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Coming Like the Flood
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.
“So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” (Isaiah 59:19)
The great enemy of our souls “the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Yet he can also be “transformed into an angel of light,” and so can “his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). He and his ministers are perhaps most dangerous when most deceptive, quoting Scripture and spiritual sentiments in a superficial show of piety, yet distorting the “Scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16), and we must use the sword of the Spirit against them.
Then there are those times when, angered that their deceptions (sometimes even their own self-deceptions) are not persuading the true people of God to compromise their stand for God’s truth and His great salvation, they resort to great pressure and overt opposition—even persecution—seeking to silence their testimony. The enemy comes in like a great flood, and the waves seem about to engulf us, and we cry with the psalmist: “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul” (Psalm 124:2-4).
But God is on our side, as long as we are on His side and hold fast to His clearly revealed Word. Before the demonic flood can overwhelm us, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up His standard (or, more literally, “put him to flight”), and God will prevail once again, for “the foundation of God standeth sure” (2 Timothy 2:19), and “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Tom Horn: Profiting from false prophecy?
By Jake Jones
Is Tom Horn making money on false prophecy?
“…if your church is preaching this kind of junk, perhaps you need to rethink your position, not only as a Christian, but as a participant in that church.”
The list of books published by Tom (Thomas , or Thomas R.) Horn is long. He has compiled a list of books that many say are reality when it comes to the subject matter of prophecy and current events. Now you ask, why is Tom Horn worth writing about? Because each of us needs to determine whether Horn is a ‘false prophet’ or not. Yes, there have been many false prophets in the last few decades, but Tom Horn seems to be making the most profit from his particular brand of prophecy, or should we call it “profit-cy”?
If you’ve never heard the term Exo-Vaticana before (Horn’s newest book), then you may or may not be surprised to know that when translated it means “outside of the Vatican”. The sub-title reads as follows:
Petrus Romanus, Project L.U.C.I.F.E.R., and the Vatican‘s astonishing exo-theological (outside of theology) plan for the arrival of an alien savior.
(More information on L.U.C.I.F.E.R. below)
The term “alien savior” should make one stop and say ‘what’? But this is what he (Horn) is portraying that the Catholic Church is prepping for. Yes, an “alien savior”. That is certainly quite different than what I know, understand, and have learned about the Bible, and the return of Jesus Christ to Earth!
Using Common Sense: Now, don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of things happening around the world to make one wonder if we are on the fringes of the end times, but we have to be realistic about that concern.
Read full article from the EXAMINER
I had accepted some friend requests on facebook only to discover their intent was to attack me. They were determined to smash my idolatry of gathering together with Sunday worshippers and observing certain holidays. Many in the HR movement fall into legalism. Here is a short article on facebook exposing the “119 Ministries.” You might note that other teachings are also bringing in the gnostic gospels which are adding to the Bible.
ANTI-CHRIST ARITHMETICThe Hebrew Roots Movement uses the same general strategy to cheat you of your salvation that other cults like the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses do. That’s because behind all cults, including the Hebrew Roots Movement, is Satan himself.ADD
Many who are caught up in the HRM have not started reading the Talmud or Mishnah yet. But they’re being groomed to receive these extra-biblical texts by a culture of idolizing all things Hebraic. Once they are convinced to read these heretical documents, they are likely to go all the way and deny Jesus because these texts absolutely deny Jesus’s deity.
Revelation 22:18
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, IF ANY MAN SHALL ADD UNTO THESE THINGS, GOD SHALL ADD UNTO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK:
SUBTRACT
Many if not most in the HRM are unitarian monotheists – that is they believe in only one person in the Godhead. This is consistent with a traditional Jewish understanding of the Godhead. Why is this so important? Because, it prepares your mind to reject Jesus’ deity. If there is only one person in the Godhead, when Jesus speaks to the Father, and the Father is God, then WHO IS JESUS. Attacking the Trinity is a very important weapon of Satan.
Isaiah 48:16
Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
MULTIPLY
When you multiply your works thinking you’re pleasing God in the process, you subtly fall into a doctrine of works. Satan LOVES this. Satan knows you cannot mix grace and works. Whenever you mix the two, grace is always diminished and works becomes your god.
Romans 11:6
And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
DIVIDE
As you struggle to keep yourself saved by your works, you end up dividing your love for Jesus with a love for Jesus PLUS Torah. You end up deifying the Torah. Jesus doesn’t care to get into a kinky ménage à trois. It should be only you and Jesus. It should never be you, Jesus and the Torah. There’s no room for a third party in the relationship between Jesus and His bride.
Exodus 20:5
you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, THE LORD YOUR GOD, AM A JEALOUS GOD, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The Gospel, Missions, and Evangelism |
“Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
I have observed and been involved with many churches – some grew; most did not. I noticed that very few churches experienced growth. Most came to the place where they plataued, both spiritually and numerically, and then they would gradually decline. The more I saw this the greater my discontentment became with the status quo of plataued and declining churches.
It has often been said that the church is but one generation away from extinction – the point being that personal evangelism is God’s appointed remedy. Indeed, the church is in trouble. There is little urgency anymore to win the lost to Christ. There is no panic to redeem the souls of lost people. What happened to all the stories of people’s lives being changed, as they were in the book of Acts, where people joined the church every day (Acts 2:41-47)? What happened to the church? Few people are changing anymore. They’re certainly not being saved every day. They are still just as disconnected, lost, and confused as they ever were. What happened to the church?
There has never been a more important time in history than now to help people understand the great things God is doing. He is gathering a people to Himself for His glory and honor, and He wants us to declare that message to the world. There are many churches that are content to sit in their holy huddle every week and get fed in the Word, but the reason we get fed is not only for our benefit, but so we can go out and minister to the world, so we can be salt and light.
A good definition of missions is taking Christ’s message outside of the church. Anytime we take the gospel outside the four walls of the church, we are engaged in missions. We want the church to be a desirable destination for people to come. The best way to reach them is to mobilize the church to go out and bring them in. We need to see the church as a mission to lost people.
Lots of things never get done, but the Great Commission cannot be one of them! It’s no secret that making disciples is the mission of the church. When we fail to make disciples, the church fails to grow. Jesus began with a handful of disciples and turned the world upside down! He wants us to follow His example.
Jesus told the disciples to make more disciples as they preach, teach, and baptize. Today, Jesus is still commanding the church to make disciples for His Kingdom. His commission is worldwide and we are to go – whether it is next door or to another country – and make disciples. This is not an option, but a command to all who call Jesus “Lord.” The question is: are we going to be obedient to the Lord’s command and if so, what does that look like?
There is a story about a man who prayed every morning: “Lord, if you want me to witness to someone today, please give me a sign to show me who it is.” One day he found himself on a bus when a big, burly man sat next to him. The timid Christian anxiously waited for his stop, so he could exit the bus. But then the big guy burst into tears and began to weep. He cried out with a loud voice, “I need to be saved. I’m a lost sinner. I need the Lord. Won’t somebody tell me how to be saved?” He turned to the Christian man and pleaded, “Can you show me how to be saved?” But the man immediately bowed his head and prayed, “Lord, is this the sign I’ve been asking for?”
What about you? Are you looking for a “sign” to start witnessing? The Lord has already commanded the church to go and make disciples. Perhaps the reason we’re seeing a decline in the church is because we’re not making disciples.
If I’ve seen any success in ministry, it was times when God used me to make a difference in another’s life. Those results are not easy to quantify. They don’t happen every day, but if a year goes by without it happening, something’s wrong. There needs to be tremendous urgency when it comes to making disciples and sharing the gospel with lost people.
One of the purposes of the church is to minister to the world. It is the duty and privilege of every child of God to win the lost to Christ and make disciples. The effectiveness of churches and individual believers is judged by whether or not we are reaching others with the gospel. Going and making disciples is central to what Christ has called us to do. There are seven truths with respect to the gospel, each of which has a bearing on our responsibility to share it with others:
First, the gospel is Elementary. It is the simple story of God’s love for humanity and His offer to save all who place their trust in Him: “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Luke 18:17).
Somewhere along the way, however, we have complicated the gospel to the degree that it has become convoluted and difficult to understand. People don’t need to have a thorough understanding of systematic theology in order to place their trust in Jesus. All they need is simple childlike faith. Look at the early disciples. None of the Twelve had a theological education. Peter was a fisherman, anything but educated. Matthew was a tax collector. He was not a biblical scholar.
One of the most common excuses I hear from those who are not actively involved in evangelism is that they simply don’t feel qualified. They say, “I just don’t know enough about the faith,” or, “I’d rather leave that to someone who knows more about the Bible than I do.” But the gospel is so simple that even a little child can understand it.
One of the reasons why children and youth are so vital to the life of the church is because they are ripe for the harvest. They have not become “set in their ways”. We need to focus on the story of the gospel, especially with young people. Statistics show that 19 out of every 20 people who come to Christ do so before they reach the age of 24. Young people are especially receptive to the gospel.
The renowned evangelist D.L. Moody once spoke with a woman who didn’t like his method of evangelism. “I don’t really like mine either,” he said. “What’s yours?” She replied that she didn’t have one. Moody said, “Then I like mine better than yours.” The point being that we are responsible to share the gospel with lost people. Some evangelism is better than none at all.
Not all of us may be able to discuss the finer points of theology, but like the blind man, we can say, “I once was blind, but now I see.” Those who know Jesus find it very simple to introduce Him to others. The gospel is elementary.
Second, the gospel is Exclusive. There is no other way to gain access to God and eternal life except through Jesus Christ. Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Peter said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The exclusivity of the gospel goes against the grain of our postmodern culture and many take offense to the truth that Jesus is the only way to be saved. Postmodernists are appalled by the audacity of any one truth being the only truth, or any one way being the only way. The exclusivity of the gospel may not be popular, but Jesus tells us that He is the “only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life.” Any message which claims there is salvation in anyone or anything other than Jesus is heresy.
One of the most difficult questions many Christians fear being asked by a lost person is this: “What about all those people who never heard about Jesus? What about those people who have never had a chance? How can God send them to hell?” But these questions arise from a faulty understanding of why people go to hell. People don’t go to hell because God wants them to, they go to hell because they deserve to. All of us are sinners and the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23, 6:23). But the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus died for our sins! He acted as our Substitute. He paid the penalty for our sins, so we could be forgiven. The gospel is exclusive.
Third, the gospel is Eternal. It is timeless, changeless, and applicable to all people, in all places (Matthew 24:14). Many things have changed in the two thousand years since Jesus ascended into heaven, but don’t be fooled by all the changes in our world; the most prominent things have stayed the same: people are still born with a sinful nature, they still rebel against God, and they are still helpless to save themselves. The message that God loves us and sent His Son, Jesus, to save us has not changed. It is timeless and applies to everyone. The methods we employ to share it may have changed, the language we use to communicate it may have changed, the customs surrounding our worship and singing may have changed, but the message is still the same.
The fact Jesus went to the cross in order to pay for our sins is good news. The fact Jesus was buried in a grave, but rose 3 days later is good news. Because of what Jesus has done, all people, from all nations, of every race, every color, and every social level have the opportunity to be forgiven, saved, and brought into a right relationship with God with the hope of eternal life in heaven. That’s good news. The gospel of Jesus Christ is eternal.
Fourth, the gospel is Exacting. It is a message which demands everything from those who accept it. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it. What good will it be for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26).
I often wonder how many people who claim to follow Jesus really understand what it is He wants of those who follow Him. Do they really understand that believing on Jesus means that they abandon everything to Him? Do they really preach a message in conformity with the one He preached? Or have they come up with their own version of the gospel?
When we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, we must be careful not to preach an incomplete version; one which calls for nothing, but promises everything. Sadly, this is what many people see and hear when they go to many churches today. They simply hear a part of the gospel: the part which speaks to what we get out of it and not the part which demands everything from us.
If it were that easy to follow Jesus, if all it entailed was believing that He is God and that He wants good things for us, then there is no reason why anyone would reject it. But the gospel, as Jesus taught it and Scripture explains it, means that we surrender ourselves, totally and completely, by faith, to Him. The gospel demands that we take up our cross, the instrument of death, and follow Jesus. It calls us to surrender our wills to the will of the Father, even as Jesus did. It assaults our pride and self-sufficiency, calling on us to renounce our own abilities and to see ourselves for the sinners we are. It demands we abandon our love for this world, and instead place our treasure in heaven and our hope in the world to come. A faith which demands nothing from us is neither a biblical nor a saving faith. The gospel is exacting.
Fifth, the gospel is Enlightening. It teaches us to obey all that Christ has commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus does not call us to simply make converts, but to make disciples. The Great Commission includes the careful discipling of new believers. Jesus is not satisfied with any hasty profession of faith. We are not called to evoke decisions, but to make disciples. And that is an altogether different assignment.
Making disciples involves Christian training. That is why I believe many activities at church need to be geared towards Bible study, at every level. There is to be basic Bible study, designed to help people understand the basic claims of Christ and to help them come to faith in Jesus. And there is to be more intense Bible study as well, which is designed to help Christians grow, mature, and develop deeper in the faith. All of this is part of what it means to make disciples. The gospel is enlightening.
Sixth, the gospel is Effective. It thoroughly transforms those who believe: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The person who truly accepts Christ is a brand new person, old things have passed away and all things have become new. If a person is really saved, there will be a metamorphosis in their life, a transformation whereby they will be changed.
If there is no change, there is no salvation. Jesus said, “By their fruits you will know them” (Mt. 7:20). That’s not only the fruit of new converts, but the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). Do we possess those qualities in increasing measure?
If the fruit of the Spirit is not evidenced in our life, how can we say Jesus has changed us? How can we claim transformation if there is little to no difference between us and the lost guy next door? The gospel will change us from the inside out. It is not merely a moral code we try and obey; it is not merely a set of nice things we strive towards. The gospel is revolutionary, it is transformational, it changes all who truly accept it to be like Jesus. The question the world is constantly asking as they look at your life and mine is, “Did it work for them? Were they changed? Do I see any transformation in their life?” The authentic gospel of Jesus Christ is effective.
Seventh, the gospel is Extended. Those who truly accept Christ will be busy about the business of sharing Him with others: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). If we are believers in Jesus Christ, we have a stewardship of the gospel, something for which we will be held accountable. It is something God has entrusted to us. But more than that, it is something He has commanded us to do. Sharing the gospel should never be seen as a burden, like paying taxes, but rather as a privilege, like being an ambassador. In fact, that’s what the Scripture says we are: we are ambassadors, sent from Heaven’s throne to the world around us to be messengers of peace and reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20). We are to go to others on behalf of God Himself and to offer them the opportunity to know Him through Jesus Christ. We are to tell them of His love, and invite them to accept His offer of forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
While speaking in London, evangelist D. L. Moody was approached by a British companion who wanted to know the secret of Moody’s success in leading people to Christ. Moody directed the man to his hotel window and asked, “What do you see?” The man looked down on the square and reported a view of crowded streets. Moody suggested he look again. This time the man mentioned seeing people – men, women, and children. Moody then directed him to look a third time. The man became frustrated that he was not seeing what Moody wanted him to see. Finally, the great evangelist came to the window with watery eyes and said, “I see people going to hell without Jesus. Until you see people like that, you will not lead them to Christ.”
What kind of witness are you? When God calls you into account someday, for the stewardship of the gospel, when He asks you to tell Him how you handled the most precious and powerful gift He ever placed in the hands of humanity, what will you say? Now that you know and understand what the Good News is, what are you going to do with it? What difference are you going to make in the life of God’s church?
By Tim Wirth
Beware of those promoting a new Great Awakening or great Revival because of what scripture teaches in the end times.
Most, if not all of the preachers and evangelists (many call themselves prophets and apostles) agree that the time is short – the end is near. Among Christians in general, there is a great feeling of urgency to go about the task that has been set before the Church…to preach the gospel to all the nations. There is also general agreement that the Church has been, and to a degree, is still lazy, content to sit in their pews, pay their tithes, and bask in the reflected glory of their own little ponds. Most of the churches spend more time arguing with each other over jots and tittles than in going about their real job – reaching a lost and dying world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
While all Christians want to see a move of God, and conversions by the thousands (or even millions), we must examine several things in the light of The Word of God, and also in the light of published (written and spoken) statements made by those who are advertising this great revival and move of God. Links to other sites will be obvious by their blue color, so that you may go and read for yourself those things that are said that have a bearing on these questions. First and foremost is a small admonition that will weave a thread throughout this study. We, as Christians, live by faith…NOT by sight.
Beyond that, I believe that most of us can agree-we are in the end times, spoken of in The Word, and it won’t be very long before we see the rise of the anti-christ and his false prophet. But what does The Word say about these times? Is there going to be a great worldwide revival? What about the ”move of the spirit” as typified in the Toronto Blessing/Vineyard and Brownsville Revival movement, and its attendant functionaries and proponents, such as Steve Hill, Benny Hinn, Rod Parsley, Paul Crouch, Kenneth Copeland, et al? What about the moral fiber of these alleged prophets of God? This question comes into play simply because of the influence these people have over thousands of believers throughout the world, and the millions of dollars being given to them to support their ministries so as to create this world wide revival.
This brings us to the question of: If there is no end time revival (or move of God) then how do we explain all the manifestations that are occurring in various places, and the appearance of revival that is occurring. How do we explain all the thousands upon thousands in other places that are coming to God during the crusades.
First, I believe that we need to examine very carefully the “manifestations” that are occurring in places like the Toronto Vineyard (now the Airport ??????), or at Brownsville AoG, or in the crusades that Benny Hinn puts on. The links appearing here will go into far more detail, and are from eyewitnesses. Aside from that, I can attest to having seen, on tape and on tv some of the manifestations spoken of. I find, in scripture, no corresponding description to what I have observed other than in Mark 1:23-26, where Jesus cast a demon out of a man in the synagogue, and after the “spirit had torn him”, it departed.
Try as I might, I can find no place, in Old Testament or New, where there are examples of people shaking violently, twitching uncontrollably, flopping on the floor like fish out of water, or laughing for hours on end in a manner more devilish than truly happy. I must admit to having the hair on my neck stand up when I observed many of these things, and failing at any time to receive a witness of the Holy Spirit that these things were from God. I do not doubt that the things, in most cases, were real, but the real question is from what spirit they came.
In over 20 years of ministry, I have NEVER seen a manifestation of one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that did not, unequivocally, point to Jesus Christ, and glorify God in the doing of it. The Holy Spirit does not bring attention to Himself or to the person being used, but ONLY to Jesus Christ. As Jesus said “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth; for HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall GLORIFY ME…” John 16:13-14. Many times during ministry, I have seen or heard things that the Holy Spirit did not bear witness with, and can be best explained as the flesh trying to simulate spiritual things, but these things I have observed on TBN, and via Brownsville tapes bear the imprint of the devil himself, not the Spirit of God.
Of great importance here is a question concerning the moral character of the people purporting to be instruments and ministers of God. Paul, in I Timothy gives a reasonable explanation of the type of character that must be possessed by a man of God, When talking about bishops, or deacons (translate pastors, shepherds, elders, or those in positions of spiritual leadership), two points become quickly obvious. One, that the person must have a good report of them which are without, and two, that they be not doubletongued, or greedy of money, and must HOLD THE MYSTERY OF THE FAITH IN PURE CONSCIENCE. My understanding of these passages are that a minister of God cannot do things in such a way as to cause those who do not know God (those who are without) to question him, or to bring reproach upon the name of God.
The second thing that a minister of God cannot be is doubletongued (lying, fibbing, exaggerating, stretching, or wishy-washy depending upon who he is talking to). I would submit that many of the ministers we have today such as Benny Hinn, Paul Crouch, Steve Hill and others fail miserably in the question of being doubletongued. Aside from outright lies that they have been caught in, none of them seem to believe that the scripture is profitable for reproof, and reject any and all admonition from others concerning their heretical statements. Paul Crouch in particular has vocally cursed any who would dare to point out anything to him that does not meet with his own belief. When ministers of God presume to place themselves above the Word of God, and immune from what it says, or think to change what the Word says into something they want it to say, then they have gone beyond the point of just being in error, and fall squarely into the definition of ”ungodly men who have crept in”(Jude). ”Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots…to who is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever”.
Rodney Howard Browne started this off around 1987 when he stated “In 1987 when the Lord opened the door for us to come to the USA. He told us to stir up the churches, to get them on fire for God, so they would be stirred to win the lost.
Out of this came The Toronto Blessing, Pensacola Blessing, Lakeland with Todd Bentley and many other venues featuring bizarre manifestations that includes slain in the spirit, people acting like animals and many other weird manifestations not found in the scriptures.
Bill Johnson, Rick Joyner and many others also advertise their meeting as Great Awakenings.
Dan Bohi advertises his revivals as Great Awakenings as well. Here is what Dan’s stated mission is…
“A calling to awaken the church of Jesus Christ
to the power, purity, and freedom of the Spirit-Filled life,
found, realized, experienced and exhibited
in the lives of believers in the Book of Acts.”
It all sounds good doesn’t it?
What Christian does not want revival which would cause us to turn from all the false teachings that is rampant in the church today.
But wait the above listed are all false teachers so if a great Awakening or Great Revival would cause us to wake up, read scripture and then as a result not just live sanctified lives but turn from false teaching. We would have to turn from all the above teachers if what they claim is happening.
But wait lets hold on the brakes and see what scripture teaches on this matter.
Does the Word of God tell us of an end-times world-wide or ”great” revival?
The closest we can come to a clear statement of what the end times shall be like is found in Jesus’ words to His disciples in Matthew 24, sometimes referred to as the Olivet Discourse. The disciples came to Jesus, and asked:
vs.3: Tell us, when shall these thing be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
vs.4: And Jesus answered and said unto them, take heed that no man deceive you.
vs.5: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
vs.6: and ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
vs.7: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
vs.8: All these are the beginning of sorrows.
vs9: Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
vs.10: and then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
vs.11: and many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
vs.12: and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
vs.13: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
vs.14: and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.
vs.38: for as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark…
There are a number of points made in this discourse, and we will examine them one by one.
Vs.4-take heed that no man deceive you. Jesus was making clear that there would be people who would attempt, in any number of ways, to deceive the believer. By what means He did not expound upon, other than to say…
Vs.5-many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ. The construction of this sentence leaves the possibility that not only would some come saying that they were the christ (Mayatreya is a recent example), but of more importance, since Jesus was talking to His disciples (true believers), that many would come, simply, in His name, meaning that they were professing Christians supposedly ministering in the name of Jesus. That such people can exist is borne out in many books throughout the New Testament, such as Timothy, Peter, James, John, and Jude. Of interesting note here is a statement made, and supported by others, by Kenneth Copeland, about being ”a little Christ walking around up here”.
Vs.11- and many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many. Many Christians tend to rely upon an oft quoted section of the Old Testament concerning false prophets, in which God says that we shall know a false prophet if what he says does not come to pass. Assumption: if something DOES come to pass, then the prophet must be righteous. What is often skipped is the little squib in Deuteronomy 13:1-3, where God says if there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a SIGN or a WONDER, and the sign or the wonder COME TO PASS…thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Puts us in a bind as to who to believe, doesn’t it? No. All we have to do is check out what the person is saying, and weigh it against the Word of God. If it doesn’t line up, then they don’t, and are to be ignored. Many today use scripture to support or destroy certain beliefs or points that they are trying to make, but we are admonished to use all scripture, which is given by God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2Tim3:16). The part concerning reproof and correction will come into serious play a little later.
Vs.14 – and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations… I think it is very important to note that Jesus said this gospel…shall be PREACHED (or published)…for a witness. Nowhere did Jesus say that the gospel shall be believed, or acted upon, or cause millions of conversions…only that it would be preached as a witness. The sinner cannot know he is a sinner unless the gospel of righteousness is preached to him, nor can he repent unless he knows..and how shall they know, if there is no preacher? Still, the point is that although we may use many different means (including this web presentation) to preach the gospel, there is no guarantee from scripture or otherwise that it will be believed and acted upon. Indeed, scripture in Matt.24:9-10 makes very clear that true gospel preachers and true believers will be hated, and afflicted, and even killed.
Vs.38-as it was in the days of Noah… I will have to admit here to a great deal of speculation concerning just exactly what it was like then. The Bible tells us only that God told Noah to build an ark because He was disgusted with the actions of mankind, and He was going to destroy them. Obviously, Noah was chosen because he conducted himself in a manner that was pleasing to God, and did not do those things that the rest of mankind was doing. The real speculation enters here. I think it is reasonable to assume that while Noah was gathering materials, and building what was a VERY large boat (ship?), some of the townsfolk had to be curious. I am sure that at some point, these people asked Noah what he was doing. Noah, upon explaining that he was building an ark, was then asked why? ”So that I can ride out the flood”. What is a flood? ”A whole lot of water”. Since there had not been rain on the earth up til this time, I doubt the people understood, and if Noah also said (I’m sure he did) that God had told him to do it, these worldly people had to have made a lot of fun of Noah. That happens to be a lot like today. People of the world are complete in their own eyes, and make fun of the things of God, even to the point of trying to stop Christians (particularly) and just about any other religious types from doing or saying anything that might ”offend” them. Indeed, many are offended because of Christ.
All of this leads us to the point where we may reasonably say that the end times will be characterized by a number of things:
1. Increasing denial of God by the world.
2. Increasing ungodliness in activity.
3. Increasing demand by religious people for hearing & experiencing only what they want.
4. Increasing apostasia from sound doctrine and truth.
Rather than a ”great revival”, what we will see (and are currently seeing) is the apostasy of those claiming to be Christian, a great falling away from the truth of Jesus Christ and the written Word of God.
So again beware of those who go out and proclaim that they will bring a great Awakening to the church in these endtimes we are in.
Why because I say so?
No because the scriptures do not teach it.
Other sources John 8:12.com
And the various other false teachers listed websites and FB pages
Link
BACK TO GENESIS: LAYING A FALSE FOUNDATION
Excerpts below taken from The Berean Call:
Source
http://www.thebereancall.org/content/back-genesis-laying-false-foundation
The biblical foundation laid by God in Genesis 6 has been shifted from man’s personal sin to a focus on invading gods and demonic DNA, and where Christ’s prophecy concerning “the days of Noah” is altered to fit the Nephilim scenario. Additionally, in the emerging Nephilim Eschatology the Genesis 3:15 account is also abused, and reinterpreted along the lines of “Serpent Seed” adherents to fit this false end-time message. Tom Horn, the biggest purveyor of the Nephilim Eschatology scenarios, has explained how Genesis 6 and Genesis 3:15 are mixed together to create the new hybrid Serpent Seed doctrine.
Daniel’s verse [Dan. 2:43] troubled [Chuck] Missler and [Mark] Eastman because it seemed to indicate that the same phenomenon that occurred in Genesis chapter 6–where non-human species or “non-seed” mingled with human seed and produced Nephilim–would happen again in the end times. When this verse from Daniel is coupled with Genesis 3:15, which says, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed [zera, meaning “offspring,” “descendents,” or “children”] and her seed,” an incredible tenet emerges–that Satan has seed, and that it is at enmity with Christ.[4] [brackets in original]
The “Satanic seed” mentioned above is taught to be a literal, physical, and biological “Serpent Seed”–one that is genetically passed on to successive descendents by the devil and his supposed actual physical offspring. This is completely at odds with the context and actual teaching of the Genesis 3:15 passage and is a deviant view.
In subsequent writings, Tom Horn continues this theme by postulating that the coming Antichrist will be an actual biological descendent of Satan. This forms the basis of the newly emerging Nephilim Eschatology heresy:
“Given the abundant and universal prophecies that the ‘end times’ will witness what we have been calling a ‘reopening of the gates of heaven’ and the descending of a ‘savior,’ it’s important to note that from the Middle Ages forward, many church leaders have believed that the Antichrist would ultimately represent the return of the Nephilim–the union of a demon and a human….Phobos clarifies this for Joe in our novel, The Ahriman Gate [AG]: ‘Joe raised the special container with a heavy sigh. “So, if Apollyon is somehow embodied in Apol, we could actually be carrying the embryo of the Antichrist here?”‘
“That’s correct. According to the Bible, the Antichrist will be ‘the son of perdition,’ the male progeny of the Greek apoleia, or Apollyon. The implication couldn’t be clearer–the Man of Sin will be the physical offspring of the destroyer demon, a transgenic of the highest order.” [AG, pp. 326-327]….
The above excerpt appeared in an online advertisement for Tom Horn’s 2007 book, Nephilim Stargates: the Year 2012 and the Return of the Watchers. It is important to observe the mechanics of this quote. Horn has included his fictional narrative, The Ahriman Gate as if it were a credible source, blending it into his revived “Serpent Seed” teaching.
This strange mixing of fiction and nonfiction is becoming a familiar trend in evangelical authors. It appears to be a highly effective and emotive method of promoting themes that are opposed to the Word of God. Fiction characteristically engages the reader by its imagery and fantasy that provoke feelings and emotions. Researcher Christine Pack picked up on this trend in her recent review of The Harbinger:
“Much like William P. Young’s troublesome book The Shack, The Harbinger also has a fictional character who is teaching things that are contrary to Scripture, but which the author wants to claim as truth. Of course, when pressed on the biblical problems with the teachings, both Young and [Jonathan] Cahn have resorted to saying, But it’s only a fictional character! The problem with this is that Young and Cahn both personally believe what they have written, and are seeking to teach a wide audience of readers what they believe to be true, while hiding behind the label ‘Fiction’.”[7]
[4] Tom Horn, “THEY — PART THREE,” posted June 30, 2011;
http://www.raidersnewsupdate.com/they3.htm/
See also Thomas Horn, God’s Ghostbusters, Chapter 6, “DO ALIEN/HUMAN HYBRIDS WALK AMONG US?”, Defender Publishing, Crane, MO 2011, pg. 148.
[5] Tom and Nita Horn, Anomalos Publishing, Excerpt from Nephilim Stargates: The Year 2012 and the Return of the Watchers, [clip] Beware the Coming Superman-Savior?
[6] Thomas R. Horn, Nephilim Stargates 2012: the Year 2012 and the Return of the Watchers, Anomalos Publishers, Crane, MO, 2007, pp. 186-187.
[7] Christine Pack, The Sola Sisters website, “A Commentary on The Harbinger”;
http://solasisters.blogspot.com/2012/06/commentary-on-harbinger.html
http://herescope.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-serpent-seed-nephilim.html
[TBC: The “Serpent Seed” teaching was taught by Latter Rain preacher William Branham. Though killed in a car accident in 1965, Branham’s teachings live on in such groups as the Kansas City Fellowship, IHOP, and those promoting the “Joel’s Army” teaching.]
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
From Way of Life
The Bible condemns the practice of homosexuality unequivocally.
The Bible teaches that sexual relationships and activities outside of the holy bond of marriage are sinful. “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4). From the beginning, the Bible defines lawful marriage as a holy union between one man and one woman (Gen. 2:21-25), and Christ pointed back to the beginning as the divine standard (Mat. 19:4-6). The Law of Moses defined marriage as a covenant relationship between one man and one woman (Mal. 2:14-15). Since sexual relationships outside of marriage are sinful and since the Bible nowhere legitimizes marriage between a man and a man or a woman and a woman, it is obvious that homosexuality is forbidden. It is nowhere legitimized by Scripture. To say that homosexual unions are right is to reject the authority of the Bible.
In the Old Testament, homosexual practice is condemned severely. The homosexuals in Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire from Heaven (Genesis 18:1-24). Homosexual activists claim that the cities were destroyed for their lack of hospitality or for some reason other than homosexuality, but the New Testament makes it clear that they were destroyed for their “filthy conversation” (2 Peter 2:6-8) and their “fornication” (Jude 7).
Under the Law of Moses homosexuality brought the death penalty:
“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination” (Leviticus 18:22).
“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them” (Leviticus 20:13).
This Law of Moses was given to Israel and it is not in force in Gentile nations today, but it does teach us what God thinks of homosexuality. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19).
What about the biblical term “sodomite”? Some say that it referred only to prostitution associated with pagan temple worship and not to homosexuality in general. It is true that the term refers to male prostitution and homosexual moral perversion practiced in connection with idolatry (Deut. 23:17; 1 Ki. 14:24; 15:12; 22:46; 2 Ki. 23:7). But the term is also identified with homosexuality and moral perversion in general. The 1828 Webster dictionary defined sodomy as “a crime against nature.” The Webster’s Deluxe Unabridged Dictionary of 1983 defines sodomy as “any sexual intercourse regarded as abnormal, as between persons of the sameSex, especially males, or between a person and an animal.” The term is descriptive of the moral perversion of the city of Sodom (Genesis 19; Jude 1:7).
The New Testament also treats homosexuality as a moral abomination. In Romans 1 homosexuality is described in especially intense terms.
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Romans 1:22-28).
Paul identified homosexuality as the product of men’s rejection of God and God giving them up to their own sinful ways. This passage calls homosexuality “vile affections” (v. 26), “against nature” (v. 26), “leaving the natural” (v. 27), “unseemly” (v. 27), “reprobate mind” (v. 28), and “not convenient” (v. 28).
The passage warns that homosexuality is the corruption of the imagination. It is the product of a reprobate mind. When the imagination is allowed to pursue wicked things it is dragged farther and farther into darkness and moral perversion, and this can begin at a very young age.
In 1 Corinthians 6:9, we learn that some of the members of the church at Corinth had been involved in homosexuality before they were saved.
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.”
The term “effeminate” is from the Greek word “malakos.” It is used three times in the New Testament and twice it is translated “soft” (Mat. 11:8; Lk. 7:25). Webster defines it as “having the qualities of the femaleSex; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree; womanish.” The woman is supposed to be effeminate, but 1 Corinthians 6:9 refers to moral perversion. It refers to the passive, feminine side of homosexuality.
The term “abusers of themselves with mankind” refers to the masculine side of homosexuality. It refers to that which is “against nature” (Rom. 1:26-27). The Greek word “arsenokoites” means “to lie with, or to cohabit with, a male.” Matthew Henry (1662-1714), exemplifying the common interpretation of this term in earlier centuries, identified “abusers of themselves with mankind” with sodomy. The Bible Exposition Commentary says: “‘Effeminate’ and ‘abusers’ describe the passive and active partners in a homosexual relationship.”
Some try to make the case that Jesus didn’t mention homosexuality, pretending that this (if it were true) would prove that Christians should also be silent on the subject. The fact is that the He did mention homosexuality. He mentioned the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah twice in His teachings (Mark 6:10; Luke 17:29). Christ also upheld the Law of Moses (Mat. 5:18-19). Further, after His resurrection and ascension Christ sent the Holy Spirit to lead the disciples into all truth and to inspire the completion of the Scriptures (John 16:7-15). All of the words of the New Testament are given by divine inspiration and are inerrantly authoritative and come to us as revelation from Jesus Christ.
The New Testament commands us to abhor and reprove the evil works of darkness.
To say that it is wrong for Christians to reprove sin in society is to reject the Bible’s own instruction.
“But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done” (Luke 3:19).
“Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Romans 12:9)
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11).
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:2).
The homosexual can be saved by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul speaks of the homosexuality in the church at Corinth in the past tense — “and such WERE some of you” (1 Cor. 6:11). The members of the church at Corinth had repented of their sin and had become new creatures in Christ. No sinner is so evil that God cannot save him, but he must repent of his sin rather than justify it, and when God saves He changes (2 Corinthians 5:17). This doesn’t mean the believer is sinless; it means he is converted and he delights in righteousness even when he doesn’t always live up to God’s righteous standards.
The modern movement to allow homosexuals into churches without repenting of homosexuality is unscriptural. Bible believers are not “homophobic” any more than they are “adulteryphobic” or “thiefphobic” or “lierphobic.” They do not hate homosexuals. They simply believe that the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin before God and that men must repent of sin in order to be saved.
They also know that homosexuality is a special kind of sin in the sense that it is a sin against nature itself and a sin that is a particular attack upon biblical marriage and therefore has the power to corrupt society in a unique way.
by David Cloud
Are We Seeing Signs of the Close of the Age?
Posted on June 4, 2013 by Mike Ratliff
by Mike Ratliff
15 Προσέχετε ἀπὸ τῶν ψευδοπροφητῶν, οἵτινες ἔρχονται πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν ἐνδύμασιν προβάτων, ἔσωθεν δέ εἰσιν λύκοι ἅρπαγες. (Matthew 7:15 NA28)
15 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but within are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15 translated from the NA28 Greek text)
The Church in our time appears huge, but this is only in appearance. It is thousands of miles wide, but only a fraction of an inch deep. Much of what claims to be Christian is not and proves it by what is actually its focus and what (or who) it actually worships. The focus has its foundation in pragmatism and its worship is nothing more than self-aggrandizement. They give lip service to their own version of “Jesus” who bears little if any resemblance to the Jesus we read of in God’s Word. This counterfeit Christianity is the majority while the true Church, which is made up of those saved by grace through faith because of God’s election and effectual calling is the minority. This should not surprise us because the Word of God tells us that this will be case as this age comes to a close to make way for the age to come.
1 Καὶ ἐξελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱεροῦ ἐπορεύετο, καὶ προσῆλθον οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπιδεῖξαι αὐτῷ τὰς οἰκοδομὰς τοῦ ἱεροῦ. 2 ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· οὐ βλέπετε ταῦτα πάντα; ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐ μὴ ἀφεθῇ ὧδε λίθος ἐπὶ λίθον ὃς οὐ καταλυθήσεται. 3 Καθημένου δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους τῶν ἐλαιῶν προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ κατ’ ἰδίαν λέγοντες· εἰπὲ ἡμῖν, πότε ταῦτα ἔσται καὶ τί τὸ σημεῖον τῆς σῆς παρουσίας καὶ συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος; (Matthew 24:1-3 NA28
1 And having gone out, Jesus went from the Temple and his disciples approached him to show him the buildings of the Temple. 2 But he answered saying to them, “Do you not see all these things? Amen I say to you, by no means here will there be a stone left upon a stone which will not be demolished.” 3 And while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives the disciples approached him privately saying, “Tell us, when these things will be be and what will be the sign of your coming and of the closing of the age?” (Matthew 24:1-3 translated from the NA28 Greek text)
Carefully read this passage my brethren. There are three questions asked of our Lord by the disciples in response to his warning of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in v2. However, our Lord’s answer to these questions apparently intertwines prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and His second coming, which will end this age and usher in the age to come. Let us look at our Lord’s answer to these questions which is found in vv4-31 of Matthew 24, however, we will concentrate on vv4-14 in this study.
Finish HERE
Faith in the Furnace
James Montgomery Boice
Excerpt from: Come to the Waters: Daily Bible Devotions
Daniel 3:1-30
There were three things that gave Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego the strength to stand firm in this great test of their commitment.
1. They knew that God was sovereign. …It is firm conviction of the sovereignty of God in the midst of all things contrary. These men knew that God is sovereign, and therefore it was not foolish but wise for them to entrust their lives to him in this matter.
2. They knew the Scriptures. If we are to do the right things in similar circumstances, we must know the Word of God, because only the Word of God will cut through such ambiguity. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego triumphed because their minds were filled with Scripture and because they kept coming back to Scripture as the only fully trustworthy and inerrant authority in all matters.
3. They were willing to die for their convictions. It is possible to believe in a sovereign God and know from Scripture what that sovereign God requires yet fail to do the right thing because you are unwilling to pay the price of obedience. Many fail because they will not pay the price of a loss of popularity or loneliness or ridicule or persecution or economic hardship. Only those who are willing to pay such prices make a difference.
God does go with his people in their trials. Countless believers have testified to that. So let us be confident in the promise of that presence and be strong. Let us stand for the right and do it. Let us refuse to compromise. Let us stand with unbowed heads and rigid backbones before the golden statues of our godless, materialistic culture. Let us declare that there is a God to be served and a race to be won. Let us shout that we are determined to receive God’s prize, which is far greater than this world’s tinsel toys, and that we are servants of him before whom every knee will bow.
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us.”
Daniel 3:17
Every once in awhile I review all the verses in the Bible that warn against false teachers. There are over 50 in the New Testament alone. Girded with these verses and praying for guidance to keep me on the narrow road, it is time to examine current teachings coming from the christian community.
Here is a sampling of what I reject. Dominionism, serpent-seed, nephilim, New Apostolic Reformation, Law of Attraction, prosperity teachings, healing rooms, word of faith, NDE’s revealing a type of Jesus or accounts of heaven, teachers who claim direct revelation from God…..etc. etc.
I have been observing those who are promoting these ideas and they seem to have lost their first love of Jesus, the Gospel and making disciples of Christ. Their sources are always questionable and scripture quoting is twisted and taken out of context. They think themselves more enlightened by their studies and research into non-canonical sources.
This is gnosticism. It is alluring and once you allow it, a foothold into your spiritual beliefs will permeate your walk with the Lord. It acts as a hook…don’t get caught up in it. One false teaching leads to another which makes it difficult to return to the teachings of salvation, justification, sanctification….or living your life to become more Christ-like till He returns. I know…I have been there.
I reject ALL the teachers and ministries mentioned in the following article from Herescope.
http://herescope.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-return-of-alien-super-soldier.html
Also please read the following:
1. The warning against false teachers
Christ then said, “Beware of false prophets” (Matthew 7:15). For every true prophet calling people to the narrow way, are a multiplicity of false prophets calling people to the broad way that leads to destruction. Christ’s warning [about false teachers] was not new. Deuteronomy 13:1-5 documents the presence of false teaching during the days of Moses. In Isaiah 30:9-14 chronicles its existence in the kingdom of Judah. There are many warnings about false teachers in Scripture.1. 2 John 7–John said, “Many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”
2. Romans 16:17-18–Paul said, “I beseech you, brethren, mark them who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own body, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the innocent.” They are dangerous because they claim to be from God and to speak God’s Word.
3. Jeremiah 5:31–God said, “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so.”
4. Jeremiah 14:14–God said, “The prophets prophesy lies in my name. I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke unto them; they prophesy unto you a false vision.”
2. The description of false teachers
False teachers are dangerous because their deception is damning. And it comes from that most damning deceiver of all, Satan, who disguises himself as an angel of light and his servants as ministers of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:13-15). Some false teachers are heretics–those who openly reject the Word of God and teach contrary to it. Others are apostates–those who once followed the faith but have since turned away. Then there are deceivers who pretend to still believe the truth. They want to look like orthodox fundamental evangelical Christians, but they are liars.
3. The revelation of false teachers
In Matthew 7:16 Jesus says, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” It’s not what they say but what you see in their lives that matters. A false teacher cannot produce good fruit because evil cannot produce good (v. 17).
False teachers will produce evil fruit, but they will try to cloak it. Inevitably they hide their bad fruit under ecclesiastical garb or isolate it from accountability. People can’t get near enough to them to see the reality of their lives. Some of them hide their evil fruit under a holy vocabulary or an association with fruitful Christians. Some of them cover their evil fruit with biblical knowledge. But they can’t hide it from everyone all the time. If you closely examine a false teacher, you will see his evil fruit.
CONCLUSION
How can we be alert to the infiltration of false teachers? Ask yourself these questions about the Bible teachers you encounter.
A. How Is the Teacher Using Scripture?
Is there error in his understanding of Scripture? Is his interpretation sound? Is it biblical? Is it legitimate? Don’t look at his personality. Don’t look at the religious trappings. Don’t only look only at his associations, although that will tell you something if those associations are negative. Listen to what he says. Do what 1 John 4:1 says: test him to see if he’s from God. What is his approach to Scripture? Is he teaching things that go beyond Scripture? Is he saying things that sound good but you can’t find verses to support it?
B. What Is the Teacher’s Goal?
Does he have a spiritual goal? Is his primary desire in life to produce people who consummately love God? Or is he characterized by self-love, self-aggrandizement, possessiveness, and materialism? What is his objective? Is it love for God and for everyone else? Is his objective holiness, a pure heart, a good conscience, and faith without hypocrisy?
C. What Is the Teacher’s Motive?
Does he demonstrate a selfless motive? Can you see humility, meekness, and selflessness in his life? Or does it appear that while he’s helping others he is also becoming quite wealthy? Is he self-indulgent at the expense of the people he is supposed to be ministering to?
D. What Is the Teacher’s Effect?
Does his followers clearly understand the gospel of Jesus Christ? Do they understand the proper use of the law?
Check his doctrine, check his goal, check his motive, and check his followers. As you do, you’ll sense the need for urgency in dealing with false teachers.
Dr. John MacArthur
DiscernIt 
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