One of the more fascinating trends in the world today is the rise and expansion of the Pentecostal movement, sweeping many into spiritual ecstasy. More than any other religious persuasion, Pentecostalism is gaining adherents globally, across diverse groups and regions, from urban poor to affluent neighborhoods. The Bible suggests that, at the end time, religious fervor will increase, leading people to be deceived by false prophets and deceptive miracles. Jesus warns that many false prophets will rise and deceive many, and even the elect could be at risk of deception through great signs and wonders. The Pentecostal spirit, characterized by ecstatic feelings, does not come from God, but if we are truly His children, we have the Holy Spirit of God, which is a Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. We must use this Spirit to resist deceptions and lay hold of our promised inheritance, eternal life in God's Kingdom.

The roots of mysticism, as seen in the historical context of religious blending, trace back to Babylonian influences where Gnosticism, a pagan occult religion, emerged. This belief system intermingled with Judaism during the captivity in Babylon, giving rise to the Jewish mysticism known as Kabbalah, which incorporated certain aspects of the Old Testament. In the first century, alongside the true Church, this mixture of Gnosticism and Judaism persisted, creating a complex religious landscape. When Christianity emerged, Gnostics adopted Christian terminology, twisting its meanings and blending them with their occult pagan beliefs, thus creating a deceptive fusion of demonism, occultism, and Christian language. This manipulation of terms led to significant misunderstandings, as the same words carried vastly different concepts among various groups, illustrating a deliberate distortion of spiritual truth.

Gnosticism, with its mystical and charismatic nature, stands in stark contrast to rational thought, embodying a spiritual reality that eludes the senses and obvious intelligence. It is marked by asceticism, exclusivism, and a heavy reliance on magic. When combined with the zeal of certain Jews who practiced Halakah, this mysticism created a compelling yet deceptive appeal within segments of the early Christian church. This blend of Gnostic influence and Jewish legalism subtly undermined God's sovereignty, Christ's death, and the Father's grace regarding justification. It shifted the focus to personal qualities achieved through mystical, charismatic, magical, and ascetic experiences in law-keeping, which are merely works of the flesh. Such practices stand opposed to the rational and true keeping of God's commandments, which produces evidence of genuine faith and reveals whom we believe in, without reliance on mysticism or self-imposed suffering.