1. First let's name what this group was....a satanic new age cult.

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons;" (1 Timothy 4:1, KJV).

Demons have doctrines! New Age doctrines are created by demons..this is the way that people are lead away from the truth of Christ as Savior...How do we test this? There is a simple test...

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:" (1 John 4:1-2, KJV).

And if a doctrine does not believe that Jesus has come in the flesh (that is, He is God, become a man, died for sin and resurrected for eternal life), what type of spirit is this?....

"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." (1 John 4:3, KJV).

2. What did this Heaven's Gate cult believe? They believed in a false rapture doctrine. They believed that they would get caught up in the air....

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:17, KJV).

They used part of the Bible (which is a New Age trick to try to associate God's Word with foolish beliefs) in their doctrine. In fact, let's name this outright, the New Age movement is the whore described in the book of Revelation. The Revelation describes a worldwide religion of the last days, that many, many people will follow. A whore, that tries to combine the Holy Word of God with other pagan and demonic beliefs...as they say, if the shoe fits, wear it! The Heaven's Gate cult used the Bible, but combined it with insane ideas about rendezvousing with a UFO. An incredibly foolish idea..but purposely so, as we shall see.

3. There is a true rapture, of the Church (the body of Christ, all those who believe in Him as Lord and Savior).

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:51-54, KJV).

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, KJV).

"Wherefore comfort one another with these words!" These words from the Bible are meant for us end-times Christians to comfort one another with, and the Enemy is attacking one of our greatest hopes!

4. How will this effect us?

A... Christians will be afraid to talk about the Rapture. The Enemy is trying to associate it with a foolish UFO delusion and an unfortunate insane cult.

B.... Non-believers look at the Heaven's Gate cult and wonder.."How could such seemingly intelligent people believe such a ludicrous idea"..(caught up in the air to meet a UFO!?). If a Christian now mentions the Biblical rapture, they will associate it with this much publicized twisted fake and this terrible tragedy.

C.... And now, I will say, that many a borderline Christian pastor, whose doctrinal belief is "not sure" about the Biblical rapture, will quickly back down from ever preaching these scriptures to their flock. The Rapture is the miracle that God will provide for all true-believers to save them from the tribulation period. We are meant to comfort one another with these words! If you are called to preach the Word of God you must preach it in Spirit and in Truth, and not worry about the popularity of the message, or what people will think about you! But I believe we can call the Devil's bluff! God's saving power, through Jesus Christ His Son, with the power of the Holy Ghost is for the pulling down of strongholds, and we can know the Truth....the Truth that makes us free!