GENERATION OF VIPERS

1. It is impossible to miss the tone of John's evaluation of some of the spiritual leaders of his generation, "But when he saw many of the PHARISEES and SADDUCEES come to his baptism, he said unto them, O GENERATION OF VIPERS, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" [Matthew 3:7] One may only imagine the reaction of the religious dignitaries and their followers; severe condemnation of John and canonical rebuttals anchored on Psalms 105:15 among others. A worse fate awaits John, if he shot the same arrow today from those who claim monopoly of "ANOINTING". Nonetheless, John had the ANOINTING more than anyone that came before him, Luke 7:28, he neither "TOUCHED" nor "HARMED", but spoke the mind of God to a generation afflicted with "ITCHING EARS" [2 Timothy 4:3] JESUS CHRIST took it one step further, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES! for ye are like unto WHITED SEPULCHRES, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. ... Ye serpents, ye GENERATION OF VIPERS, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"  [Matthew 23:27,33] 

2. John, the Baptist, was forerunner of CHRIST'S earthly stewardship; sent ahead to warn and prepare the WAY of the MESSIAH in the "SPIRIT OF ELIJAH, "And he shall go before him in the SPIRIT and POWER of ELIAS, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" [Luke 1:17] The ministry of John fulfilled one part of the dual prophecy in Malachi 4:5-6, as it is written: "Behold, I will send you ELIJAH THE PROPHET before the coming of the GREAT and DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD: And he shall turn the HEART OF THE FATHERS TO THE CHILDREN, and the HEART OF THE CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERS, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse" [Malachi 4:5-6] The "GREAT DAY" dawned some two 2,000 years ago; JESUS CHRIST, the " SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" brought the LIGHT of SALVATION to all [John 8:12] The second part, the "DREADFUL DAY", shall see JESUS return; first, to receive His BRIDE, reign through the millennium and afterwards the "WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT" [Revelation 20:11-15] As we speak, JESUS is at the door to receive His BRIDE, Revelation 3:20; alas, the door keepers have changed the locks, as He foretold, "... Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, SHALL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH? [Luke 18:8] 

3. Spirit of Elijah is present to prepare the WAY of the SON OF MAN, as foretold and fuilfil second part of Malachi 4:6; restore the CHURCH to the doctrine and mandate of the APOSTLES of CHRIST. Many ecclesiastical feathers shall be ruffled and many tables upturned, blessed is he that shall not be offended, "For whom the Lord loveth he CHASTENETH, and SCOURGETH every son whom he receiveth. ... But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons" [Hebrews 12:6,8] If the generation of John, the Baptist, was CHASTISED for HYPOCRISY, this LAODICEAN CHURCH deserves to be SCOURGED for adding ARROGANCE to DECEIT, "Because thou sayest, I AM RICH, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that THOU ART WRETCHED, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" [Revelation 3:17] Centuries of mishandling the WORD of God, 2 Corinthians 4:1-2, has spurned a BROOD OF VIPERS who have mesmerised and infected the fold with the venom of SELF-CENTERED THEOLOGY, as it is written: "... LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, COVETOUS, BOASTERS, PROUD, proud, blasphemers, disobedient, ... Having A FORM OF GODLINESS, but DENYING THE POWER thereof: from such turn away" [2 Timothy 3:1-2,5]

4. This GENERATION OF VIPERS is like none the world ever knew, the SERPENT in Eden is incarnated as ministers of the gospel, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. ... his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works" [2 Corinthians 11:14-15] The deception in this generation is beyond "YE SHALL BE AS GODS", Genesis 3:5, "GODS" now preside over men from pulpits, a "GOD" for every desire of the heart, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" [Matthew 24:24] The ELECT shall not be deceived but persecution awaits us and as deception morphs into delusion, cruel intimidation shall arise, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, DECEIVING, AND BEING DECEIVED"  [2 Timothy 3:12-13] If any man has ears, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the CHURCH, "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" [Revelation 18:4] Come out of the maddening crowd, escape with your SALVATION to higher grounds, Genesis 19:17, determine not to let go of the TRUTH.