Yesterday Tricia Tillin of Banner Ministries sent me a link to her commentary on Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of the Christ. She asked if I would link to it on FulfilledProphecy.

After reading it, I had mixed feelings. I knew if I posted it, some would think Tricia's thoughts were my thoughts. I also knew some would agree, and some would get angry. And if you know me, you know I don't like being unnecessarily divisive.

Today I noticed on the discussion board this is exactly what happened. Some agreed with Tricia, and some got angry. One person even said they were having doubts now about the people on this Website. This is why I decided I need to let people know my thoughts on this movie.

The first thing that needs to be said is, we're living in a time when things aren't as simple as we would like them to be. When Jesus was asked about the end-times events, the first thing He said was a warning. He said:

See to it that know one misleads you ... many false prophets will arise and will mislead many (Matthew 24:4-11 New American Standard Bible).

And it is apparent to me the Apostle Paul was thinking about Jesus' warning when he said:

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

But Jesus didn't only warn us about the great end-times apostasy. He also told us the gospel would be preached in the whole world. He said:

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).

This is the way I see it. History tells us when Satan can't destroy a work of God, he tries to adopt it. When the great Roman Empire couldn't destroy Christianity, it adopted it as its official religion. I suspect that's how it will be with Gibson's movie. Since Satan couldn't prevent its release, he's now going to try to adopt it.

What do I think of The Passion of the Christ? In a powerful new way, the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a witness. And God's true people will use the movie to evangelize, and many will be saved.

At the same time, Satan will use it too. And the concerns Tricia has expressed will also be realized. There will be many false, emotional conversions and a dangerous global awaking of the spirit of false religion.

But, that's the time we're in.