Over-promise and under-deliver. It’s a classic sleazeball sales technique dating back to Eden. In Genesis 3, the Serpent seduced and manipulated Eve into rebelling against God via the classic over-promise and under-deliver maneuver. It’s been going on ever since.
But that modus operandi isn’t limited to unscrupulous salespeople. Anyone who haphazardly spews empty promises... offers dubious assurances... or gushes false hope is much more than a toxic manipulator, they are those in rabid pursuit of death (Pr 21:6).
The Bible has some compelling, convicting, and sharp words for these people. In Revelation 21:8 we read, “But the cowardly, and the unbelieving, and the detestable, and the murderers, and the sexually immoral, and the sorcerers, and the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Did you notice the term “sorcerers” or did you skim right past it? Most of us are completely blind to the term because, subconsciously, we reduce it to outlandish or fantastic hyperbole. We wrongly surmise the Bible was attempting to communicate something far too complex for ancient simpletons deprived of WiFi and flushing toilets to comprehend.
The Greek word we translate in English as sorcerer, magician, or illusionist is φάρμακος (far-mak-os). It doesn’t refer to the kind of people casting spells in fantasy board games or Hollywood movies. Instead, far-ma-kos are real people who poison hearts and minds through their selfish and subversive manipulation. It’s the beautiful girl using flirting and seduction… It’s the charismatic boss using pressure and competition… It’s the “friend” abusing hope… It’s anyone and everyone who looks at other human beings as disposable commodities to be exploited for their own personal gain, pleasure, or advancement.
The Apostle Paul said it like this in Galatians 5:19-21, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
In Galatians 5:20, Paul employs the term φαρμακεία (far-mak-i-ah), i.e. the various means and methods of deception, enchantment, and manipulation employed by far-mak-os (sorcerers). Scripture reveals that those who embrace the regular practice of manipulation and deception, indeed sorcery (far-mak-i-ah), are, in fact, real-life sorcerers (far-mak-os). Paul goes on to reveal that those people “...will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
The kind of Easy Believism preached, taught, and practiced in many churches today is one type of literal far-mak-i-ah (sorcery) performed by actual far-mak-os (sorcerers). “Ask Jesus into your heart,” they say. Next, they encourage folks to take part in a magical water ritual (baptism). Finally, they quote Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” and 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” But that’s not Christianity and those people are not born-again Christians.
Revelation chapter 18 depicts the violent fall of Babylon. The imagery is that of a once resplendent and thriving metropolis steeped in the arts, culture, and commerce… one that has fallen under God’s awesome, terrible, and righteous judgment. In 18:24 we find that sorcery, i.e. far-mak-i-ah, is the reason for her destruction:
The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again,
and the voices of a bride and bridegroom
will never call out in you again.
For your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
because all the peoples were deceived by your sorcery.
All the things humanity heralds as awesome, wonderful, glorious, and praiseworthy, i.e. performing arts, theater, music, museums, institutions of higher learning, professional sports, sprawling mansions, scientific and technological discoveries, gifted artisans and craftsman, and even religion - all of it is found flourishing in Babylon. Contrastingly, in The New Jerusalem of Revelation 21, the Lamb is not only absent from Babylon’s center but is ostracised completely.
It’s true, misery loves company. When God’s pending judgment comes upon Babylon, it will fall upon all of its inhabitants for their sorcery in deceiving all the peoples. Margaret Thatcher, Great Britain’s former Prime Minister, once said, “Nothing is more obstinate than a fashionable consensus.” The fashionable consensus of Babel and Babylon, as with many cities and capitals in the world today, is to deny the divinity and sovereignty of the God of The Bible, and instead to “make a name for ourselves.”
In Genesis 11:7-8 The LORD God demonstrated mercy in coming down, confusing our speech, and scattering us across the globe. In stark contrast, Revelation 18 reveals no such mercies. Babylon’s doom is ushered in with plagues, grief, famine, fear, and fire. Babylon’s weeping and remorse are neither for her abominations, which pile up to heaven, nor for her rejection of The Almighty. Instead, Babylon’s tears and distress are for the demise of her godless empire.
Near the end of the final chapter of the final book of Scripture we read, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. But outside are the dogs: the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Once again, we see the word far-mak-os, i.e. sorcerers.
The telling contrast between those in Christ, who “wash their robes,” who have the right to the tree of life, and who have entered everlasting life as members of the New Jerusalem vs. those “outside,” boils down to how we see and treat other people. There are those who truly love people, both neighbor and enemy, because they see people as God sees us - immeasurably valuable divine creations. Then there are those who see people as disposable commodities to be exploited, manipulated, and consumed for personal pleasure and gain.
Abraham's nephew, Lot, thought it would be fine to camp outside of Sodom. It may seem like a tiny thing to over-promise and under-deliver, but it isn’t. It’s one of the first steps toward taking up permanent residence in Babylon.
Have you taken a marriage vow to honor and cherish your spouse? Are you, or have porn and lust taken their place?
Have you brought a little person into the world to love, care for, and parent them? Are you, or has your career, hobbies, or social media taken their place?
Have you signed a contract to fix, refurbish, or build something? Did you, or have you justified it somehow?
Have you put your name down as a devoted sacrificial member of a local church? Are you, or are you content with your own private relationship and quiet times?
Babylon’s spiritual population is increasing exponentially daily. It’s filling up with people compromising a little here and rationalizing a little there. Despite King Jesus having given us the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20), we seem to prioritize everything but. Despite His explicit imperative command for us to advance His Kingdom for His eternal glory, we invest our time in the building and advancement of our own.
More and more Christians are willfully and willingly taking up their permanent residence in Babylon. They’re surrounding themselves with the false security of “fashionable consensus.” They're gathering a plethora of charismatic leaders, social influencers, and big-name religious scholars to tell them precisely what their itching ears want to hear. They are simultaneously deceiving and being deceived because their hearts and wills are still enemies of Christ. They find comfort and safety in the sheer volume of people embracing the deception. They've convinced themselves, “This many people can't possibly be wrong.” They need to circle back to Matthew 7:13-14.
If they’d truly been born-again, then their service, in fact, their slavery to Christ would be on display in their humble service to others - not for anything so vulgar as a reward or crown (true, but not our motivation), rather simply out of the unavoidable manifestation of Christ’s unstoppable love and compassion resulting from His taking up residence in our hearts by the power and presence of The Holy Spirit.
Justification is always accompanied by transformation. Always. God continually disciplines us to conform to the image of His Son, who loved us and gave Himself for us. If that’s not us… if you’re not sure that’s you… then do what King David did: 1) repent of your sin, and 2) sing the song he sang:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my desires.
See if there is any offensive way in me;
lead me in the way everlasting.
-Psalm 139:23-24
It's not just about loving and serving our friends and family. It's not about those who can love us back. The question is, are all people - including destitute orphans, widows, the underprivileged, the elderly, the marginalized, and the outsiders - are they merely a commodity to be consumed, used, and exploited, or are they divine opportunities to display God’s gift of love, compassion, and stewardship, which He lavished on you in Christ Jesus?
What we practice, and why we practice it, foreshadows our everlasting residence. Christ died upon that cross so that it doesn't have to be in the perpetual lake of fire. It's not a works-based salvation; it's the evidentiary testimony of Christ reigning on the throne of our hearts - or not.
What'll it be? We can choose sorcery and manipulation unto our own personal agenda -or- we can choose humble service and surrender unto Christ for His?
Scripture reveals that our answer comes as more than words.
“We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command.”
2 Thessalonians 3:4
Grace and Peace,
Kevin M. Kelley
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