Apostasy
“Evil Men and Seducers shall Wax Worse and Worse” [podcast]
“But EVIL MEN and SEDUCERS SHALL WAX WORSE AND WORSE, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:13
The Holy Scriptures make it certain that the return of the Son of God will be preceded by an invasion of false leaders.
The proliferation of false leaders we are seeing in this last hour should not surprise us as such was foretold (Matthew 24:3-5, 11, 24; 2 Timothy 3:13, etc).
True elders are known in that they are teaching those around them to be personally grounded in the Word of God for themselves – just as Paul instructed his understudy Timothy.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
For this cause, there’s never been a greater need for elders among God’s people who are truly crucified with Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, and biblically carrying out the stated duties of an elder.
God has ordained that there be “elders … among” His people to help them to be fed pure doctrine from His Word, to grow in the grace of Christ and to be matured in Christ in order to do “the work of the ministry.”
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting (maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-12
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church (the people, the body); and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:” James 5:14
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:” 1 Peter 5:1
The problem is not WHERE the assembling transpires but rather WHAT is being done, conducted, performed.
From Hebrews 13:7, 17 we learn that the elders among the people are to teach the pure Word and to watch for the souls of the saints. Paul instructed Titus to:
“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:” Titus 2:1
These messages on this ministry site are not in any way intended to diminish the divine ordination and need for elders among God’s people. Such is our LORD’s doing and yet so is His myriad of warnings concerning devouring wolves who hide behind sheep’s clothing, false “leaders,” “false teachers,” “false prophets,” and “false apostles.”
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15
“For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3
“But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:12-15
The Final Day Prevalence of False Leaders, of Frauds in Positions of Leadership
“And MANY false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:11
See the context of Matthew 24…
“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. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 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.” Matthew 24:9-13
“But EVIL MEN and SEDUCERS SHALL WAX WORSE AND WORSE, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:13
The First Sign of the Final Days – just before Jesus Returns
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:3-5
The Divine Command to Warn
Jesus and His holy apostles often rebuked and exposed false leaders and false doctrine (Matthew 23; Acts 13:10; 20:29-31; Galatians 5:11-12; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; 2 Peter 2; 2 John 7-11; Revelation 2:6, 15, etc.). Therefore we know that part of following Jesus includes doing the same. In fact, the body of Christ is mandated to do just that (Romans 16:17-18; Philippians 1:17; Jude 3-4).
PWT = Preach, WARN, Teach
“Whom we PREACH, WARNING every man, and TEACHING every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” Colossians 1:28
Did you catch what the apostle Paul did to prepare the church to meet Christ?
- Preach
- WARN
- Teach
Any man not guarding, not protecting Christ’s flock, by warning of false teachers and false doctrine, is himself a wolf!
Did God command us to warn the wicked?
Ezekiel 3:7 “Warn them from me.”
“So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and WARN THEM FROM ME.” Ezekiel 33:7
What would you think of the father who lived on a busy street and refused to warn his children to stay away from that street?
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