Book Review by Cassandrah Batya
 
"Not since Gnosticism at the dawn of the Christian era has there arisen a philosophy as pervasive and threatening to orthodox Christianity as The New Age Movement …  It would be difficult to find any area of life, which has not been touched or redirected to some degree by the concepts of this movement."
- David L. Smith, A Handbook of Contemporary Theology, p. 273
 
Outside of the Bible, A Time of Departing by Ray Yungen is one of the most definitive books ever written about what is wrong with contemplative spirituality and mysticism.  Ray Yungen presents concise documentation of why contemplative spirituality is the most dangerous threat to the Church today. As Ray Yungen points out in his book, mysticism has infiltrated the Church through respected ministers who have either bought into the lie of contemplative spirituality or turned a blind eye and deaf ear.
 
Contemplative spirituality is rooted in occult, pagan practices.  It is ancient mysticism with a "friendlier" modern day name.  Anyone who researches world religions will find a common thread between contemplative spirituality, ancient mysticism and pagan practices. 
 
I was not surprised by how people reacted when the heresy in contemplative spirituality was brought to their attention.  They didn't want to give it up.  As I have said before in my own testimony, contemplative spirituality feels good.  It gives you a natural, self-induced high that is addictive within its self.  Most modern day mystics will respond with, "How can this not be from God when it feels so good?"
 
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
- 2 Corinthians 11:14
 
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
- 1 Timothy 4:1
 
"As Christians, we forget that familiar spirits are fallen angels, once created to minister as messengers and worshipping spirits of God.  They know how to sound spiritually positive, and they know how to communicate God's truths.  But, as the Bible states, they are on a mission to deceive "if possible, even the elect" [Mark <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />13:22] and come as "angel[s] of light" [2 Corinthians 11:14].  This explains why God has given every Christian the Holy Spirit and His living word to discern what is of God and what is not.  When we go beyond the teachings of Scripture into man's tradition [as Manning and Foster have done], we are indeed treading upon dangerous ground."
- Ray Yungen, A Time of Departing, p. 87
 
 
The chapter that I found most interesting was, "Could This Really Be The End of The Age?"  Not to sound like a "Last Days" alarmist, but I do believe like Ray Yungen that no other generation has ever had as many connecting biblical signs indicating "The Beginning of Sorrows" era as we do.  Even some pagan religions indicate this time period as unprecedented, marking it as the end of the world or at least life, as we know it. 
 
The Mayan calendar ends December 21, 2012.  Bible Code researchers state that a worldwide catastrophe is to occurred doing this same year of 2012.  Scientists predict that it is a matter of time before a massive meteorite from space impacts the earth.  Occult practitioners speak of the ushering in of the new Aquarian Age of Man. 
 
There are undeniable indicators that something unusual is overtaking the world.  Some of these indicators are a push for global peace, papal prophesies, global warming, destructive weather patterns, a cry for governmental unity, depleting natural resources, nuclear threat to Israel, the corruption of Evangelical ministers, open hostility towards Biblical Christians and the perverting of The Gospel of Christ with world religions.
 
Let me clarify that I believe that only God knows when these events are to occur.  Anyone, including myself, making predictions cannot say with 100% certainty when the last days will happen.  We can only do what Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ instructed us to do, which is to watch for the signs and not be found sleeping when He returns.  With this being said, I wouldn't be surprised that in the near future some kind of natural or man-made worldwide catastrophe doesn't set up the final stage for the emergence of the Anti-Christ with one world church and government.  As far as the creation of one world church, what could be a better opening than the contemplative prayer movement or interspirituality.
 
"Only the most discerning and biblically grounded Christians seem aware of the dangers of the contemplative prayer movement.  A lack of discernment or a misleading view of Scripture can open doors to becoming a contemplative evangelical."
- Ray Yungen, A Time of Departing, p. 71
 
That is why I feel that it is important for Bible believing Christians to speak out about the dangers of contemplative spirituality and mysticism.  When a Christian who knows better chooses to remain safe on the sidelines, he or she is just as guilty as someone who promotes the practice of contemplative spirituality.  Do something.  Just the simple act of passing along this incredible and accurate book, A Time of Departing by Ray Yungen, is better than doing nothing at all.
 
"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in time of great moral crisis maintain neutrality."
- Dante
 
Contemplative Spirituality and Mysticism are the worshipping of the inner self as God [Man and Nature as God].
 
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:  But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.  And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
- Genesis 3:1 – 5
 
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
- Isaiah 14: 12 - 15
 
 
Title: A Time of Departing
Author: Ray Yungen
Publisher: Lighthouse Trails Publishing
Year: 2002, 2006
Pages: 240 [Paperback]
Price: $12.95
ISBN: 0-9721612-7-3