowing that Word to work in your heart as a seed and/or obeying it, is the way the Kingdom of God operates.
Truth is the only place of safety from this "Greek" or humanistic influence. As Derek Prince states below, the Greek culture has invaded much of this world's system, especially in Western Cultures, but also in Eastern, Asian and African cultures. The most dangerous and deceptive aspect of the Greek culture that can invade believers is being lulled into the lie of not seeing absolute truth for what it is. Truth is a pillar.
1 Timothy 3:15 says, “but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” The word pillar infers to stiffen, something that is immovable, an absolute.
Revelation 3:12 says, “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” Truth qualifies you to operate in the Kingdom of God. Notice the promise in the above Scripture. When one is a pillar God will enable him/her to operate in the Kingdom of God now on this earth. New Jerusalem refers to the Kingdom of God, and in Scripture that Kingdom comes down out of heaven to us. Meditate on that Scripture. Watchman Nee said, Why is truth referred to as a pillar in God's Word? Because a pillar is something immovable. Those who refuse to let God deal with "self" (the old fallen nature) cannot know what truth is, because when they are wrong they lower the truth, and when they are right they raise the truth. Forcing the truth to follow us is the main reason for the darkness that is in the Church.
As we will discuss in later chapters, living in the Kingdom of God now in this life totally depends upon your hearing God speak his personal Word to you, divine revelation, the rhema. In Proverbs it is referred to as Wisdom. In order to hear God at the most intimate level we must abide where He abides, in the light. We must allow the light of God to discover and uncover those parts of us that are contrary to God's character and allow Him to do a cleansing in us. Then we can live in the light and function in God's Kingdom.
1 John 1:4-8: “4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
The Greeks wanted to see Jesus. Definition of Greeks "In a wider sense the name embraces all nations, not Jew, that made the language, customs, and learning of the Greeks their own; the primary reference is to a difference of religion and worship"
When I use the word "Greeks," I am not referring to those who are of a natural Greek origin. The above definition from the Strong's Concordance is referring to a spiritual difference between Jews and Greeks. Zechariah 9:13 compares the Sons of Zion and the Sons of Greece. 1 Corinthians 1:21-25 also speaks about a Jewish mindset compared to a Greek mindset. We are not confined to the mindset with which we were born. I thank God for that! Greeks in a wider sense is a label for most of the Western humanistic mindset. However it is not so limited, as it also applies to many Asian and Eastern mindsets and cultures as well.
Why did Jesus deny these Greeks an audience? John 12:21 says, "Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
Have you ever wondered why Jesus would have denied the request from those Greeks who wanted to see Him? One would think that if anyone asked to see Jesus that He would have responded with gusto.
The Greek philosophy, especially about religious things, was far removed from the truth of the atonement provided by Jesus. I believe that these Greeks had heard about Jesus and that they were curious about his theology and philosophy. Perhaps they would have debated with Him.
The Greeks were into reasoning, understanding according to man's mind without God. They were into what the Bible calls the world's wisdom.
1 Corinthians 1:21-25 “21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
The Renaissance, which started sometime around the 1400s, was the re-birth of this type of worldly wisdom and philosophy that depends upon man's thinking. This type of thinking was passed down from antiquity, surviving and evolving down though the centuries through philosophers like Socrates and Aristotle.
The Greeks did have a form of spirituality, the Greek gods, but it was about gods that they created. Not only did Jesus deny these Greeks the interview, but also He responded with a kind of "God talk" that could appear to be somewhat absurd.
John 12:20-26. “20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. 23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”
Jesus warned in verse 25 that those who loved their lives would perish. The Greek humanist mindset loves it's own life. It does not want to submit or bow to another. It believes that man is capable and was meant to live without God. Jesus said in verse 23 that He would be glorified, or revealed. We need to "see" Jesus spiritually. Had these Greeks seen him in their natural flesh, they would not have recognized Him as deity, as the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. However, even us Gentiles, Greeks, when we see Jesus glorified after His death and resurrection, can then recognize Him and bow to Him.
The following is quoted by one of my favorite Bible teachers of recent years, Derek Prince. Derek Prince was an anointed teacher of the Word of God. He passed into Heaven in the early 2000s. I had the opportunity to read many of his books, to see him in person, and I still listen to his Podcasts. Not only was Derek Prince an anointed Bible scholar, but he was also a very highly educated scholar in the Classics, educated at Cambridge in England. His perception of world history was translated into spiritual reality through his education and God's anointing on his life. The following article shows a very interesting perception of past world cultures and how they spiritually still exist, as I mentioned in the previous chapter. One essential requirement for victory is to identify the nature of the forces that are at work in any given situation. In recent months as I have been meditating on developments in the world—and especially in the U.S.A. and Israel—I believe that God has shown me the identity of the evil, deceptive power that Satan plans to use to consummate his purposes for the end of this age. It is HUMANISM.
I had always thought of humanism as a comparatively harmless error. When I consulted a dictionary, I was taken aback by its definition: “the denial of any power or moral value superior to that of humanity; the rejection of religion in favor of a belief in the advancement of humanity by its own efforts.” I realized that humanism is not spiritually neutral. On the contrary, it is a deliberate denial and rejection of God’s power and authority. It is an anti-religious religion. For this reason, it can be—and often is—taught in educational systems, such as that of the U.S.A., which prohibit the teaching of religion in its usual sense.
I decided to trace humanism back through history, starting with Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of an image with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, and legs of iron. Daniel interpreted this as foreshowing four Gentile empires which would arise in succession. The head was Babylon; the chest and arms were Media-Persia; the belly and thighs were Greece; the legs were Rome (Daniel 2:31–40).
One key factor was impressed upon me: the reproductive organs were in the area identified with Greece. With my background in Greek philosophy, this became particularly vivid to me. I realized that it was Greece—more than any of the other empires—which, through its philosophy, reproduced itself in subsequent cultures. Two of the early Greek philosophers of whom we have a record are Heraclitus and Protagoras. Three of their surviving sayings state: “all things flow” . . . “you can never step twice into the same river” . . . “man is the measure of all things.” It is amazing how these three sayings sum up the essence of humanism. They assert that everything is relative; there are no moral or legal absolutes; and man is the highest authority in the universe.
It is outside the scope of this study to analyze how this thinking has molded, first, the concepts of Europe, and then, through Europe, the concepts of contemporary “civilization.”
The Greeks idolized the human mind. Aristotle’s concept of God was a perfect mind contemplating itself—because nothing less was worthy of its contemplation. Out of this the whole philosophy of rationalism has developed.
In addition to philosophy, another main element of Greek culture was its emphasis on athletic contests. Their Olympic Games represented what was, in fact, an idolatry of athletic prowess, which has come back to life in the present century. The most widely viewed TV programs today are the great international sporting contests.
The Greeks also tended to downgrade the marriage relationship between a man and a woman, and to view a homosexual relationship between two men as being more “intellectually fulfilling.” In their statuary, the idealized male form was usually presented naked, whereas the female was draped with some form of robe.
The so-called “gods” of Greece exhibited all the moral failings of humanity: lust, immorality, jealousy, vindictiveness and deception—a complete absence, in fact, of any binding moral code. This left man free to be his own god, and to establish his own moral code. After all, no people can be expected to live above the level of its own gods.
All these effects of Greek humanism have been increasingly evident in our Western culture throughout the present century. In 1992, however, the spirit of humanism launched a major new offensive against both the U.S.A. and Israel. Almost simultaneously, a cloud of dense spiritual darkness descended upon both nations.
In their national elections that year the spiritual force that brought to power both the Clinton administration in the U.S.A. and the Labor Coalition in Israel was blatant, undiluted humanism. Both administrations represent an open and deliberate rejection of God’s righteous laws and of the covenants He made with man, first through Moses and then through Jesus Christ. They have demonstrated that, carried to its ultimate, humanism will believe anything but the truth and will tolerate anything but righteousness.
This exaltation of man is the force which will finally give rise to the Antichrist, whose name is the number of man (Revelation 13:18), the man of lawlessness, who opposes and exalts himself above everything that is called God or is worshiped, and even sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4). Scripture reveals that he will bring under his dominion all who have refused the love of the truth. For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie—the original lie, that is, with which Satan deceived our first parents: “You will be like God . . .” or “like gods.” This exaltation of man in the place of God will usher in “the great tribulation”—a period of worldwide agony so terrible that it will exceed even the holocaust of 1939–1945 (Matthew 24:21–22).
Before this final period of tribulation, however, God still has tremendous purposes to work out for both Israel and the Church. A harvest of mercy will precede the harvest of judgment. God’s preparation for this is revealed in Zechariah 9:13: “I will raise up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece. . . .”
The “sons of Greece” are those who embrace the deception of humanism. The “sons of Zion” are those who take their stand upon the infallible Word of God, embracing both its promises and its covenants. They will be drawn both from natural Israel and from the professing Church. Of them it will be said, “They overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” They will be people with one overriding priority; to do the will of God will be more important to them than to hold on to life itself.
Faced with this challenge, we each need to ask ourselves: Am I ready to take my stand as one of the sons of Zion? Numerically, we are vastly outnumbered by the forces of humanism. Nevertheless, we can take courage from the example of Asa, king of Judah. Facing an invasion by an overwhelmingly superior army, his prayer of desperation turned sure defeat into total victory. For us today, his prayer provides a wonderful pattern with which to counter the self-exalting forces of humanism.
“LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.” (2 Chronicles 14:11, NIV) Let us stand together in prayer!
Derek Prince Ministries TI 94 Reproduction for free distribution is permitted. The sons of Zion and sons of Greece. It is interesting to note how this passage of Scripture in Zechariah, referred to above, supports our statement of belief in many of our books and lessons. That belief is that as believers, we, as Sons of Zion, during our overcoming process, actually put defeat on the demonic powers, the Sons of Greece, that are in our realm of influence. This is an awesome task as we live in the Kingdom of God here and now. It helps us focus on the eternal and makes the temporal sufferings of this life not only tolerable, but also profitable. It is as Dr. Paul Walker, Pastor Emeritus of Mount Paran Church (my church) in Atlanta and Marietta, GA, frequently calls it "the transcendent life." Zechariah 9:9-17 “9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.’ 11 “As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12 Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare That I will restore double to you. 13 For I have bent Judah, My bow, Fitted the bow with Ephraim, And raised up your sons, O Zion, Against your sons, O Greece, And made you like the sword of a mighty man.” 14 Then the LORD will be seen over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, And go with whirlwinds from the south. 15 The LORD of hosts will defend them; They shall devour and subdue with slingstones. They shall drink and roar as if with wine; They shall be filled with blood like basins, Like the corners of the altar. 16 The LORD their God will save them in that day, As the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, Lifted like a banner over His land-- 17 For how great is its goodness And how great its beauty! Grain shall make the young men thrive, And new wine the young women.” This article by Richard Wurmbrand from his book Reaching Toward The Heights, gives a simple but profound description of humanism.
"He entered into a ship." (Matthew 8:23) An Oriental emperor in times of old sat on the balcony of his palace and watched with pleasure the many boats which passed near the shore. Each was a sign of the prosperity which flourished under his rule.
He asked a priest who stood near him, "How many boats do you think leave and enter our harbor during one year?" The priest answered, Only four." The wrath of the king was kindled. This priest dared to mock him to his face?
"How do you dare to give me such a reply!" exclaimed the king. "I see at least a hundred boats before my eyes right now, and you tell me there are only four the whole year?"
The priest repeated, "It is as 1 said, only four: the ship, 'Desire of adventure,' another, 'Desire of fun,' the third, 'Search for fame,' and the fourth, 'Running after money.' These are the real names of all boats, whatever the inscription on their bow. These are the only forces that drive men."
On the small lake Gennesaret one very small boat sailed. Jesus had entered into it. This ship had another name, "Self-sacrifice for the sacrifice for the glory of God."
It is a unique ship. In Mark 4:37~39, we are told that Jesus once rebuked a storm and the wind ceased at His command. But that evening bigger miracle than the stilling of the storm happened. The waves had beaten into the ship, "so that it was now full" (v. 37). When a ship is full of water, it sinks. Whether there is a big gale or the sea is calm does not make a bit of difference. A ship full of water sinks - but not if it is Jesus' ship. It goes forward when no wind blows in its sails; it glides on when the oarsmen have become lazy and do not row anymore. The church advances even when it is filled to the brim with heresies, schisms, and sins that make her the mockery of men. It advances contrary to the laws of hydrodynamics. It is the only ship, which stays afloat and sails on though full of water, because its motivation is the right one. Choose the right ship in which to make your journey.
