Excerpt from the book Predators in Our Pulpits.
“For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said , We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.” – Jeremiah 6:13-17
Just as we see in our day, in Jeremiah’s day, the people who once served the LORD had become “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:12-14). They had become “lukewarm,” and were now damnably “at ease in Zion” (Revelation 3:15-16; Amos 6:1). The covenant people of God were now living in sin and the leaders of the people were further leading them down the path of darkness and destruction by giving them what they wanted and not what they needed—the divine prescription which is God’s written Word (Ezekiel 3:4; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; 1 Peter 4:11). These “blind guides” were shamefully leading the willingly blind further down the wide road and into the ditch of eternal demise (Matthew 23:16, 24; Luke 6:39).
These people who once knew the LORD, were now fallen away from Him (Luke 8:13; Galatians 5:4; 2 Peter 2:20-22). Have you asked Him to break you lately and grant you ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to you and His true church (people)? Keep in mind that the prophet Jeremiah rebuked the false prophets of his day for offering a fake solution—all in order to tickle the ears of the people, gain their allegiance, and exploit them for their money. “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14). True healing (namely heart healing) and a pure heart can only come from the LORD. He will only do this in response to our personal surrender in repentance to Him (Psalms 147:3; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Ezekiel 36:36; Hosea 10:12).
The false prophets “healed the daughter of my people slightly.” In other words, the wolves of Ezekiel’s day are the same as the conspiracy of wolves today who offer happiness and your best life now, to be purpose driven instead of Holy Spirit led, and all kinds of other self-centered, self-actualizing falsehoods that leave their victims empty, sinful, under judgment, and spiritually bankrupt. Hell awaits (2 Peter 2:1-4).
God always goes to the root to bring the healing and His healing is authentic, life-giving, tangible, and completely transforming (Jeremiah 1:10; Luke 4:18-19).
The prophet Isaiah also wrote of these false leaders when he wrote: “For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed” (Isaiah 9:16).
“The Old Paths”
“Ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:13). Divine truth is not like clothing styles, it is always in vogue—divinely and eternally fixed, immutable, consistent, and unchanging (Psalms 119:89; Mark 13:31).
“The scripture cannot be broken.” – John 10:35
“For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” – Psalms 119:89
“My covenant will I not break, nor alter (change) the thing that is gone out of my lips.” – Psalms 89:34
Like He who is “the truth,” divine truth is eternally “settled in heaven” and not like the fickle, gullible, and sinful hearts of mere men because “the truth is in Jesus” who is the eternal God, Creator, and Sustainer of all life, the very “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Psalms 119:89; John 14:6; Ephesians 4:21; Colossians 1:15-18; Revelation 1:8).
Those who are “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive,” jumping from one foolish fad to the next, are not grounded in the LORD (Ephesians 4:14). IF they were, they would migrate only to His holy truth, being relentlessly hungry for more of it in order to see Him more clearly, day by day (Proverbs 4:18; Colossians 2:6-7).
Those who do not seek out the LORD in the “old paths,” that is, the ancient immutable Word of God, will seek to change “the truth of God into a lie,” making it whatever they wish it to be in order to evade true surrender in repentance.
“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” – Romans 1:25
Of Christ it was said that He “teachest the way of God in truth” which today can rarely be seen in those feigning to be Christ’s servants (Mark 12:14; 2 Corinthians 2:17).
All who hold to and are diligent stewards of the Word of God in their own lives and in contending for the truth among men are manifestly of the LORD. “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
God’s true people are the keepers of His holy truth as they themselves are being sanctified by it daily. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). God’s true people are known by their vigilant and diligent stewardship of His truth. It is the duty of every true believer to be the steward of the Word of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
There are believers who gather together to “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints,” and that is a good thing. Yet, no organization has a monopoly on God’s eternal truth (Jude 3-4). It takes no organization of men to accomplish this. “The house of God” and “the church of the living God” speak of the people of God, which is the definition of Christ’s “church” (Matthew 16:18; 1 Timothy 3:15). Jesus’ church is not any specific organization of mere men, but rather is the very and authentic people of God—those who serve Him on His terms and not their own—those in whom He dwells— “a spiritual house” (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Peter 2:5). “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
As has been the case in every generation, false prophets and false teachers apply a surface level, feel good, solution, or a band-aid to the problems sin causes in the lives of those who are supposedly God’s children. As we observe in what Jeremiah writes in chapter 6 of the book he was inspired to pen, these wolves tell the people that “everything is okay.” In this scenario, there is a reciprocation between the speaker and his audience. Sin is not dealt with in the biblical way by the leadership and is basically ignored or redefined. Predictably, there is no conviction or repentance found in the hearts of the people– “they were not at all ashamed” and will therefore “fall among them that fall” (v. 15).
Like the wolves of Jeremiah’s day, modern beguilers selfishly desire to have a vocation, to be applauded, and to garner ill-gotten gain. They will say what is expedient in order to advance their own self-serving cause. They are heroes in the eyes of the rebellious-hearted who love their lives in this fleeting world and refuse to lay them down at Christ’s command (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 14:27, 33; 19:27; John 12:23-26).
As in the days of Jeremiah, the false prophets today say “Peace, peace” (even when those claiming to be Christ’s are living in sin) and God says, “there is no peace.” When men live in sin, vainly believing they belong to God, there is no true peace due to the rebellion He sees in the people (Isaiah 59:1-2). The LORD today calls for those who have back-slid or apostatized to “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said , We will not walk therein” (v. 16). The LORD sends His servant “watchmen” to call people to repent by sounding the truth “trumpet” of His holy Word and still many “will not hearken.”
This is why the Bible tells us that only a few will ultimately be saved yet “many” name Jesus as their “Lord” (Matthew 7:21-23).
“Any Other Gospel” Will Do!
Paul wrote to the church at Corinth:
“Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” – 2 Corinthians 11:1-4
There is always a counterfeit for that which is true and genuine. The enemy of all souls has set up an endless variety of ways for men to rebel against God. This very often occurs when a person does not seek out the truth in God’s Word for themselves but takes man’s word for things. So when “another Jesus” or a false Christ is propelled and pushed out there by “another spirit” it leads men into a false or “another gospel.”
We are so very often warned to “Beware” of the reality and impending danger of being beguiled. In this late hour, so many are trading in the Savior who rescued them for some cheap, phony, and counterfeit substitute. It’s as if they are saying with their lives and actions “Any other gospel will do! We will take anything but the truth! We want everyone and anything except Christ! We don’t want to go to hell so that’s why we want just a little bit of Jesus but don’t want to be bothered with the details of serving Him in this life!” Make no mistake friends, this is “the spirit of antichrist” at work (1 John 4:1-6).
“To the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. … Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” – Colossians 2:2-4, 8-10
How Does a Person Become “Led Astray”?
Peter wrote: “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness” (2 Peter 3:17).
Those who choose not to love the truth that reveals the one and only Savior—Jesus Christ—will be sent by the LORD Himself a “strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”
“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
Desiring, loving, and obeying the truth is essential to remaining rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ—abiding in Him. The born-again disciple must never slack but rather must unrelentingly seek the face of the LORD daily, counting Him more important than even life. The following passage makes it more than obvious that those who “abideth (remain) not in the doctrine of Christ, hath (have) not God”:
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth (remains) in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” – 2 John 1:9
Jesus says to “Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you,” which simply means that spiritual darkness will overtake all who do not walk in the light of truth, found only in His written Word (Psalms 119:1-5, 130; John 12:35).
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21). There are those who, when they were shown (or knew) the light of truth, chose not to walk in it and therefore darkness came upon them. The choice a person makes regarding believing and obeying the LORD determines that person’s relationship with Him (John 8:30-32, 36). The LORD requires belief and obedience. Or, we could say that those who truly believe or possess saving faith, will obey Christ (John 15:1-16; 1 John 2:3-6; Revelation 2-3).
The importance of being rooted and grounded in “sound doctrine” that establishes the believer in Jesus Christ cannot be over emphasized! That dark, prophesied hour is upon us where masses who have a mere “form of godliness” are not choosing to “endure sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 3:5; 4:3). Rather, they are giving ear to and migrating to false, ear-scratching teachers and thereby being led to eternal damnation.
In light of the coming reality of each of us standing before the Almighty to give account of our lives in this world, the apostle Paul charged Timothy and us with this:
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” – 2 Timothy 4:2-4
One believer noted: “People do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself, but because it contradicts them.” – (Unknown).
Lying against and/or twisting the truth is a serious offense. It emanates out of the desire to cover up sin, whether one is cognizant of such or not. Beginning with the first transgressor, we have all done evil and sought to evade the Holy One we have offended. People who lie against God do so to avoid their own personal responsibility to Him, and yet they have no sensible reason to do such—they “hold (suppress) the truth in unrighteousness” and are “without excuse” (Romans 1:18, 20). Such an attack on God and His Word emerges out of the heart which simply refuses to humble itself in true repentance. One who has a heart like this will not ask for His forgiveness and mercy for the myriad of offences against His holiness. God stands ready to forgive those who come to Him in brokenness and true repentance (Psalms 86:5,15).
There is no shortage in these last days of the variety or flavor of conspiratorial vipers who are influencing people to sacrifice Jesus Christ on the altar of what is immediately convenient, expedient, and self-serving (Ezekiel 22:25-27). Few leaders today preach the biblical truth of the laid down life. This is what Christ and His apostles taught (Luke 9:23-24; John 12:23-25; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, etc.). The cross-less false gospel of most in leadership today identifies them as “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18-19).
Ashamed or Adhering to His Words
The person who denies the Word of the LORD, denies the LORD Himself.
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therfore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” – Mark 8:34-38
Putting aside the words of the LORD for any other or foreign philosophy, tradition, or system of man’s theology, is the height of rebellion, insult, and disdain toward the LORD. This is what the Pharisees did, and Jesus harshly rebuked them for this evil.
“This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition … Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” – Mark 7:6-9, 13
The enemy of all souls does not care what bait people take, as long as they take his bait instead of repenting and serving the LORD. Whether one trades Christ in for Calvinism or Catholicism, or any other system of falsehood, Satan is pleased because Jesus is rejected for “another gospel” (2 Corinthians 11:2-5; Galatians 1:6-9).
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach ANY other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” – Galatians 1:6-9
What one and only true Gospel is the apostle Paul referring to here?
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Holy Hatred
“Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way” (Psalms 119:104). The central theme of all of Scripture which defines the true Gospel is the Person of Jesus Christ and no other. Because He is the Son of God, the work He did is the sole propitiation for all of mankind. Any other way is a “false way” and must be recognized that it is of Satan and hated by all true disciples. “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Psalms 119:128).
The religionists of Christ’s days on earth traded in their own Messiah for their traditions and doctrines of mere men. They betrayed their own Messiah as many are doing today and, as did Esau, are throwing their own eternal souls away for a bowl of soup (Hebrews 12:14-17).
God has chosen to reveal Himself through His own words. Those who put something else in place of His Word have rejected Him, be it the Catholic catechism or Calvin’s corruptions. These are systems of theology external to the Word of God and convey the image of a false Christ and a false gospel. They are initiated and perpetrated by “another spirit” (2 Corinthians 11:2-5).
As “the prince of the power of the air,” Satan has provided many choices, methods, systems, and varieties of poison for people to rebel against their Maker (Ephesians 2:1-3). If a person doesn’t choose to respond in repentance to the drawing of the Holy Spirit and conviction of their sins, they will migrate to one of the many Christ-denying false gospels and philosophies available and serve the god of self through that medium. In this sense, as the Bible tells us, God created evil (Isaiah 45:7). In other words, He gives every man the choice to choose Him or not (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Romans 6:16).
The rejection of truth in some is so brazen that it produces a hatred against God and is manifested in violent persecution of His messengers. Acts 7 records the evil-hearted hatred of those who have a mere “form of godliness” and yet, simultaneously reject the reign of Christ in their personal lives:
“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” – Acts 7:51-60
The result of this aggressive, murderous persecution against this messenger of Heaven was, for Stephen, a glorious entrance into the very presence of the Almighty who stood to receive him into eternal bliss. As His disciple, Stephen was making a stand for Him and His truth, and “Jesus” was “standing on the right hand of God” to welcome him.
Stephen declared the truth of Holy Scripture to the religious audience who then killed him. Today, many shun and slander and seek to discredit those who hold to the original Gospel given us in the written Word (Jude 3-4). While many claim to be Christian, only a few have a true relationship with Jesus which is tested by either the acceptance or rejection of His precepts. Christ told us exactly who is “of God” and who is “NOT of God.” In a conversation with the religionists of His day, the Son of God said:
“Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God ‘s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.” – John 8:46-50
These Jewish religionists are no different than the deceived today who vainly believe they are God’s children and yet have no desire, taste, hunger, or diligence for His Holy Word. According to Jesus, this alone proves that they are “not of God.” In many cases, they migrate to and embrace a system or school of theology that is external to the Holy Scriptures. This then causes them to see the words of Holy Scripture through the lens of the theology of mere sinful men. Millions of souls are already in hell for this same deliberate rejection of their only Hope–Jesus Christ–who gave us His Word to save and protect us (Acts 20:27-32; James 1:21).
God did not leave us without the clear and full knowledge needed to be His child (saved) and live pleasing to Him in this life, ready to be with Him for eternity. Jesus made it clear that the Word of God — “Moses and the prophets”—is fully sufficient for these things (Luke 16:19-31).
It is clear from the whole counsel of God’s Word that who a person looks to is exactly who they are serving. The source of a person’s allegiance identifies exactly who that person is serving. If a person does not search God’s Word for themselves and rather looks to their priest, pastor, or religious organization for answers, that is exactly who they are serving. No man or religion can save any soul from eternal damnation.
You know you are dealing with a lost religious person when they consult with their organization instead of God’s Word. When challenged, so many today run to their religious organization to find answers instead of the LORD by searching the Scriptures. This identifies that person as “not of God” according to Jesus who said, “he that is of God heareth God’s words” (John 8:47).
Unity’s Only Foundation is Jesus Christ–The Truth
“There are two types of unity: the man-made variety, and that which can only be given by God and will always have the cross as its foundation. The unity predicted in this prophecy (noun: prophecy, verb: prophesy) will be accomplished by the HOLY Spirit, and yet cannot be perfected until the coming of the Lord. A lack of unity is because of a lack of fidelity to the Bible. Fidelity to the Bible brings about the commanded blessing of its divine Author.” – Carol Burke
God did not leave us without specific instructions and doctrine concerning “ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3-4; 19-21). So, to negate the authority of Holy Scripture is to defy the Almighty—to thumb one’s nose in His infinite face.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” – 1 Corinthians 1:10
This passage and many others make it clear that the true unity of all disciples of Jesus is founded and possible only upon the bedrock of His Holy Word. Every single true disciple of Christ declares with Paul the apostle, “Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).
There cannot be, nor is there, any true unity outside of the truth of the One who is “the truth” and the very Word of God. He is the One who gave us His written Word, instructing us to “search the scriptures” (John 5:39; 14:6).
Displacing the written Word leads to one becoming spiritually deluded and drunken with “another gospel,” which is the doctrine of devils (2 Corinthians 11:2-5; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Timothy 4:1-3). Many are being seduced and swept onto the wide road that leads to destruction by personal neglect of the truth of Holy Scripture (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-3). This is the great falling away foretold to occur just prior to the soon return of our LORD.
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition … Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 9-12
“The working of Satan” is involved in this “falling away” and yet cannot override the will of the individual when he is truly submitted to God (James 4:7). The devil is our enemy and not a fictional character, but rather a very real and extremely dangerous being who aggressively hunts and seeks to devour souls; namely the people of God (1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:7-12). Satan does not care what flavor of false gospel one may choose among the many available. He only cares that men and women choose something other than the original Gospel of Christ and His apostles. The arsenic in any other gospel will curse and kill many (Galatians 1:6-9). In their rebellion against the LORD and gross neglect of the study of His precepts, many today are grabbing onto and buying into things foreign to the original Gospel “once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3-4).
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Jude 1:3-4
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I ask You to forgive me for not diligently searching, believing, and doing Your Word. Please forgive my unbelief. I now denounce any rebellion against You—whether I realize that rebellion or not. Wherever I have not embraced Your holy Word and/or migrated with itching ears to false shepherds, please forgive and purge me Jesus. I here and now denounce any system of theology that I have ever heard and abandon myself to Thy truth. In the name of Jesus I pray. I love You LORD. Amen.
Capture Points
- Write out John 8:47 and begin to meditate upon and memorize
- Read 2 Thessalonians 2 and ponder and discuss what the Bible prophesies to be the sequence of apostasy and falling away.
Predators in Our Pulpits [book]
Spiritual Warfare | On the Truth Can Make us Free | Neither Give Place to the Devil | Resist the Devil and He will Flee from You
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Apostasy
The Majestic Eternal Word [podcast]

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19-21
Did you know that God has magnified His Word even above His holy name?
“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” Psalms 138:2
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America
THE AMERICAN DREAM DELUSION: Are You a “Dream Chaser” or a Jesus Seeker? [podcast]

“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:30
Jesus didn’t come to the earth to seek His own will or dream His own dreams but rather to do the will of His Father.
“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:41-42
Christ’s apostle Paul declared:
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14
Regrettably, in today’s modern church world, we so many who seek their own vision and destiny. They have not yet laid down their lives and so divine grace is not enabling them. There is NO cross. Jesus was fully submitted to His Father whereas most who use these buzz words today are not also preaching the essential cross, the crucified life.
God has given His people dreams since Genesis and still does today (Genesis 37; Acts 2:17, etc.). Yet a dream, in biblical definition, is from the LORD and for His glory and purpose (1 Corinthians 1:29-31). A dream, gift, vision, or prophecy from God is not for the self-serving purposes and agenda of men and women who are not crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Many we see boasting of a dream, gift, or vision today are self-glorying. Beware.
These who chase destiny are missing the cross which is central to the Gospel friend. Running around trying to fulfill our destiny is not of God. Laying down our lives – death and burial – assures us that GOD, not us, is leading and raising us up to do His will.
WHAT I ASKED FOR, by a disciple:
(a slave of righteousness—Romans 6:18)
“I was a sinner deep in darkness. I did not ask to be blessed—but delivered. I did not ask to be a king, for I was a knave (untrustworthy, deceitful). I did not ask to be wealthy and comfortable, but to be delivered. I did not ask to be an elite, I asked to be forgiven and saved. I did not ask to become God’s pampered brat, I asked to be accepted by Him. When He saved me, I did not ask, ‘Lord give me power to work miracles!’ I asked Him to do whatever He desired to do with me. I did not join His team, I fully surrendered to His Lordship. I became a vessel in the hand of the King of kings. I did not ask to be loved, but His love poured into me with joy unspeakable. No matter what life hands me or what people do to or say about me, I got what I asked for. I was once a sinner and now I’m accepted in God’s Beloved (Ephesians 1:6).”
BUZZ WORD ALERT: “God is positioning you!” is the cry of many false prophets who paint an un-biblical picture as they misuse Scripture, taking it out of context – to exploit and give false hope to their prey for their own self-serving purposes (Philippians 3:18-19; 2 Peter 2:1-3). But what is biblical positioning? What is the biblical position on positioning? Did Jesus die on that cross to position you to be rich in this world or the next? (Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12, 16, etc.) Notice that modern wolves who use this “positioning” buzz word to trick the ungrounded NEVER use this verse below which is paramount to our POSITION with God:
“And hath raised us up together, and made us SIT TOGETHER (our position in Christ!) in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 2:6
Because Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of His Father in Heaven, means that we His beloved blood-bought people are in Him and also positionally seated with Him in glory!
“Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,” Ephesians 1:20
Your position IN CHRIST is the position that anchors your soul in heavenly places IN CHRIST!
Jesus came to die and sent us to die and if we don’t we are not following Him (Luke 9:23-24). Seeking our own destiny is the antitheses of dying – it’s Christ-denying and completely self-serving.
Tracking the destruction of people and nations. History sure is repeating itself, but is it repeating itself in our lives?
Regardless of where we are personally in this, we must be transformed out of a worldly mindset and into kingdom thinking (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:23-24). Some who have resources in this world believe this makes them rich. Not. Proverbs 13:17. Some who have little in this world suffer the distress of thinking that means they are not important. Not. Learn what Jesus means in Luke 12:15. Here are several resources on learning a kingdom mindset in the biblical doctrine of stewardship. Please share this post.
The Prosperity of Fools | Wealth Wasted on the Worship of Self | Seeking God
It’s essential to remain in and with God’s Word and feeding His sheep, remaining steadfast, soundly grounded in divine truth and not be swept away with the spurious and grossly overplayed dreams and visions of mere men and their end times scenarios, ministries, etc. Hysteria fills the hearts of so many professing Christians who jump from one prophetic word, dream teller, story teller to another (2 Timothy 4:2-4). This keeps them suspended instead of grounded in Christ.
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” Ephesians 4:11-14
There are many who make merchandize of the people (2 Peter 2:1-3). They seem to throw out one dream, vision, or prophetic word after another. It’s essential to remain in and with God’s Word and feeding His sheep, remaining steadfast, soundly grounded in divine truth and not be swept away with the spurious, fabricated, sensationalized, and grossly overplayed dreams and visions of mere men and their end times scenarios, ministries, etc. A key component of discernment would be to reflect on whether the messenger is actually getting directly into the literal Scriptures.
Hysteria fills the hearts of so many professing Christians who jump from one prophetic word, dream teller, story teller to another (2 Timothy 4:2-4). This keeps them suspended instead of grounded in Christ.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18
“But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:” Jeremiah 9:14
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets (false leaders) that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth (written Word) of the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:16
“I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;” Jeremiah 23:25-26
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
Support | STORE | Podcasts | The Bridegroom is Calling His Bride | Purifying Ourselves as He is Pure [podcast] | 10 Clues Your Love for God is Waxing Cold [podcast] | More on the Sabbath of the New Testament – Jesus!



Antichrist
The Mission of the Spirit of Antichrist [podcast]

How do we discern the “many antichrists” operating in the church world today? (1 John 2:18)
The Antichrists are Multiplying [podcast]
Message from an Antichrist Refuted [podcast]
How the Spirit of Antichrist Works [podcast]
Our Glorious Inheritance in Christ vs Messianic Antichrists [podcast]
Antichrist or Christ? [podcast]
Antichrists Among Us [podcast]
“Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12
How is Satan bringing his great wrath on mankind in this last hour? Isn’t it the same way he’s always done it, yet now in an even more feverish, intensified way? Yes. His tools, his “devices” are the same—from the Garden to now! This is exactly what the Holy Ghost told us through Paul:
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man (it’s Satan’s same temptations/tactics): but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
Knowing and walking in this divine knowledge will help us stop Satan from getting an advantage over our lives.
“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11
In summation, “the spirit of antichrist” is Satan and exists to mislead people away from his arch enemy, the LORD Jesus Christ. This “spirit of antichrist” seeks to demote, to denigrate, and destroy the testimony of Holy Scriptures which reveal, which hold as their grand subject—Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, God Almighty, who was bodily crucified, buried, and raised again from the dead.
“The spirit of truth” vs “the spirit of error.”
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 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.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:1-6
“That Spirit of Antichrist”
“Theological liberalism and religious cults (and cultists) betray themselves as ‘antichrist’ (v3) when they deny the full deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, or His redemptive death and resurrection for our salvation (v 9-10; 2:2). Every departure from Biblical revelation concerning Christ opens itself up to demonic ‘spirits’ of deception (v1) because it sets aside the authority and complete trustworthiness of God’s Word.” Life in the Spirit Study Bible
“4:3 And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. This is how you can detect the false teachers. They do not confess the Jesus who was described in the previous verse. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which has been prophesied and which is now already in the world. There are many today who are willing to say acceptable things about Jesus, but they will not confess Him as God Incarnate. They will say that Christ is ‘divine,’ but not that He is God.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“Spirit of antichrist – All the opponents of Christ’s incarnation, and consequently of his passion, death, and resurrection, and the benefits to be derived from them.” Adam Clarke
Seems to me that anyone who denies the essentials of the Messiah (virgin birth, divinity, etc.), is an “antichrist.”
Jesus told the antichrist pharisees:
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24
“8:24 Jesus often used repetition for emphasis. Here He solemnly warned them again that they would die in their sins. If they steadfastly refused to believe on Him, there was no alternative. Apart from the Lord Jesus, there is no way to obtain forgiveness of sins, and those who die with sins unforgiven cannot possibly enter heaven at last. The word He is not found in this verse in the original, though it may be implied. It reads literally: ‘if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.’ We see in the words I am another claim to deity by the Lord Jesus.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
As was the case in the Garden, Satan’s mission is to misdirect, to remove Christ’s people from worshiping and upholding Him as the Head of His body, as the Captain of our salvation, who alone, who exclusively came as God the Word in the Flesh, Immanuel, and paid the full “It is finished” price for bringing us back to Himself and the Father from a life of sin (Matthew 1:21-3; John 1:1-4, 10, 14; 19:30). Holy Scripture informs us that “the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Revelation 12:12).
There are a myriad of facets, methods, mediums the prince of darkness is using in his full scale war against the Son of God. One of those methods is a changing of the words of God which is what Satan did in the very Garden of Eden which led to the fall of the first man and woman into sin. Satan cast doubt on God’s Word in order to lead the man and woman to doubt to, lose credibility in God and His Word, to weaken their resolve, and get them to not believe and obey what the LORD had stated to them in 2:17 (Genesis 3:1). Then the enemy altered what God had said (2:17) by adding a word (“not” — Genesis 3:4) This led to the fall of mankind into sin. New “bibles” equals/is apostasy and there could be no other spirit behind these corruptions of God’s words but “the spirit of antichrist” (1 John 4:3).
It’s interesting that the Bible uses the phrases “many antichrists” and also “many, which corrupt the word of God” (1 John 2:18; 2 Corinthians 2:17).
“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17
There’s a direct connection between the snake in the Garden, animated by Satan, and those who question and pervert the words of God today.
“…ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.” Jeremiah 23:36
Perverting the words of God comes in many and various ways. His time is short and Satan is on an all-out offensive and many do not see it (1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:12).
How can anyone involved with, or agreeing with, or defending the changing of God’s Word be anything but an antichrist?
From our growing knowledge of God’s Word, just WHAT “spirit” do we think is behind the removal of the very “BLOOD” of Jesus from Colossians 1:14 in the new versions? Certainly we know this was “that spirit of antichrist” and surely we can conclude that is could only be “that spirit of antichrist” anointing, behind those who defend those who attack corruptions of God’s Word.
SO YOU agree with SATAN having removed the BLOOD of Jesus from Colossians 1:14? You are going to take sides with Satan himself against the Almighty you pretend to serve?
If your “bible” doesn’t have the BLOOD of Jesus in Colossians 1:14, you are now accountable. God knows you know!
The antichrists by Stacy Strother:
“I think it is worthy to mention that John is addressing the church in with this passage (1 John 4:1-3). He is warning the people, God‘s people, to be on the watch, and to be doctrinally ready to discern that antichrist spirit. I believe John is imploring the church that these antichrists are not just a bunch of people out in the world that noticeably hate God, but they are people who seem to appreciate God, who pretend to be saved. No, rather that they are coming from WITHIN the church body, serving a separate or different agenda and doctrine.
I believe the latest false doctrines that have emerged over the last 20 – 30 years are part of this antichrist spirit, which is basically a doctrine. WOF, the emergent church, IHOP, NAR and so on, all seep with the stench of this antichrist spirit.
John is telling them that they are living in the last hour and that the antichrist spirit is not just coming, it is abounding now, presently, within the professing church world.
A thought to glean from this might be that John was teaching his disciples that there would be certain doctrines come forth that might argue that Jesus left, and His kingdom is so distant that it doesn’t really affect our lives here and now. By doing this, it would leave room for the false teachers to implement a devised doctrine. Such doctrines would appear as authentic, but rather when the student of the Word peers into those false doctrines, he finds that it is actually another Jesus altogether. It is antichrist.”
Paul L. Freeman writes:
“Are we to believe the scholars when they tell us that no important doctrines are affected by the new Modern Versions? It is obvious that they are not correct. What they really mean to say is that when all the changes have been made the Bible Doctrines are still there somewhere else in the Bible. If there are ten verses showing the Virgin Birth of Christ, and they have removed two, there are still eight remaining to prove the doctrine. That may satisfy them, but the Fundamental believer sees that as a piece by piece destruction of the Word of God.
We would accuse them of taking away from the Word of God. They would accuse us of using a Bible which has many additions inserted by overzealous Christian copyists. The issue now becomes quite clear. We must either believe that overzealous heretics have corrupted the original Word of God or believe that overzealous believers have added to the original Word of God. I can understand why heretics would want to corrupt the original Word of God, but I cannot believe that Christians would add one word to the Word of God which they have been entrusted to copy and pass along. The Spirit of God within Christians would put a holy awe and reverence around the sacred word and guided by that same Spirit they would copy what God had given them. My conclusion is that the new Modern Versions are based on Greek manuscripts that have been corrupted by heretics who changed the Word of God to agree with their rejection of the Deity of Christ and their Humanism regarding salvation. The Greek Text underlying the King James Version is not filled with additions made by overzealous Christians. It is the Word of God preserved by the Spirit of God and it exalts the Lord Jesus Christ, giving him his proper place and the glory due unto his name.” | Bible Doctrines Affected by Modern Version (includes the deity of Christ maligned and attacked)
Anyone who participates in heretical doctrine or practices proves themselves to be under the control of “another spirit” which is the same devil as in the Garden of Eden, right? Read this, the Holy Spirit’s warning to us from Paul the apostles. Paul is seeing the body of Christ as Adam and Eve before they were beguiled by the serpent:
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled (deceived) Eve through his subtilty (cunning trickery), so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:2-4
“the simplicity that is in Christ” would be what is recorded about Christ the Messiah in God’s Word with nothing added or taken away.
- “another Jesus” – as in one that was not born of a virgin, was not God, did not die and rise bodily, etc.
- “another spirit” – that evil “spirit of antichrist” behind the denigration of Christ, the attempt to rob Him of His glory (Colossians 2:18-19).
- “another gospel” – a message, a false gospel that does not uphold Christ as that “the record” of Holy Scripture reveals Him.
Divine Commands Forbidding the Altering of God’s Words/Word
The obvious mission of Satan, “that spirit of antichrist” is to deceive and to destroy and to devour the saints of Christ. Adam and Eve were in perfect, sinless communion with God, right? Right. How did Satan derail them—get them removed from His holy presence? He simply questioned and changed the words of God.
If a person is not opposed to the desecration of “the RECORD that God gave of his Son”, such a person is against Christ. Such a person is not with but rather against the LORD—regardless of his mere profession (Matthew 12:30; Titus 1:16). Isn’t the very definition of antichrist to be opposed to or against Christ, right?
What do we call anyone pretending to be an American who “shreds the Constitution”? A traitor right? And traitors are worthy of death, right?
At this dark time in the history of Israel, the Scriptures had been lost and out of circulation among the people of God. Then they were found and read before the king, king Jehoiakim (the son of Josiah) and his servants. As a result, conviction of sin came and certain parts of God’s Word were rejected and thrown into the fire to burned and to be vanished out of their presence. Jehoiakim was a Bible burner. What he didn’t like, due to the darkness of his own heart, he thought in vain that he could just burn it and that it would go away. Not.
“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” Psalms 89:34
This is a fascinating occurrence captured, recorded in Jeremiah 36 that is transpiring today in full scale, perpetrated by false leaders like king Jehoiakim (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Read Jeremiah 36. Remember that anyone participating in the altering of God’s words, is an antichrist.
“Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” Proverbs 13:13
Anyone defending the altering of God’s Word, which is what the new “bibles” have done, is under the control of a devil, the murderer who rebelled in eternity past, was cast to the earth, and began his war against God and His people by casting doubt upon and changing His words (Genesis 2:17; 3:1, 4).
If altering, changing God’s Word isn’t satanic, nothing is! See Genesis 2:17; 3:1, 4; 2 and Corinthians 2:1
New “bibles” are altered versions of God’s pure Word. They are the altering, the changing of “the RECORD that God gave of his Son”. The very premise of such is forbidden by the LORD (Deuteronomy 4:2; Jeremiah 26:2; Proverbs 30:5-6; Mark 13:31; Revelation 22:18-19). Read these carefully, prayerfully:
“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 4:2
“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6
“… for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.” Jeremiah 23:36
“Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:” Jeremiah 26:2
“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” Mark 13:31
“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: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19
“Antichrist” simply means to oppose or more insidiously, to put something, anything in front of, in place of the Jesus Christ divinely testified to in “the record” of Holy Writ.
There are “many antichrists” and anyone opposing or putting something or someone (including self) in front of Christ is an idolater and in my opinion can be referred to as an antichrist.
“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” 2 John 1:7
Anyone defending these alterations of “the record that God gave of his Son” is under the control of “the spirit of antichrist” (1 John 4:1-3). In their allowing the very words of God to be perverted is the denial of “the record” or the recorded testimony that Jesus Christ is God.
It all goes back to what he did in the Garden (Genesis 3:1; 2:17>3:4): If you want to discern the work of Satan in this late hour and how he has “come down with great wrath,” look at the changing of God’s Word via the new versions (Revelation 12:12).
Support | STORE | Podcasts | H.O.T. Bible Study [podcast] | Bible Agnostics Exposed | How to Spot a Fake Bible [podcast] | WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CAN’T UNDERSTAND THE KJB? [podcast] | New American Standard Version “Bible” NASV Catastrophe Exposed | The Audacity of Defending the New Versions | Do We Have God’s Word or Do You Need to Know the Original Languages? [podcast] | Bible Versions Category |


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