THE DEEDS AND DOCTRINE OF THE NICOLAITANS (Part 1)
(Excerpt from the Deceivers and False Prophets Among Us book)
“But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes (means conquer the laity), which I also hate…So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.” Revelation 2:6, 15
Some years ago, after being found and apprehended by God, and saved by the grace of Jesus, I lived in a city where there was a cartel of eight volatile and controlling pastors. These men organized and operated a control ring where they tracked church attendants and their movements and dealings. This intelligence system was set up to help these men monitor the movements and activities of God’s people in an organized fashion in order to control the people. Doesn’t this sound like a microcosm of the coming one-world antichrist governmental system of control? Unfortunately, these pastors worked deceitfully and went so far as to maintain tithing records and files on all congregants in order to spy out their lives and liberties and limit their dealings with those who didn’t give as much as they wished. Over a period of several years, I personally attended and was ministerially involved in more than one of these local churches. These men operated under the authority of the “covering” doctrine, and the evil results upon myself and many others was great. The evil after effects of this authoritarian rule were more than can be noted here, and it took years for the LORD to heal my mind and heart from such abuse perpetrated by these leaders who exercised control over those they were called to serve. The LORD delivered many of us from the witchcraft perpetrated by these men, and for this I am thankful.
“Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24 …. Elders are “overseers”, not overlords! Acts 20:28
Exercising control over another person (anyone other than one’s self) is witchcraft. In Revelation 2, Jesus speaks to two different churches and declares His utter hatred for the “deeds” and “doctrine” of those who seek to bring God’s people under their own control by misleading and misguiding their affections away from the Redeemer. This is a dangerous occupation at best, and one makes himself God’s enemy when doing this, because he infringes upon the divine work and the blessings He died to give His beloved people.
The “doctrine” and “deeds of the Nicolaitanes” consists of the control of a person or people through manipulation, false teaching, and various persuasions, some more subtle than others. The instilling of fear in relation to disobeying men is usually present in this type of destructive environment. Proper submission and accountability, as taught in Scripture, are taken to an extreme in this type of atmosphere of control. The absence of servant-leadership in true, godly humility is an earmark that one is among wolves (James 3:17-18).
Could it be that leaders who operate in this form of domination, do so because they personally lack the true grace and spiritual substance that comes only through simple obedience in experiencing intimacy with Christ? If they were truly following the Good Shepherd, would they be laying down their lives for His precious sheep instead of controlling them for their own purposes?
The definition of the term Nicolaitanes is found in the word itself, which is a compound Greek word. Nico means to conquer and laitanes mean the laity.
Jesus Hates Witchcraft
Jesus told us that He hates the “doctrine” and “deeds of the Nicolaitanes” (Rev. 2:6, 15). Nico means “conquer” while Laitanes means “the laity.” So, “Nicolaitanes” simply means, “conquer the laity.” This is the doctrine of control that the Master addresses here. In fact, this doctrine and the deeds that accompany it, so infuriates the LORD that it is the only thing that Christ ever went on record to say that He “hates”! Selah!
Jesus hates the evil, controlling, witchcraft deeds and doctrines of the “Nicolaitanes” which means “control the laity” or people. This is what deceivers and false apostles do (Rev. 2:6, 15).
No true apostle in the New Testament Scriptures coerced people to submit to him as an apostle, and they were real apostles, not self-proclaimed “false apostles” that Paul warned us to beware of and that Jesus warned us of (2 Cor. 11:26; Rev. 2:4)
No believer is ever called or given permission to lord over another’s faith. According to God’s Word, each believer is to first submit himself to the LORD and only then, to godly men (2 Cor. 8:5). Modern-day Nicolaitanes seek to direct men’s trust to themselves first. They make promises to the people they rule over, encouraging their trust in them (the leaders). This they do to persuade their victims to believe that God will be well pleased because “God” set them (these very men) in authority.
“In 1 Peter 5:1-6, Peter, writing under divine inspiration, forewarned presbyters about this malign tendency in the heart of man to exercise dominion over the souls of others. His antidote was that church leaders should clothe themselves with humility and emulate to serve the brethren with a willing spirit, not for base and worldly gain and prestige, but rather to please their Chief Shepherd who has engaged them into this service.” Author unknown
A False Covering
The control of men can come in many forms and with many faces. The “covering” teaching is one of those forms, and it is no new thing. Have you heard of this teaching? This “covering” teaching is merely one of the “cunningly devised fables” utilized by “false apostles,” “false prophets,” and “false teachers” to bring people under their own control in place of being under God’s refuge (2 Cor. 11:26; 2 Peter 1:16; 2:1; Rev. 2:2). I speak about most but not all who use this “covering” term. For some, whose hearts are right with the LORD, the term “covering” simply means having godly oversight and accountability. For many who use this term, it is all about control. This chapter addresses the evil agenda behind these deeds and doctrine. We shall seek to sharpen our discernment by addressing those who unlawfully use this “covering” teaching as a tool to exercise control over the lives of others. We shall compare Bible revelation to this doctrine of sinful men.
This variation of the doctrine of control, the “covering” teaching, and its proponents, calculatingly, cunningly, and deliberately assert that all Christians are to be “covered” (closely overseen) by an elder or elders. Their definition of “covering” a person would be more accurately defined as micromanagement and control. The goal of such a doctrine and its proponents is to gain control over people – control that rightfully belongs only to the One who made them. Some leaders teach this hyper-submission doctrine as if it were a foundational, essential doctrine of the Christian faith. They elevate this teaching and give it prominence, in order to fulfill their agenda to exercise an evil control over others.
This “covering” teaching simply takes what the Bible teaches as godly submission to an extreme, causing the control of people by someone other than their Maker and Redeemer. Though it varies, those who espouse this doctrine of control require people to check with them and get their permission (the human “covering”) before doing any ministry or making serious life decisions of any kind.
It is interesting that this doctrine would even be called “covering.” The words “cover” and “covering” only appear in the Bible once as they concern spiritual matters and are in the negative sense (Isa. 30:1). Listen to what the Holy Spirit reveals through Isaiah the prophet:
“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me, and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin.” Isaiah 30:1
The first thing we observe in this verse is that there are those that God calls “rebellious children” who “cover with a covering” that the LORD states is “not of my spirit.”
The “covering” doctrine and deeds are deadly to the spiritual life of those brought under its bondage. This teaching and associated measure is cultic at best.
It simply does us no good to be submitted to earthly leaders if we do not have a daily vital and thriving intimacy with the living Savior.
According to Jesus Christ, servant leadership is the only legitimate leadership in the body of Christ (Matt. 20:24-28). All godly leaders actually seek to help their hearers be grounded in submission to God foremost, and they teach that submission to mere men is in vain unless one is submitted first to the LORD.
“And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.” 2 Corinthians 8:5
This divine priority revealed in this verse alone annihilates the control/“covering” teaching. Deceivers position themselves between people and the LORD – this is exactly what present-day Nicolaitanes do. They proudly emphasize their self-appointed position, qualifications, degree, experience, and/or title. They then ‘lord it over’ others. This could be termed ‘power positioning’ – where sinful men place themselves over the people and set themselves up as an esoteric priesthood to rule over the captives of their flock.
Robbing What Christ Died to Give
Jesus came to dwell AMONG His people and not rule over them as an authoritarian.
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
Controllers are under the influence of unholy spirits and are thieves of the liberty Christ came to give to each and every individual believer. The “covering” doctrine and practices (deeds) rob God’s people of the rich blessings of individual priesthood and the authority of God in their lives.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1
In order to remain in the liberty of Christ, one must possess an ever-deepening personal relationship and daily communion with the LORD which begins with the secret chamber of prayer and a deep, daily study of Holy Scripture. In this place of intimacy, the truth will keep the believer out of the bondage of men and Satan and in the liberty Christ died to grant (Ps. 119:45; Gal. 5:1). The replacement of an intimate, life-giving, direct, and individual relationship with the LORD with submission to a mere human or hierarchy of men is simply spiritual robbery or spoiling. Theft!
“Beware lest any many spoil you (rob you) through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8
People who do not have that individual intimacy with Christ are especially vulnerable to coming under this control teaching and its spiritual bondage. Mere human teachings relate more to horizontal relationships in lieu of vertical. They rob the affections from the hearts of believers that should be reserved for the LORD alone. This control teaching taught by some leaders solicits and demands over-allegiance and undue loyalty to mere men. Leaders and teachings that have control as the goal seek to make the student believe that, because they are aligned with a certain man or group/organization, they are aligned with and in right standing with the LORD. Yet we know that there is only One Mediator between God and men – Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5).
Diotrephes
Diotrephes was an early church leader who exercised control over God’s people. The apostle John cited:
“We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth. I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth [them] out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.” 3 John 8-11
Diotrephes was an authoritarian controller who held a place of leadership in the local church. Authoritarian leadership is the complete antithesis of what Christ taught. Jesus taught His apostles and the leadership servant leadership, and He perfectly exemplified the same. See and learn this all-important kingdom truth. Practice what Jesus taught and modeled about leadership. See Matthew 20:20-28 and 23:8-12.
“…All ye are brethren.” Matthew 23:8
Controllers today, like pride-filled Diotrephes, do not want to be cross-examined or have their “doctrines” or “deeds” put to the acid test of Holy Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16; Acts 17:10-11). They simply do not want to be brought under godly scrutiny with the divinely inspired, clear revelation given to the Church (the Holy Scriptures). So these men operate like one of their predecessors (Diotrephes).
Diotrephes single-handedly:
- Hindered the truth instead of being “fellow helpers to the truth” (3 Jn. 8)
- Monopolized the pulpit (place of authority) – “loveth to have the pre-eminence among them” (3 Jn. 9)
- Blocked godly men from having input – “receiveth us not” (3 Jn. 9)
- Used “malicious words” against the apostle John, instead of kind words from a concerned heart with God’s glory in mind – not his own (3 Jn. 10)
- Refused to “receive the brethren” (3 Jn. 10)
- “Forbiddeth” those who would seek to help the Church and “casteth them out of the church” (3 Jn. 10)
- Did “evil” by monopolizing the place of authority in the local church. Diotrephes did not honor the gifting and authority resident in John the apostle and others in the body of Christ who sought to serve God and His people(3 Jn. 11)
Usurping God’s Place
The doctrine of control (“covering” doctrine, etc. and any teaching or deeds that usurp God’s authority among His people) is a clear indictment against the LORD – it implies that He is not able to cover His people all by Himself. Could this be partly why Jesus told us He hates these deeds and doctrines? Such a position clearly conveys that He, the Almighty, needs mere men in order to accomplish His will. Interestingly and conveniently, it is those who teach such lies that are actually the ones who claim God has put them in elevated places to “cover” His people. This “covering” teaching has been spawned and perpetuated by those who seek to be in control of other people and resources. Serving Christ and His people is simply not their ultimate goal – self-exaltation and domination is. Instead of seeking to become the chief servant, and thereby earning the trust and submission of others, they seek to gain positions and titles by force and by false teaching to leverage themselves among God’s flock. Make no mistake: These are present-day Pharisees. They desire the title and yet not the trials, toil, nor associated tribulation. They seek after the spoils instead of serving the saints, the exalted position instead of a humble prayer posture for those they oversee.
We are dealing with a usurping witchcraft demon that seeks to bring believers under its control through false ministers.
Overseeing another person involves helping them grow in the grace of the LORD, while controlling another involves using manipulative seduction and force. He created us with free moral agency, so force is not the way the LORD has chosen to interact with His people, but rather, gentleness whenever possible (Jer. 31:3). Jesus leads us, and we are free to be led of Him or not (Rom. 8:14). He deals with His people according to how we posture ourselves and whether we choose to serve Him or not (Deut. 30:19; 1 Sam. 2:30; Isa. 1:19-20; 2 Tim. 2:12; Heb. 11:6).
Flattering Titles
“Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.” Job 32:21-22
Let’s look into what Christ stated about leadership in His kingdom – first, how it is not to be done, then how it is to be done. In Matthew 23, while indicting false spiritual leadership and their practices, Jesus teaches that humble servanthood is the measure of leadership, not position, office, or title. Speaking of the Pharisees, Christ said:
“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men Rabbi, Rabbi. But be ye not called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren (on the same level). And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:5-12
“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” (Matt. 23:9)Here Jesus clearly instructs all His people to refuse to come under the seduction or control of any person or organization seeking to be placed in spiritual authority over them. Such a position is earned and freely assented to, never forced. The alignment of His people for spiritual growth, which glorifies God, is to be done as unto the one “Master” and “Father which is in Heaven.” (Matt. 23:8-9) This is to be done, not by force or deception, but voluntarily by mutual agreement.
“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God (not men).” Ephesians 5:21
Any leader who teaches men to depend on him, instead of helping people foster faith and trust in God, is totally false and to be marked as such.
Wolves are very cunning and manipulating. They deceitfully conflate you submitting to them with submitting to God Himself. Not.
God’s Heritage, Not Man’s
The Bible tells us that the Savior with the nail-scarred hands and feet is the “Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24-25
The goal of God is not that His children become card-carrying members of any certain denomination or local church. There is little or no virtue in such, and predominantly in this is harm and hindrances to open and sincere worship of Jesus Christ. The LORD is intent upon the sheep of His pasture experiencing and enjoying fellowship with Him and those who are His (Acts 2:42-47). Local church membership, as we know it today, is simply not found in the Bible. Actually, it can be (not necessarily) the first step into deception used by deceivers who operate out of local church buildings made of sticks and bricks. Buildings aren’t evil, but misplaced trust is, and so is ministry that doesn’t blatantly and forthrightly declare the truth and liberty Christ died to grant all in His kingdom (Gal. 5:1). The identity of the New Testament believer is strictly in Jesus Christ and His people, and the wrongful alignment and covenanting with organizations of men dilutes the purity of this intended relationship.
This whole control movement is the antithesis of what the Bible clearly teaches concerning leadership in the kingdom of God. Please listen prayerfully with your heart to what the Holy Spirit had the apostle Peter pen to the New Testament Church concerning eldership in the kingdom of God:
“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: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint (force), but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready (willing) mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:1-3
According to this all-important text concerning the duties of godly elders, the Word tells us they:
- “Feed the flock of God” – they don’t fleece the flock – “for filthy lucre (illicit or excessive, monetary gain)”
- Take the “oversight” and godly responsibility over “God’s heritage” – not assuming an unnatural position of rulership over the people Christ died to redeem. This they do (serve) without “constraint” (force) or deceit but “willingly” out of a servant’s heart. They are not “lords (self-serving rulers, controllers) over God’s heritage”
Notice that all of the LORD’s people are “God’s heritage” and not man’s heritage. For a man to seek to become a lord over God’s heritage makes him the enemy of the Almighty.
Authority to Serve
Upon whose authority did John the Baptist minister? Who was His covering? Who did he go to check with before openly rebuking the religious leaders of the establishment of his day? What greater authority could there be than the Almighty who led His life and ministry?
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” Matthew 3:7-8
Beloved of the LORD, a physical building has absolutely nothing to do with kingdom authority. A building, following, or college degree grants no person even one iota of kingdom authority. Authority in God’s kingdom comes from being submitted to the King of the kingdom and serving His people (Matt. 23:11; 2 Cor. 10:6; James 4:7). Those who are of God seek to serve Him and His people. Those who are counterfeits in our midst seek personal control and to control others. Their judgment is sure (2 Pet. 2:1-22).
Those under the control of the Holy Spirit do not want control over the lives of others. In fact, they refuse such a position. The Holy Spirit is gentle and loving and would never lead one man to control another.
Forced Submission or Free-Will Serving?
Note what we read in Hebrews 13:
“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation (way of life, not position)…Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13:7, 17
These verses have been misused by some who operate in controlling people, to gain a place of undue authority over those they are leading. But let’s read it again and carefully. When we do, we may just observe that it doesn’t say here to submit to those who hold an office or position of leadership, but to those “who have spoken unto you the word of God” and who “watch for your souls.”
Those who serve earn authority in God’s true kingdom. A position or college degree grant no kingdom authority, neither does the fact that one has been appointed to a position of leadership. In the economy of the kingdom of God, authority is granted to those who obediently serve the King of the kingdom – the way He prescribed in His holy Word. Check this out:
“Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:10-12
Matthew 23:11 is how God’s kingdom works – “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” Any local assembly not operating according to kingdom truth simply is not a true New Testament fellowship. “Flee” is the operative word for all true disciples of Christ who find themselves in such a cultic environment.
Jesus had much to say about how leadership is to operate.
“Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4
The forced submission of mere men is an ugly evil, despised of God. The very premise of such seems to be founded upon the pride of sinful men who hold positions of leadership. The kingdom of God is all about Jesus Christ, the supreme King, and He never forces submission. No man genuinely submitted to Him will be deceptively or blatantly seeking to place people under himself in a subordinate position. Such is unnatural and foreign to kingdom principles. The worship of the believer’s life and heart is to be reserved for the nailed-scarred risen Savior and not directed toward mere men.
Note, in this following New Testament passage, the posture of leaders toward those they lead.
“As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.” 1 Corinthians 16:12
Did you catch the fact that the apostle Paul wanted Apollos to go on a certain mission to do ministry, and Apollos chose not to go? Did Paul manipulate or for him or throw him away? Have we any record that Paul the apostle demanded that Apollos submit to him or come under his “covering?” Obviously Paul didn’t see his position or authority as something to be used to force people to do what he wanted. We see no trace of a dictatorship mentality in his ministry and life. Paul simply never lorded authority over others, even though he was a lead apostle. | The Covering Doctrine is Witchcraft
Do we read here or anywhere in Scripture that Paul or any of the apostles of Jesus reacted out of arrogance and pride? Was the apostle Paul divisive in any way toward Apollos, who didn’t want to do what he desired him to do? No.
In God’s economy, submission is a free will offering. The LORD Himself never forces anyone to serve him. Did He force the rich young ruler to give up his goods and follow? When the rich young ruler turned and walked away from Jesus, did our LORD command him to come back? Getting the picture?
If the very Son of God didn’t force men to serve Him who is all in all, why would anyone else dare attempt such?
“‘Only by pride cometh contention’ a work of the flesh (Proverbs 13:10). Srife is ‘I want you to think exactly the way I think.’ You don’t have the right to do that for anybody… you have no right to make people think the way you think. You need to examine your own thoughts and be fully persuaded in your own mind. I have no right to make you think a certain way. I’m a pastor and I will feed you with the Word, but you have to work it out.” Michael Caesar
“Let No Man Glory in Men”
Listen closely to what the apostle Paul stated concerning the believer’s position with God and Christ, and how he contrasts it with the position of mere men:
“That no flesh should glory in his (God’s) presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the LORD…Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours.” 1 Corinthians 1:29-31; 3:21
Lifting Christ, Not Self
People in ministry who are truly right with God never seek to build themselves up, but rather Christ.
John the Baptist existed to exalt Jesus, and he knew denial of the self-life was essential to such. He cried:
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30
Shouldn’t this be our daily verbal confession and heart rendering?
Take a glimpse at Paul’s aim:
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the LORD; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5
Salvation is of the LORD and not men. It is by faith that we are saved and that we are to live unto the LORD. The Bible tells us that “The just shall live by faith” right? In fact, we are told that we cannot please God without faith.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him...” Hebrews 11:6
Faith pleases God. A wise man once stated that:
“Faith is only as valid as the person or object in which it is placed.”
Displacing one’s trust from God to a mere man cuts off the flow of God’s grace into his heart and life (Jer. 17:5).
“Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.” Psalms 16:4
“Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.” Hosea 13:4
The sin of idolatry kills all love, joy, and peace. Liberty, love, joy and peace come only through proper submission to the LORD.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God…” James 4:7
The doctrine of control short-circuits or intercepts faith in God and misdirects it to mere men. Faith is to be directed only to the LORD. Christ said “Have faith in God.” This is why Jesus said He hates the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes – because it steals glory from His name (Rev. 2:6, 15).
Submitted to God First
When speaking of the Macedonian Christians, the apostle Paul stated that they “first gave their own selves to the LORD, and (then) unto us by the will of God.” (2 Cor. 8:5) So, we see it to be “the will of God” to “first” submit or give ourselves to Him, then be properly aligned with other men of God.
A blatant example of such obvious fruitless misalignment is the structure of the Catholic Church. A billion souls are submitted to this leadership while not being submitted to the LORD Himself. This is the way they have been led by those men who have insulated them from God by usurping the place that the LORD Himself alone is worthy to hold. In stark contrast to heretical Catholic teaching, The Good Shepherd says:
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9
Catholic tradition erroneously holds that since God gave Peter (the so-called first “pope”), the keys, that all who submit to the popish successors and the Roman Catholic institution are in the one true religion and follow the true way to God. As every true believer in the one and only “holy Potentate (Supreme Ruler),” Jesus Christ, understands, nothing could be further from the truth (1 Tim. 6:15).
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5
For many reasons, we know that Peter was not the beginning of what is known today as the Roman Catholic church, including the fact that this religion of mere men didn’t even begin until 300-400 years after Christ and Peter were gone from the earth. Peter is never seen as a “pope” in Holy Scripture. Neither he nor Jesus nor anyone else ever called Peter a “pope” nor looked to the apostle Peter as some mystical figure who was vastly superior to other mere men. Such an office is antichrist – in place of Christ, a substitute. The popish office replaces the real Christ, who is the very Alpha and Omega, with the headship of a sinful mere mortal. There is only one “Head” and “one holy Potentate” in God’s kingdom and that is King Jesus (Col. 2:19; 1 Tim. 6:15). Hail Jesus – not Mary or the pope or Catholic Church.
The whole Catholic system is a blatant robbery of the glory of God and blessing He came to give mankind. The fury of the LORD is soon to be poured out upon this system and all others like it. The cup of divine holy indignation is near full, and He will soon come with flaming fire to take vengeance upon such rebellion (2 Thess. 1:7-10; Rev. 17-19).
Do we not have spiritual “popes” in the body of Christ today? Is the same demonic spiritual conspiracy not at work in the midst of those who call themselves Christians? There are those who have placed themselves in positions of undue rulership over God’s people in our midst.
Jesus Christ came to give men a personal relationship with God (Mk. 15:38). This was His foremost reason and purpose for coming to the earth (Jn. 17:3).
Submission to mere men is futile, before one is in obedience to the Savior by first acknowledging his own sinful, depraved state, having violated a holy God. It is only in realizing our own sinful state that the blessed propitiation of Christ will be appreciated. Submitting one’s life fully to Christ is the beginning of all the blessings of God.
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
The doctrine and deeds of the Nicolaitanes is a perversion in that it reverses the order in which men submit. Instead of the biblical way, first God and then men, this perversion teaches men that their greatest need is to submit to other men, and that in doing so, they are submitted to God.
Like Paul, no godly leader would think of expecting, allowing, or permitting a person to submit to them before that person submitted himself first “to the LORD.” The “discipleship” movement of the 70’s is not dead. This teaching and the spirit behind it still lives on in men today. Make no mistake, the “covering” teaching is a deed and doctrine of the modern day Nicolaitanes, or leaders who operate under a spirit of witchcraft which seeks to bring God’s people under its control. This “covering” teaching is used by leaders to control others. This is exactly why Jesus hates it. Beware.
Those who promote the “covering” teaching (that it is essential for each Christian to have a human spiritual covering to help him make decisions) strongly assert to others that they must find and submit to some elite person or board of elders or apostolic authority. Yet, there is not one verse in the Bible that is a direct instruction to New Testament believers to go out and find and blindly submit in this manner to mere men. No such posture is found within the New Covenant Scriptures.
God had 27 New Testament books to definitively command His people to go hunt down and submit to a certain kind of spiritual, earthly authority, but he simply didn’t. He is the Master “wolf detector” and knows that these organizations have always enabled deceivers to mislead His precious sheep. The LORD never instructs us to unduly submit to men. Such a stringent command and rendering of allegiance or obedience to men is never ordered under the New Covenant, as some would forcefully assert. In the Bible, we are instructed to submit ourselves to the elders over us for they watch for our souls (Heb. 13:7, 17; 1 Pet. 5:1-6). These are men who have earned, before God and men, in clear conscience, the place of servant leadership due to their serving with a pure heart, not because they demanded to be in authority over others due to their charisma, positioning, degree, or intelligence. True under-shepherds do not lead by force. Such is an unbiblical posturing of leadership, and it reeks of self-appointment and not Spirit-led appointment and anointing to serve.
The joy of Jesus is the strength and wisdom empowering those who lead in unbroken fellowship with Him.
The role men are to play in overseeing God’s people is never to interfere with the individual priesthood relationship of each believer, ratified by the very blood of the Son of God at the cross and as He sprinkled His holy blood on the mercy seat in Heaven (Mk. 15:38; also see the Book of Hebrews). Under the New Covenant, the individual Christian has the divinely purchased 24/7 privilege of total blessed access to the throne of God’s grace “to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:14-16) Such an unspeakable blessing was not purchased nor given to us by a mere man and cannot be taken away by a mere man, unless it is stolen because the individual believer does not know the Word of God and understand His blood-bought privileges (Matt. 22:29; Hos. 4:6).
PRAYER: LORD Jesus, train my heart and mind in Your righteousness and truth. Establish my life in Your precious grace that I might grow in Your love and be free to serve You and my fellow men in the liberty of the Holy Spirit. Fill my heart with Your love for Your people. Enlighten my heart and mind and expose any controlling elements or people who may have usurped the place that only You should occupy. Deliver me, LORD, from any ungodly yoke or allegiance to mere men. Let the blood of Jesus this moment flood my life, spirit, soul, and body. Amen. In the name of Jesus Christ.
Deceivers and False Prophets Among Us
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FEEDBACK:
“✝Aᴍᴇɴ♥, awesome message! It is a must-read. God bless you and thank you for sharing this!!” Carolyn Annette J.
“Thank you for this awesome lesson my brother! Sending our love to you and your family on this Blessed Eve….” Pete C.
“God showed me this over 15 months ago while attending a new members covenant membership class! Within 10 minutes of the pastor giving his “talk” on WHY one must be covered. The verse kept coming to mind about; “there shall be NO God ‘s before me”; and James 5:12 – “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” Needless to say, I asked WHERE in Scripture THEY [the pastor & his wife] found Scripture to back this up, because God is telling me James 5:12!! We all need the only Covering there is – THE LORD. Ps 91:1″ Lisa F.
Message Received:
“Isaiah 30:1 Is a further warning against Hezekiah’s seeking counsel (an alliance) with Egypt against Assyria. To depend on Egypt to help against Assyria would only result in shame for Judah. I don’t see how this applies to people of mutual faith in Christ Jesus?” Charles H.
Reply:
Hi Charles. Well, many have brought the world (Egypt) and it’s wicked ways into the church. Paul specifically warned about this very thing (Colossians 2:8).
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Abiding
How Christ’s Kingdom Evangelism Works [podcast]
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
“The Word of God, like rain and snow that water the earth and cause it to produce fruit, will be sown in the hearts of men and produce fruit in the moral world (Isa_55:11; Deu_32:2). As the rain and snow fall on various kinds of ground, so does the Word of God (Mat_13:3-8, Mat_13:20-23). Like rain and snow, it will accomplish its best good in the eternal reign of the Messiah, when the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth (Isa_11:9). Thus, the final fulfillment of this scripture will be in the future; there is only a partial fulfillment at present in the preaching of the gospel.” Dake
“God’s word is just as irresistible and effective as the rain and snow. All the armies in the world cannot stop them, and they accomplish their intended purpose. God’s Word never fails to achieve its aims.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23
ANY person who doesn’t understand the power of God’s Word, when sown into the hearts of men, has no business pretending to be a pastor or elder in Christ’s body.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
The power of God’s Word when it enters the human heart:
“He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. 29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:28-29
The Harvest is Plentiful – So many lost souls hungry to hear the Gospel – the Laborers Few
“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38
Sin separates men from God.
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2
People are born again by the WORD of God which means the Word must be sown in their hearts and germinate.
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9
Faithfully sowing the seed of the Word of God in the hearts of men assures that God will be glorified in saving each of those souls who receive and believe His truth in repentance and faith.
Here’s how evangelism and our LORD’s kingdom work works—layers of Gospel workers. Usually we are the second, third, etc., Gospel labourer, following up on the seed planted in the hearts of the people we minister to. Let’s gain this vision, this illustration from Christ concerning our work for Him, in His kingdom.
Anyone putting off, pushing into the future, evangelizing the lost, is disobeying Jesus Christ. Anyone not evangelizing the lost around them cannot rightly claim to love Jesus. They are full of self and in need of crying out to God in repentance.
John 4:34 – 38
“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.”
“In the elderly home we minister in, we met a new resident, that had been there only a few months. When she came to our meeting, she seemed down, so I began to talk with her. She said, “well I don’t leave my room much anymore as my very good friend just passed away.” She stated her name and said, “before she passed I gave her the gospel and she received Jesus.” God is so good, as we had ministered to her friend as well, and seeds were planted, and this new Lady watered! The more I continued to talk with her, I learned she has been preaching the gospel and some residents are getting saved. Alleluia! Next week, we will give her some Jesus tracts.” Karen Cochran
Picture planting a seed in a garden, then standing back and watching the ground you planted that seed in and expecting to see it sprout up visibly from the soil it was planted in. Not wise, right? Right.
The picture our LORD gives here is planting that seed and then moving on, just like anyone who plants seeds to grow some plant, crop.
The Parable of the Seed Growing
Mark 4
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” Mark 4:26-29
“And should sleep and rise night and day – That is, he should sleep by night, and rise by day; for so the words are obviously to be understood. He knoweth not how – How a plant grows is a mystery in nature, which the wisest philosopher in the universe cannot fully explain.” Adam Clarke
In ministry, it’s always seeding, planting. It’s GOD, not us, who brings the increase. This pertains to the invisible work of God in the hearts of men.
“The parable may be intended to encourage the disciples. Their responsibility is to sow the seed. They may sleep by night and rise by day, knowing that God’s Word will not return to Him void, but will accomplish what He has intended it to do. By a mysterious and miraculous process, quite apart from man’s strength and skill, the Word works in human hearts, producing fruit for God. Man plants and waters but God gives the increase.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalms 19:7
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16
YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, please break me. Unite my heart to fear Your name. Thank You for choosing and ordaining me to Your kingdom work. Please bear Your fruit in and through this life, this vessel for Your eternal glory. Let that fruit remain dear LORD. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Abiding
Jesus Washes the Feet of His Own [podcast]
What was Jesus demonstrating and teaching us when He washed the feet of His disciples?
The Washed Way – begins with “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost” – being born again (Titus 3:5-7; John 3:3, 7).
“On the way back from the public bath, a person’s feet would get dirty again. He didn’t need another bath but did need to have his feet washed. ‘He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean.’ There is a difference between the bath and the basin. The bath speaks of the cleansing received at the time of one’s salvation. Cleansing from the penalty of sin through the blood of Christ takes place only once. The basin speaks of cleansing from the pollution of sin and must take place continually through the Word of God. There is one bath but many foot-washings.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“If these last words of our Lord had any spiritual reference, it is not easy to say what it was. A common opinion is the following: He who is washed – who is justified through the blood of the Lamb, needeth only to wash his feet – to regulate all his affections and desires; and to get, by faith, his conscience cleansed from any fresh guilt, which he may have contracted since his justification.” Adam Clarke
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. – John 13:1-17
Those not happy prove they are not humble nor holy (John 13).
“If loving the person in front of you seems like too small of a ministry opportunity, you’ve forgotten the simplicity of the Gospel.” unknown
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet as an Act of Final Sealing of His Mercy, His Will
“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end (to the end, to the utmost).” John 13:1
“Before the feast – Namely, on Wednesday, in the paschal week. Having loved his own – His apostles, he loved them to the end – Of his life.” John Wesley
Adam Clarke writes:
“He loved them unto the end – Continued his fervent affection towards them to his latest breath, and gave them that convincing proof of it which is mentioned Joh_13:5. That the disciples alone are meant here every man must see.”
Of these cornerstone verses of John 13, F.B. Meyer writes:
“John 13:1-11
JESUS GLORIFIES HUMBLE SERVICE
In the Temple the laver preceded the brazen altar. It was kept filled with pure water for the constant washing of the priests; Exo_30:18-21; Lev_16:4. We cannot have fellowship with Christ at Calvary or on Olivet unless we draw near with our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
The Synoptic Gospels tell us that on their way to the feast the disciples had yielded to contention and pride. It was needful that these should be put away, and our Lord’s love was equal to the occasion. He loved them to the end of His life and to the end of love. Only such love could have made saints and apostles out of such material.
Jesus began a work which has never ceased, and which will continue “till all the ransomed Church of God be saved to sin no more.” When we have contracted guilt, we have not to begin our whole life over again, but to go back to the place where we dropped the thread of obedience and begin there.”
May we never forget how merciful our LORD Jesus was to the woman at the well (John 4), the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8), and the woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8).
It’s of interest to note how this 13th chapter of the glorious Gospel of John begins with Christ’s love to His disciples and closes with His command for them to “love one another” as He taught and personally demonstrated to them:
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35
“When you fall in love don’t you want to shout it from the rooftops? He, the man you are in love with, is all you talk about! Should be the same with Jesus! You want to tell everyone about this man, the Savior who saved your life! Just as the woman at the well did! She told the whole city. ‘Come, and see a man, which told me all the things that ever I did: is this not the Christ?’ John 4: 28-29.” Karen Cochran
YOUR PRAYER: Father, in Jesus’ name, please reduce me to love.
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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).
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