Greetings Beloved,

I want to share with you an excerpt from my current book project, Remember Mercy, which is being written as a prophetic call to return to the Lord. More details will be available soon, but for now please read this excerpt.

“The Angel of Light”

(2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-2)

I believe that we are in the the generation of the Lord’s return. We’ll get that out of the way first. To be certain we’re on the same page, I will gladly maintain that we do not know the day or the hour, for only the Father knows (Mark 13:32). Nevertheless, Jesus commands us, in Matthew 24, to be watchful concerning the signs of His return. He would not give us this command if He did not intend to give us insight on the matter. Without going into great length, I hold to the conviction that both Scripture and current events signal that Jesus is returning soon. In believing it will be this generation, I hold that this generation consists of all peoples living today, which means that Jesus’ return could yet be many years away. Even so, this should inspire us to be ever increasingly watchful, and also diligent in doing all we can to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 16-20).

One evident sign concerning the Lord’s return is found in 2 Thessalonians, which speaks of a great delusion coming to the earth. The Angel of Light is a vision given to me by the Lord in 2008, which addresses this teaching. I believe the Lord gave me this vision to emphasize the urgency of cultivating a love for the Scriptures. A mere intellectual knowledge of Christian doctrine will not save us from deception. We must ask God to give us a love for His Word, that we might respond with hearts immune to compromise.

I was in the Spirit, standing in an open field. On the horizon, I saw something begin to fly in my direction. It was a bird that looked something like a giant, pure white phoenix. As it flew over my head I saw that this bird had a most beautiful tail.

Once the phoenix flew completely overhead, it was as though the vision started over again. The second time the phoenix flew over my head I noticed it also had a rider clothed in red garments. The rider was somehow separate, but also the same as the phoenix. It flew overhead and the scene started for a third time. As this happened, when the phoenix was making its way past me, I saw a great light and the phoenix began to transform within the light. Finally, a fourth time the scene began, but this time the phoenix and its rider had transformed into a glorious angelic being who was both golden and white, illuminating a brightness like the sun.

Immediately, a warm, peaceful feeling came over me.  “The angel is good.  This is a ‘good’ angel,” I told myself.  As this was happening, I had a vague thought come to mind that I was not to trust this angel of light.  Nevertheless, the warm feeling prevailed and I became completely captivated by the splendor of this angel.

“Beware the angel of light.  What is his testimony?”

These thoughts came into my mind, partially removing my gaze from the angel. A battle in my mind began, of Scripture waging war against the angel’s influence on my mind and emotions.

At this point, I was well aware that I was having a vision and began writing it down while the angel continued its attempt to captivate me. I wrote, ‘If we are not firmly grounded in the Word of God we stand no chance against the cunning of this angel.  This is clearly a warning because I am not ready, and I am one of the people called to prepare…’ It was at this point as I was writing that the angel’s presence caused me to fall asleep.

An hour or so later I woke up. When I remembered what had happened, I opened my bible and read 2 Thessalonians. I came to the place in chapter two where it talks about the coming of the lawless one and the strong delusion. The Lord began to minister to me through these verses.

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.  (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 NKJV)

It was obvious to me at this point that the phoenix and its rider represented the antichrist and Satan. The influence of the delusion during the end times will be more alluring and divisive than at any other point in history. The only way to overcome the delusion is to cultivate a pure and sincere love for the truth. We must be committed to loving Jesus with our whole mind and heart. Our mental comprehension of truth will not save us. Knowing Scripture will help, but without loving obedience to the Scriptures, our knowledge will be a vain hope of deliverance.

As it is written, God will send them strong delusion. To whom does He send the delusion? He sends it to those who take pleasure in unrighteousness. Taking pleasure in unrighteousness is the definition of not believing the truth. If we ‘know that He is Lord’ but continue in our sins, we condemn ourselves. Knowing that Jesus is Lord will not save you. We must receive the love of the truth and obey it.

Jesus came in the flesh, fully experiencing the powers of temptation, and therefore sympathizes with our weaknesses. Because of this, Jesus continually intercedes on our behalf. He intercedes though, so that we might receive the fullness of His love and walk in purity and righteousness. The degree in which you receive His love is the degree in which you will stand in allegiance to Him on the day of testing. In the latter days it says that the love of most will grow cold. Jesus is looking for the burning ones who burn with His holy flame of love. If we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we will then burn with the zeal of the Lord Almighty. But if we sin and so deceive ourselves, we lie and demonstrate that we do not have the truth.

Beloved, His mercies are new every morning. God does not demand that we walk in perfection of love today, for He understands our nature. He does command that we pursue the perfection of love today, which is Jesus Christ Himself. The Holy Spirit resides in us so that we might know Christ and glorify Him in every way. When we sin, we damage our ability to walk in love and glorify Him. It is for this reason that He gave us a beautiful gift, called repentance. We must not think of repentance as a dirty word, (as our culture implies), but as the path to freedom and reconciliation to Christ. Repent, therefore! There is no such thing as defeat if you walk in love.

Blessings and grace through Christ our Lord,

J. S. Marek