[QUOTE="tedincarolina, post: 5339953]
I'm not particularly informed on him. I know he was an evangelist and held some pretty large rallies for the Lord. I think he did a lot of faith healings. But I'm assuming that you're asking whether he might be one of those that Jesus turns away. I don't know. He could be. My position here is just to say that when Jesus said this, he was talking about people seen as christians while they lived upon the earth by virtue of his saying that they did these things in Jesus' name. He wasn't referencing unbelievers or those who might follow some other religious practice while living upon the earth. That's all.
Personally, I'll be greatly disappointed if Billy Graham isn't one who receives the promise of God's eternal life. Billy was a man who spoke against sin, but never made it personal. Just always generally speaking of the sin in the world. But then he clearly and confidently explained to all who would listen that the answer for our problem of sin is Jesus. And I believe that's what we should be doing.
I was greatly disappointed that his son, Franklin, allowed himself to be mired in the dirty world of politics. Billy would never support politicians. He might speak for or against some political agenda, such as abortion or immoral sexual acts, but never endorsed specific people. He did visit with and discuss national issues with several presidents but that's as deep as he would go. I've read that, even with as little involvement as he had in politics, he felt, at the end of his life, that he had gone too far. While his son seems to have no qualms in giving endorsements that carry a lot of weight among the believers. That's sad, in my understanding, but it also confirms that we get worse, not better in this matter of sin as time marches inexorably to the last day.[/QUOTE]
Ted,
It is a difficult thing to understand Satan's powers since we are only informed in a limited amount of those details. Yesterday evening I was reminded of how Satan showed Jesus in a moment all the kingdoms of the earth. I don't know how that works.
Here's an example of Satan's servants performing some black arts described in Exodus.
And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
11Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
12For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
We know of other uncanny supernatural works in those chapters before the exodus too.
Since we know this, how is it a mystery if those who believe they are saved because of trusting in their works, claiming to do miracles in Matthew 7, are not even known by God?
Is it any wonder Jesus said, depart from me. I never knew you.