(Gold Dust & Drunk In The Spirit) For other Bible studies on Babylon’s deceptions see:
The Prosperity Gospel
Jerking And Holy Laughter (This is also in chapter 12 in book 1, Satan’s Fall, of my series The Rising Of The Sons Of Dawn.)
Widow Makers
The Bride And The Gold Of Ophir An Unholy Alliance Revelation 17:1-6 – John describes “Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Prostitutes.” She represents the spiritual whore in the body of Christ who has committed spiritual adultery with the world. In arrogance, she refuses to repent. It’s the teachings of Jezebel (Rev. 2:20-23), and Balaam (Rev. 2:14) that seduce God’s people into idolatry. These Babylonian leaders that are teaching rebellion against God through their false doctrines will be the first ones He judges. Unless those who commit adultery with them repent of their deeds, they will be cast into great tribulation and the Lord will kill their children (Rev. 2:21-23). 1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." 3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering [5558; NAS/NKJV “adorned”; KJV “decked”] with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. NIV NT:5558 chrusoo (khroo-so'-o) (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) from NT:5557; to gild, i.e. bespangle with golden ornaments: (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) to adorn with gold, to gild Gild (Webster’s Dictionary)
to overlay with, or as if with, a thin covering of gold
to give money to
to give an attractive but often deceptive appearance to
to make bloody Genesis 11:1-9- The self-glorifying tower of Babel and the confusion of mankind’s language. See the note below for more.
1 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.
2 As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar [“country of two rivers”] and settled there.
3 They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered [6327] over the face of the whole earth."
5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building.
6 The Lord said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.
7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."
8 So the Lord scattered [6327] them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.
9 That is why it was called Babel [894] — because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered [6327] them over the face of the whole earth. NIV OT:6327 puwts (poots) (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) a primitive root; to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse): KJV - break (dash, shake) in (to) pieces, cast (abroad), disperse (selves), drive, retire, scatter (abroad), spread abroad. (Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon) 1) to scatter, to be dispersed, to be scattered a) (Qal) to be dispersed, to be scattered b) (Niphal)
1) to be scattered
2) to be spread abroad
c) (Hiphil) to scatter d) Hithpael) scatter
2) 3)
(Qal) to flow, to overflow to break
a)
b) (Pilpel) to dash to pieces
(Polel) to shatter
OT:894 Babel (baw-bel')
(Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)
from OT:1101; confusion; Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire:
KJV - Babel, Babylon.
(Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
Babel or Babylon = "confusion (by mixing)"
Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates
It was at the building of the tower of Babel where God confused the language of the whole world, causing those who were building a structure for their own glory to be scattered all over the face of the earth. The “one language and a common speech” was restored when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples who had gathered together per the Lord’s command on the Day of Pentecost. They would be the ones who would build His church, His way, by His Spirit, for His glory.
I see the Lord once again commanding His disciples to gather together and wait for the outpouring of His Spirit. It is only through His Spirit that mankind can once again speak with one language and a common speech. This is why churches speak differently, with different tongues (doctrines) so to speak. Each denomination has its own Christianese dialect. To those in the world, it is a confusing mix (i.e. Babylon). This changes under the power of the Holy Spirit. When this occurs we build a structure, in the
Spirit, for the glory of God rather than man. This is the unity of the Spirit that allows the world to know that the father sent His Son for them and that He loves them.
Part of Jesus' prayer to the Father in John 17 was, “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one [1520- “universally, in opposition to many”], just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected [“to complete (finish), to carry through completely; to accomplish, bring to an end”] in unity [1520], so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” (John 17:22-23/NASU) It is this glory, the true glory of Jesus rather than the false glory of Babylon, that results in the glory that gathers/unites His people instead of scattering them. It is how we are going to be perfected in Christ, bringing an end to this age.
This is why Babylon, the devil’s counterfeit glory, works so hard at deceiving God’s people. Satan knows the power of God against him when we come together in this manner under the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s in this divine manner because He is lifted up (exalted, glorified) in His people when the world will come to know that Jesus was sent for them. They see him rather than us.
Jesus said, “When you lift up [“to elevate, to exalt”] the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.” (John 8:28/NASU) Again, Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” (John 12:32/NASU) Because the spirit of Babylon has so infiltrated the church, Jesus cannot draw all men to Himself. Instead, the church has to use gimmicks and good entertainment of some sort to get the people to come.
Acts 2:1-13- On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples who had assembled and remained together per the command of Jesus (Luke 24:49). It was one of the three annual feasts that God had given His people to gather together in remembrance of Him (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles). “They were all together in one place...” Those who hear what the Spirit is saying to the church, and then come together as commanded, will be the first to partake of the final infilling (see the Bible study Elul; The Season Of Preparation And 40 Days Of Favor). 1 When the day of Pentecost had come [4845 - KJV/NKJV “fully come”], they were all together [3674 – KJV/NKJV “with one accord”] in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. 5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout [“taking hold well (i.e. carefully and surely, cautious), reverencing God, pious, religious”] men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. [Notice that they came together, and were amazed in regards to what they heard, and understood. This is the result of the true gift of tongues. The false gift always scatters due to its lack of clarity. See the Bible study Tongues.]
7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
8 "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?
9 "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews, and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs — we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God."
12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"
13 But others were mocking and saying, "They are full of sweet wine." [This is the verse used by those who believe in being what they refer to as “drunk in the Spirit” to confirm what they are experiencing. See below to understand what spirit this really is and why it’s manifesting in this manner.] NASU NT:4845 sumpleroo (soom-play-ro'-o) (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) from NT:4862 [sun (soon)- denoting union, ] and NT:4137; to implenish completely, i.e. (of space) to swamp (a boat), or (of time) to accomplish (passive, be complete): KJV - (fully) come, fill up. (Thayer's Greek Lexicon)
to fill completely (Luke 8:23)
to complete entirely, be fulfilled: of time (Luke 9:51)
NT:3674 homou (hom-oo') (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) genitive case of homos (the same; akin to NT:260) as adverb; at the same place or time (Thayer's Greek Lexicon) adverb, together (John 4:36; 20:4); of persons assembled together (Acts 2:1; 20:18; John 21:2) Jeremiah 23:1-4- The Lord declares His judgment over the shepherds of His people who were destroying and scattering His sheep. To scatter the sheep does not necessarily mean that they wandered away from them, but that they wandered away from following Christ. They can still be with the same shepherd yet far from Christ in the devotion of their hearts. I see within verses 3-4 a dual prophecy. The Jewish people being regathered as a nation in 1948 is a sign that the Israel of God Paul mentions in Galatians 6:16 made up of both Jew and Gentile who have come under the lordship of Jesus Christ will soon follow. Paul said, “The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 15:46/NIV) Natural Israel coming together is first, followed by spiritual Israel. 1 "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying [6] and scattering [6327] the sheep of My pasture!" declares the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: "You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds," declares the Lord. 3 "Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply. 4 "I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them, and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the Lord NASU OT:6 'abad (aw-bad') (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy): (Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon) 1) to perish, to vanish, to go astray, to be destroyed a) (in the Qal)
1) to perish, to die, to be exterminated
2) to perish, to vanish (figuratively)
3) to be lost, to stray
b) (in the Piel)
1) to destroy, to kill, to cause to perish, to give up (as lost), to exterminate
2) to blot out, to do away with, to cause to vanish, (figuratively)
3) to cause to stray, to lose
c) (in the Hiphil)
1) to destroy, to put to death (sometimes of divine judgment)
2) an object name of kings (figuratively)
(The following is from the Bible study Revival And The Tree Of Life) Making The Pleasant Land Desolate Zechariah 7:11-14- As with Israel, we cause the “pleasant land” of God, His garden within us, to become a wasteland through sin and rebellion against Him. I believe the Middle East is now a desert because of Adam and Eve’s original sin in Eden. When the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven, the land will once again become a pleasant land. 11 "But they refused to pay attention, and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing. 12 "And they made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. 13 "And it came about that just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen," says the LORD of hosts; 14 "but I scattered them with a storm wind among all the nations whom they have not known. Thus the land is desolated behind them, so that no one went back and forth, for they made the pleasant [2532] land desolate [8074]." (NAS) 2532 chemdah (khem-daw') (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) feminine of 2531; delight: KJV-- desire, goodly, pleasant, precious. Hemdan. (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon) as a feminine noun: 1) desire, what is desirable as an adjective: 2) pleasant, precious 8074 shamem (shaw-mame') (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) a primitive root; to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense): (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon) KJV-- make amazed, be astonished, (be an) astonish (-ment), (be, bring into, unto, lay, lie, make) desolate (-ion, places), be destitute, destroy (self), (lay, lie, make) waste, wonder. to be desolate, to be appalled, to stun, to stupefy a) (Qal) 1) to be desolated, to be deflowered, to be deserted, to be appalled 2) to be appalled, to be awestruck b) (Niphal) 1) to be desolated, to be made desolate 2) to be appalled
c) (Polel) 1) to be stunned 2) appalling, causing horror (participle); a horror-causer, an appaller (substantive) d) (Hiphil) 1) to devastate, to ravage, to make desolated 2) to appal, to show horror e) (Hophal) to lay desolate, to be desolated f) (Hithpolel) 1) to cause to be desolate 2) to be appalled, to be astounded 3) to cause oneself desolation, to cause oneself ruin Jeremiah 3:19-21- Through the prophet, the Lord rebukes Israel for forgetting Him. If they would have walked in obedience He says He would have given them “a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of the nations.” 19 "Then I said, 'How I would set you among My sons, and give you a pleasant [2532] land, the most beautiful inheritance of the nations!' And I said, 'You shall call me, My Father, and not turn away from following me.' 20 "Surely, as a woman treacherously departs from her lover, so you have dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel," declares the LORD. 21 A voice is heard on the bare heights, the weeping and the supplications of the sons of Israel; because they have perverted their way, they have forgotten the LORD their God. (NAS) Psalm 106:24-27- While recounting Israel’s past rebellion against the leading of God, the psalmist speaks of how “they forgot God their Savior.” They despised the pleasant land the Lord had brought them into. The Hebrew for “despised” is ma’ac which means “to spurn, to reject, to despise, to refuse.” According to Webster’s Dictionary, to spurn is “to refuse to accept (someone or something that you do not think deserves your respect, attention, affection, etc.).” Like Adam and Eve who lost their pleasant place in Eden, He cast down in the wilderness those who were disrespectful and ungrateful of the place the Lord had led them to. This caused their offspring to be scattered among the nations.
24 Then they despised [3988] the pleasant [2532] land; they did not believe in His word,
25 But grumbled in their tents; they did not listen to the voice of the LORD.
26 Therefore He swore to them, that He would cast them down in the wilderness,
27 And that He would cast their seed among the nations, and scatter them in the lands.
(NAS) 3988 ma'ac (maw-as') (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) a primitive root; to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear: spurn: to refuse to accept someone or something that you do not think deserves your respect, attention, affection, etc. (Webster’s Dictionary) KJV-- abhor, cast away (off), contemn, despise, disdain, (become) loathe (some), melt away, refuse, reject, reprobate, X utterly, vile person. (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon) 1) to reject, to despise, to refuse a) (Qal) 1) to reject, to refuse 2) to despise
b) (Niphal) to be rejected 2) (Niphal) to flow, to run In the last book of the Bible, the Revelation to John, he describes for us the punishment of a blasphemous woman whom he refers to as Mystery Babylon, the great prostitute. Babylon is a word of Hebrew origin. It’s taken from the word Babel which is defined as “confusion (by mixing).” It was at the building of the tower of Babel where God confused the language of the whole world, causing those who were building a structure for their own glory to be scattered all over the face of the earth (Genesis 11:1-9).
In their reasoning for building a tower that would reach into heaven, they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4/NIV) The very thing they feared, being scattered, actually occurred because of their desire for self-edification. How many churches today desire to make a name for themselves, or their denominations, rather than Christ, and as such have become scatterers of God’s people? To those with eyes to see and ears to hear, the answer should be obvious.
The self-glorifying spirit of Babel is alive and well. When allowed to operate in the church, it always results in a division of purpose and mind, resulting in the scattering of God’s people. Jesus said, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” (Matthew 12:30/NIV) There is no middle ground here. We are either a gatherer or a scatterer, depending upon our obedience or disobedience to the will of God.
Spiritual Babylon has a long history of destroying the unifying work of the Spirit in the hearts of God’s people. The lack of true unity in the Body of Christ confirms that the majority of the leaders in the church in America today are scatterers. The anti-Christ spirit of Mystery Babylon has overcome many in leadership positions. “These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.” (Jude 19/NIV) Through deceptive teachings that appeal to the natural man, the devil has caused many to fall away from following Christ. Paul warned us of this, saying, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (1 Timothy 4:1/NIV) This is why Babylon’s judgment rightfully draws near, along with all who played the spiritual harlot with her.
In John’s description of “Babylon the great,” he says; “One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. With her, the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.’ Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls [see the Bible study The Bride And The Gold Of Ophir An Unholy Alliance]. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.” (Revelation 17:1-6/NIV)
Like a prostitute, “Mystery Babylon The Great” seduces her victims by appealing to their natural, sensual nature. Notice that in the above passage, she was sitting on the scarlet beast in the wilderness. This is exactly why the church in America is presently in a spiritually dry place (see the Bible study Widow Makers). Because, as I just pointed out, the majority of God’s shepherds in our nation have been overcome by this prostitute, they have naturally led us to where she dwells. To sit under these deceived leaders is to dwell in a dry and thirsty land that leaves your inner thirst unquenched.
To turn toward Babylon, and away from God, through acceptance of her confusing mix of lies and truth is to end up like those who have become intoxicated with strong drink. Like an alcoholic, you become addicted to her seductive ways that cause your flesh to feel good while at the same time destroying you on the inside. She dulls your sense of discernment, causing your fogged mind to no longer be able to discern truth from error. To walk in union with her is to become ensnared in her deceptive web of lies, resulting in eternal destruction.
Babylon’s ultimate goal is to deceive God’s people. This, by the way, is why she hates the prophets sent by God to expose her sorcery. Like a vampire, she thrives on drawing the life[blood] from her victims in order to satisfy her own selfish desires. Her goal is to exalt her own kingdom rather than God’s. When partaken of, her adulterous wine produces a counterfeit experience of euphoria from the devil. She is the progenitor of a false gospel that has an intoxicating effect on all who commit spiritual adultery with her.
Fool’s Gold In John’s description, Babylon is said to be glittering with gold (Revelation 17:4). This represents the counterfeit glory of God that she has adorned herself with. The Greek for “glittering” is chrusoo (khroo- so'-o). It’s defined as “to adorn with gold, to gild, i.e. bespangle with golden ornaments.” Webster’s Dictionary defines gild as “to overlay with, or as if with, a thin covering of gold; to give money to; to give an attractive but often deceptive appearance to; to make bloody.” All of these definitions perfectly describe Mystery Babylon. Her attractive appearance is used to seduce God’s people. Through her flashy external adornment, she attempts to charm the Christian’s fleshly nature.
Not only does she extract the life out of her victims, but she also empties their wallets with the false hope of having them refilled ten times over. This is the spirit of the antichrist behind the “prosperity gospel,” among others, that has bewitched many in the church. Her thin covering of gold is actually fool’s gold. It’s a counterfeit atonement (i.e. covering) used to deceive the elect, when possible (Matthew 24:21-25).
Babylon, the dwelling place of demons and every unclean spirit is said to be drunk with the blood of the saints. She is gilded by the blood of Christians rather than the blood of Jesus Christ (John 6:53). Another side effect of her mind-altering drugs is the bizarre behavior of the so-called “drunk in the Spirit” experience manifested in some Christian circles. It is a false experience of the devil. When the disciples were filled with the Spirit at Pentecost, some said they were drunk. This was a whole different manifestation under the power of the Holy Spirit. The harlot is drunk with the blood of the saints. The disciples were seemingly drunk with exceeding joy through the blood of Jesus.
The harlot’s counterfeit experiences always result in self-glorification. It’s all about you and your strange experience. In Acts 2, the disciples were under total control of the Holy Spirit as they spoke with other languages of the mighty deeds of God (Acts 2:11). Their message was clear. For those with eyes to see and ears to hear there is an easily discerned difference between the two. The question to ask yourself is, “Who is receiving glory through this?” “Come out of her My people!”
In this midnight hour, before He pours out His wrath against all wickedness (see the Bible study The Nephilim And The End Of All Flesh), the Lord is mercifully warning His people in the church to come out of Babylon’s embrace so as not to be judged along with her. Don’t be deceived, to not separate from her in mind and deed will be to experience her severe judgments.
The devil would like you to continue in a false sense of security as if nothing will harm you even while you walk in rebellion against the lordship of Jesus Christ. Awake sleeper and behold the Bridegroom! Come out to meet Him. His coming again draws near. May the Lord sober up His people who have become intoxicated with the maddening wine of the harlot’s sensuality and idolatry.
John heard a voice from heaven, saying; “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix
twice as much for her. To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I SIT as A QUEEN AND I AM NOT A WIDOW, and will never see mourning [i.e. a false sense of security in Christ].” 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.” (Revelation 18:4-8/NASU) Pestilence and mourning and famine, along with being burned up with fire, these are the judgments that will destroy all who remain loyal to this harlot. As in the days of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, this is not a time to delay, or look back. Run, church, to the higher ground of safety, found only in Jesus Christ. The path of humility and repentance is the way up this holy hill of deliverance. There is no other route. May the Lord give us eyes to see and ears to hear before it’s too late. To God be the glory!
From the internet: Question: “Is being drunk in the Spirit a biblical experience?” Answer: Nowhere in the Bible does it say to be drunk in the Spirit. When the Bible speaks of being drunk, it always has a negative connotation. The only place in Scripture that alludes to the idea of “spiritual drunkenness” is Isaiah 29:9-14, and it refers to God’s judgment upon sin and apostasy.
Some leaders in the Word of Faith movement and churches associated with the Toronto Blessing promote the false idea of being “drunk in the Spirit” or being filled with “drunken glory.” Congregations are instructed to “get drunk,” “take another drink,” and cast off all restraint. Stumbling gaits, slurred speech, falling to the ground, and other odd behaviors are “proof” of the work of the Holy Spirit.
The false teachers who promote being drunk in the Spirit point to Acts 2:13 as justification for their aberrant practice. On the day of Pentecost, as the apostles were preaching the gospel, some in the crowd said, “They have had too much wine.” The accusation was obviously a mockery of the apostles, and Peter flatly denies any hint of inebriation (verse 15). Yet today’s Word of Faith teachers take this jest from an ungodly crowd and use it as “evidence” that Peter and the apostles were preaching in a senseless stupor. Such twisting of Scripture not only demeans the apostles, it also dishonors the Holy Spirit.
The apostle Paul wrote, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:15-18).
Paul says that getting drunk is akin to our old way of life with its worldly and self-serving desires. Such behavior is debased and “leads to debauchery” (compare Colossians 1:21; Romans 13:13). The word debauchery is a translation of a Greek word meaning “lawless insolence or unmanageable caprice.” Paul deliberately contrasts the state of drunkenness (a loss of control) with the indwelling of the Spirit of God (a gain of self-control, Galatians 5:23).
God wants every aspect of our lives as believers to be under the complete control of the Holy Spirit. This does not come by drunkenness, and it does not mimic its effects. Acting drunk and blaming it on the Spirit of God is sin. Those who teach spiritual intoxication are more closely allied with Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and drunkenness, than with the true God of the Bible. Being filled with the Spirit is not some ecstatic or emotionally charged experience. It is not a heavenly high or a spiritual buzz. Being filled with the Spirit is a steady submission of one’s life to the God of glory (1 John 3:24). (http://www.gotquestions.org/drunk-in-the-Spirit.html) “to overlay with, or as if with, a thin covering of gold...” (Gold dust)
“Glory Cloud & Gold Dust At Bethel Church”
“It all started in October 2011. Hundreds of believers travelled to Redding, CA for this year’s Open Heaven Conference at Bethel Church [Bill Johnson is the senior pastor]. The remaining congregation was engaged in a fire tunnel (people lining up to pray for each other) during the very end of the last night session on October 14th, 2011. Suddenly a mysterious gold-sparkling cloud appeared on the right side of the stage and kept showing up over a time period of 2 hours. People also report having found Diamonds on the floor, which appeared supernaturally and grew in size as they were watching. Some claim to have been covered with gold dust all over their shirts while worshipping God, and others speak of having received gold-teeth. For many present, this was the first supernatural encounter of this sort they have ever experienced. The picture on the left shows the fingers of a friend of mine after worshipping with her hands lifted high. From this day on the Cloud kept coming showing up at Sunday night services at Bethel Church. It has now appeared 4 times already!”(http://www.revivallifestyle.com/glory-cloud-caught-on-camera/)
“Is it possible for gold dust to come down during a church service?”
“Over the years, various unusual phenomena have occurred that some declare to be the manifestation of the glory of God. One of the most spectacular is that of gold dust falling from the ceiling during worship times. This golden film coats the hands and faces of those in attendance, who state that they have no explanation for it except that God is manifesting Himself to them. Some reports include the appearance of “diamonds” and “precious stones” in people’s hands. Gold fillings miraculously appear in people’s mouths. There are others who claim they were coated with a golden substance during personal prayer times at home. These reports come from all across the globe and those who have witnessed this phenomenon declare that it drew them closer to God. Could this be a true manifestation of God?”(http://www.gotquestions.org/gold-dust-church.html)
False Signs And Wonders
Matthew 24:21-25 – Jesus says that “a great tribulation” will come at the end of this age, with “false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” What will make it possible is a lack of discernment through a lack of remaining close to the Lord by obedience.
21 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
22 "Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.
23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him.
24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
25 "Behold, I have told you in advance.
NASU
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