False Prophets and Teachers. You wouldn’t think that the New Testament has so much to say about false prophets and false teachings. Yet right throughout the New Testament the Apostles spoke and warned us about these people. The surprising aspect of these people is that they did not come from some foreign religion or an outside influence, rather, These people came from among them. For those who enjoy skim reading I have highlighted the important words in each verse. But kept the verse in its entirety so that it always stays in context. I have categorized the teaching of False Prophets and Teachers into basic 6 categories. 1) False teachers from among us. Their motive being money and selfish ambition. 2) People who love this world and focus on blessings, rather than heaven and eternity. 3) Other Divisions. 4) Circumcision. Under the Teaching of Jesus no longer a requirement. Yet enforced by some. 5) End time events. 6) What Jesus himself said about the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law. 1) False Prophets and Teachers among us. My comments Now days we almost take for granted that anyone who speaks from a pulpit or in a church has pure intentions. But not so. And not according to the New Testament. We are to consider what each says; the content, accuracy, and context of their messages and whether it is an Old Testament law rather than a New Testament principle. We also tend to think that everyone in church circles who asks for money, has pure intentions. Again this is not the case. Does all the money collected go towards helping those in need, or truly used for the purpose of spreading the gospel? Or does the money go towards the persons “blessed lifestyle”? Scriptures makes it quite clear that false prophets and false teachers are often characterized by their focus on money for selfish gain. Their method is deception. They are very clever at portraying themselves as genuine Christians, yet their motives are not pure and their lifestyles often extravagant. You may think I am being over critical and judgmental, but these words and thoughts are straight from scripture. As you will soon read. I know that the Bible also teaches us to respect our leaders, but that should never be at the expense of wisdom, and searching the scriptures for ourselves. After all we are to give a personal account before God for our lives. We will not be coming to him as a collective group depending on the church we attended. We also often think of False Prophets as only being significant in the Book of Revelation and pertaining to the Beast and End time Events. But right throughout the New Testament scripture has a huge amount to say about these people having crept in among us. In other words, they are with us even now. Let us look at scripture and see what it has to say about this. Scriptures on: They are among you. Their thoughts are for selfish gain. Acts 20 v 29-31. “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!” Romans 16 v 17-19 I “urge you, brother, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites’. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people. …. I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.” 2 Corinthians 2 v 17. “Unlike so many, we don’t not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.” 2 Corinthians 11 v 4-33 “If someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super apostles”. I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge……v 12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing ( not a being financial burden on the church) in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising then if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what here actions deserve. ….Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise. In fact you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you ……. V 26 I have been in danger of false prophets. “ Galatians 6 v 1 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from the heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you , let him be eternally condemned. As we have already said. So now I say again. If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted. Let him be eternally condemned.” Ephesians 4 v 14 “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning an craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” Ephesians 5 v 6 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.” Philippians 1 v 15,16. “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.” Philippians 2 v 3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” 2 Timothy 3 v 1-12 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, un holy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lover of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning by never able to acknowledge the truth. ……so also these men oppose the truth-men of depraved minds, who as far as the faith is concerned are rejected. ……….In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse., deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 4 v 3 “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 1 Timothy 6 v 3-10 “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understand nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain.” Titus 1 v 7 “Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless- not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.” James 3 v 14 -16 “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth, Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” 2 Peter 2 v 1-22 “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. ……This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings, yet even angels although they are stronger and more powerful do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and live beasts they too will perish They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots are blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning. They seduce the unstable, they are experts in greed- an accursed brood. They have left the straightway and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness…. These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty boastful words and by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity-for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have know the way of righteousness, than to have know it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.” 1 John 2 v 18,19,26,27 “Dear children, this is the last hour, and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their going showed that none of them belonged to us. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you. The anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. ..” Jude v 4-19 “For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only sovereign and Lord. …In the very same way these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings…..Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand, and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals- these are the very things that destroy them. …These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm-shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind, autumn trees , without fruit and uprooted-twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame, wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved for ever. …..These men are grumblers and fault-finders, they follow their own evil desires, they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. …In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires, These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 5 v 13 “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you.” A Quote: by Lee Grady, a previous editor of “Charisma Magazine” “Heretical teaching rarely comes from the outside. Instead, it enters the church in ways we would never expect: through a best-selling Christian author, a wildly popular celebrity or right over the airwaves through a Christian TV program. It might even walk down the church aisle and stand in the pulpit!" Scriptures on; Godly quality for leaders/and Christians. 1 Timothy 3 v 3, 8 “Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife , temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, nor quarrelsome, not a lover of money. Deacons, likewise are to be men worthy of respect. Sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.” 1 Timothy 6 v 17-18 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good deeds, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” 1 Peter 5 v 2 “Be Shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers- not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be: not greedy for money, but eager to serve: not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” 1 Timothy 2 v 9 “I also want woman to dress modestly with decency and propriety, not with braided hair of gold or pearly or expensive clothes. But with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” James 3 v 13-16 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” 2) People who love the world. My Comments We are often encouraged to believe that God is more interested in blessing us in this life, than he is about our eternal rewards and destination. But it is really quite the opposite. We are told in scripture not to love this world, but to live our life with eternity in mind. John 10 v 10 “The thief comes but to kill steal and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Is often quoted to support a good lifestyle on this earth. But what exactly does this scripture mean? Material possessions are no substitute for real Peace, Joy, Contentment, Love, Family, Relationships, our health, enough food to eat, etc. These qualities are often forgotten or neglected and replaced by a materialistic viewpoint of “a full life”. An abundant life is not necessarily tied up with possessions. Not that we should live a poverty stricken life. Struggling to buy food is no fun either. But our focus should not be on this life. Our hearts, thoughts, and actions are to focus on more important matters- Like ETERNITY. Let us again look at scripture and see what it says. Scriptures on : People who love this world. 2 Timothy 4 v 10 “They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. ….For Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.” James 4 v 4 “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” 1 John 2 v 15-17 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” I John2 v 21 “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. Philippians 3 v 18 For as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven.” Colossians 2 v 8 “See to it that no-one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world, rather than on Christ.” Colossians 3 v 1 -5 “Since then you have been raised with Christ, set you hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above and not on earthly things……Put to death, therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming.” 1 Timothy 6 v 6-10 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge man into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s” Scriptures on: Focusing on Earthly possessions Mathew 6 v 19-34 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there you r heart will be also. ….No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and despise the other, You cannot serve both God and Money.” Mathew 6 v 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ……And why do you worry about clothes?...If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you. O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying “What shall we eat or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” for the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Mathew 13 v 22. “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” Luke 12 v 15 “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed: a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. And He told them this parable. The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself. “What shall I do ?. I have no place to store my corps. Then he said. “This si what I’ll do . I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself. “You have many years. Take life easy, eat, drink and be merry” But God said to him : “You Fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God” ” 1 Corinthians7 v 29-31 “What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none, those who mourn, as if they did not. Those who are happy, as if they were not, those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep, those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.” Revelations 18 v 3 “For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” Scriptures on: Where our focus should be Mathew 10 v 39- Mathew 16 v 25- Mark 8 v 35 -Luke 9 v24 -Luke 17 v33 “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” John 6 v 63 “The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing.” 2 Corinthians 5 v 15 “And He died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” 3)Other Divisions. My Comments There were many more reasons why the apostles had to address the church about False Prophets, False Teachers and their teachings. Some were teaching that the resurrection had already taken place; others were worshiping angels, while others were choosing a specific “Leader” to follow. All of these topics were opposed by the apostles. It was also very difficult for early Christians (especially the Jews) to no longer live under “Old Commandments and the Law”, but to accept a new “commandment” of grace and love through the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus. Let us again look at scripture. Scriptures on: Other Divisions 1 Corinthians 1 v 10-17 “I appeal to you, brothers in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. ….…What I mean is this: One of you says, “ I follow Paul” another , “I will follow Apollos” and other “I will follow Cephas’. Still another “I will follow Christ” Is Christ divided?” 2 Timothy 2 v 14-23 “Keep reminding them of these things.(I endure everything) Warn them before God against quarrelling about words, it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. …Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. ……who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place and they destroy the faith of some. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. .” Colossians 2 v 18-23 “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. …….Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom with their self imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” 1 Timothy 1 v 3-11. “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work-which is by faith. The goal of this command is love…….Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.” 1 Timothy 6 v 20-21 “Timothy guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.” Titus 3 v 9 “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.” 1 Hebrews 13 v 9 “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods which are of no value to those who eat them.” 1 John 3 v 7” Dear Children, do not let anyone lead you astray.” 1 John 4 v 1-3 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 2 John v 7 “Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.” 4) Circumcision My Comments Another area that caused a lot of division in the early church was circumcision. You may not feel that it has any relevance to today, but it is a great example of how we are no longer under the Old Testament laws. Most of us are aware that the Old Testament Law commanded that all Jews be circumcised. This was literally “set in stone” as far as the Jews were concerned. It was not just a law, but an actual covenant between God and man (Jews) sealed in blood. Not to be circumcised was unthinkable. In fact the Jews classified people, by whether they were circumcised or not. However after Christ’s death and resurrection, grace came into play and a New Covenant was established. Sealed this time by the blood of Jesus himself. For the Gentiles this was a lot easier to accept and understand. But for the Jews it was a huge stumbling block. To ignore circumcision was almost like “going against God”. Those Jews converted to Christianity struggled terribly with this. Some of the converted Jews were trying to get even the “Gentiles” to be circumcised and to enforce this “Old Covenant” requirement. You almost can’t blame them as it was so engrained in their culture and thinking. But It was this that the Apostles were addressing. It had became a very BIG issue. This may not seem relevant to us in this modern day and age, but we even need to be careful that we don’t take an Old Testament theme/ concept and enforce it as a New Testament law. I believe that the church has already done these on several topics. Again I have collectively grouped the scriptures on the circumcision issue Scriptures on: Circumcision. Galatians 2 v 3-5 “Yet not even Titus, who was with me ,was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose, because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.” Galatians Chapter 2 v 11- Chapter 3 v 1 “When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. ……..separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all. “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs. We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. ……. Galatians 3 v 1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” Galatians 4 v 8-20 ….”How is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles. Do you want to be enslaved by them all over again. ……..Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good.” Galatians 5 v 1-15 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I ,Paul tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised , Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is required to obey the whole law. …..you have fallen away from grace. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not from the one who calls you. ….The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be…….As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves. You, my brothers were called to be free. But do not sue your freedom to indulge in the sinful nature., rather serve one another in love. If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out for you will be destroyed by each other.” Galatians 6 v 11-16 “Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised….. Neither circumcision or uncircumcision means anything what counts is a new creation.” Philippians 3 v 2 “Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, …….” Titus 1 v 10-16 “For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach and that for the sake of dishonest gain. …..therefore rebuke them sharply. So that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. ……but to those who do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.” 5) End time deception. Those that perform great miracles My comments Most Christians are aware that the end times will be full of troubles, trials, deception and False Prophets. So this one, most are aware of. But what we often neglect to think about is that it won’t be easy to spot them or obvious. Many Deceivers will come. Now a deceiver is one who “looks like the real thing” but isn’t. These deceivers will be from among us, appear to be genuine, (or else they couldn’t deceive people) know the word of God, have power and perform miracles. Now that is scary. So how do we recognize them? We need to measure them up with the “whole” of what the Bible says. Deceivers often take things out of context. Most of these people will be there for their own edification, and not for the glory of God or to help those that are less fortunate. (A huge indication) So let us be VERY WARY OF DECEIVERS AND THEIR DOCTRINES. Remember the difference between one who is genuine and one is not, will be very, very subtle. And at first appearance may not be recognizable. Scriptures on: End time Deceptions. 2 Thessalonians 2 v 1-12 “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you brothers not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple proclaiming himself to be God. ….And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned and who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” I Timothy 4 v 1-7 “The Spirit clearly says that in the later times, some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and abstain from certain foods……..Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales.” 1 Peter 3 v 3-7 + 17 “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say “Where is this coming he promised? Ever since our fathers died everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. …Therefore , dear friends, since you already know this , be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.” Scriptures from: Book of Revelation Revelation 16 v 13,14 “Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs, they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world. To gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.” Revelation 13 v 1-18 “And I saw a beast coming out of the sea….The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. Men worshipped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast and they also worshipped the beast and asked “Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him. …He opened his mouth to blaspheme God and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast, all whose names have not been written in the lamb’s book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain form the creation of the world. … Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. … He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first east, … He performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the sings he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. … This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number his number is 666.” Revelation19 v 20 “But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs o his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image.” 6)The words of Jesus Deceivers and the Religious leaders of His day. My Comments Jesus also warned us a lot about False Prophets and False Teachers, both in His present day and also about events yet to come. They are very clear and in the light of what has already been said about them, even Jesus tells us that these people will be “Deceivers”, people who claim to be genuine, but are not. Scriptures on : Deceivers. Mathew 7 v 15-23 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. ….Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Mathew 10 v 16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard against men. They will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. ……Brother will betray bother to death, and a father his child; children will reel against their parents and have them put to death.” Mathew 13 v 24-30 “Jesus told them another parable; the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his filed. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed ears, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said “Sir, didn’t you sow good see in your filed? Where then did the weeks come from? The servants asked him “Do you want us to go and pull them up?. “No” he answered, “because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvester. First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned. Then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn” Mathew 24 v 4 Jesus answered “Watch out that no-one deceives you. For many will come in my name claiming, “I am the Christ’” and will deceived many.” Mathew 24 v 11 “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Mathew 24 v 15 “So when you see standing in the holy place the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel-let the reader understand- then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” Mathew 24 v 23-26 “If those days had not been cut short, no-one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you “Look, here is the Christ!” or’ “There he is! Do not believe it. For false Christ’s and false prophets will appear and perform great sings and miracles to deceive even the elect-if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tell you, “There he is, out in the desert’ do not go out: or “Here he is, in the inner rooms” do not believe it. For as the lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.” 6) The Religious Leaders of the Day. My Comments But Jesus was also very insightful on the religious Leaders and Scholars of the day. Including The Priests (also the High Priest) the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Teachers of the law. Remember that these were the “religious leaders of the day.” They were the educated and the experts in the Old Testament Law; the learned, and the Scholars, the Priests who were performing all the temple duties. If anything you would think that Jesus would congratulate them on their wisdom and knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures, and for upholding the Law in such a rigid fashion. But alas the opposite was true. These people, as knowledgeable as they were, could not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Even though they knew all the verses that told of His coming and that pointed in His direction, they were blinded by their own intellect and the hardening of their hearts. They even despised Jesus, as he seemed to contradict so many of Gods laws, laws that had been specifically given to them by God, through Moses. Jesus was a stumbling block and an embarrassment to them. So when Jesus claimed to be God, this was the ultimate insult to the Jews. And so they decided to kill him. But I do have some sympathy for their plight. After all, they were only following the Laws that God Himself had laid down for them to follow. And the consequence of not following these laws was often death. They were all mindful of this. That is why the woman caught in adultery was expected to be stoned. From their perspective, how could Jesus be the Messiah when He contradicted and broke so many of their laws. In their culture a Jew was not to even to speak to a Gentile, let along eat with one. Not only did Jesus eat with these sinners but he spoke to Gentile women and even allowed one to touch him. That was serious. He also broke the rigid Sabbath Laws, along with many other indictments. I can partially understand their indignation at Jesus and His ways. Yet because of their zeal in keeping the Law, the religious leaders of the day had lost all form of compassion toward their fellow man. And it was this that Jesus addressed the most. They were also very good at “looking after themselves” over and above anyone else; another area that Jesus addressed. But for those who genuinely had a heart to seek God, Jesus showed kindness, compassion and led the way to an understanding of who He was. Such was the case of the Pharisee, Nicodemus. In the book of John chapter 3 verse 1- 21 we can read of their insightful conversations. Scriptures on: The Religious leaders of the day. Mathew 12 v 14 “But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.” Mathew 12 v 33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the mouth the heart speaks.” Mathew 15 v 7-14 “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you. “These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain, their teachings are but rules taught by men….. The disciples came to him and asked “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this? He replied, Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them: they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man’ both will fall into a pit” Mathew 16 v 5-12 “Be careful’” Jesus said to them. Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees”…. Then they (the disciples) understood that He was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.“ Mathew 21 v 12, 13 “Jesus entered the Temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written” he said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.” Mathew 20 v 18 “Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them. “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” Mathew 21 v 43- 45 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.” Mathew 22 v 18 “But Jesus knowing their evil intent, said “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” Mathew 23 v 1-36 “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat, So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do , for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Everything they do is done for men to see. They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long: they love the place of honour at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues. They love to be greeted in the market-places and to have men call them Rabbi. …..Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces . You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Woe to you , teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single converts, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. Woe to you, blind guides! You say. “If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if anyone swears byh the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath. You blind fools, which is greater; the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred. …You blind men! Which is greater the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred. …Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites, You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law- justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites, You clean the outside of the cup and dish but inside they are full of greed and self indulgence. Blind Pharisees. First clean the inside of the cup and dish and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you , teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like white washed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites, you build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And say “If we had lived in the days of our forefathers we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up then the measure of the sin of your forefathers. You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, form the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berakiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth; all this will come upon this generation.” Mathew 26 v 57, 60, 67 “Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. The chief priest and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any though many false witnesses came forward. …..Then they spat on his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said “Prophesy to us, Christ . Who hit you?” Mathew 28 v “When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them “You are to say “His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep. If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.” Mark 1 v 22. “The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law” John 8 v 44 “You (The Pharisees) belong to your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ….The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God” Mark 3 v 4 “Then Jesus asked them (the Pharisees) “Which is lawful to do on the Sabbath, to so good or to dot evil, to save life or to kill” But they remained silent” In conclusion: God is not against us, but for us. But when we get to heaven we will be accountable for our lives, and for what we have believed. Those that preach the word will be judged more severely as they have the potential to lead people astray. (James 3 v 1 “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brother, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly”) The Word of God is irrefutably His Word. Yet God’s word can be misinterpreted, and used other than for God’s glory, His edification and the need to love and help our fellow man, which is the New Commandment. (Mathew 22 v 37-40 “To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself”). Notice that we are to love God with our mind. That also encompasses using our mind, to compare what someone says with what the Word of God says, remembering that even Satan masquerades as an angel of Light. (2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light”.) Even as we listen to the word being preached, it is essential that we look at scripture in a much broader sense other than just a verse here or there. No-one is perfect and as a fallen race, it is a constant battle to keep our motives pure and our hearts towards God and eternity. So preaching is no easy task. (James 3 v 2 “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man”….) But It is for eternity that we should live, and everything we do, and say should reflect this. The world’s pleasures are but momentary, but eternity has no end. Every church and charitable organization requires money in order to function and operate. This is not wrong. It is a fact of life. We should always be generous. There are many fantastic, hard working, God centered people and organizations out there that do an amazing work in helping others, and spreading the Word of God. (Faith and Works) These are run purely on donations and the generosity of people. They could not exist otherwise. And that is a credit to those that give. BUT we are not to give money blindly, hoping that it will be used well. We are to use wisdom as to whom and what we give our money to. When an organization asks for money, just take a bit of time to see if the resources are used wisely or the people in the organization are working in the best interest of others. Or if an individual asks for money, does their own personal lifestyle match one of contentment, humility, and generosity? Or are they living a luxurious lifestyle, all in the name of God’s blessing upon them? Has their lifestyle been funded by your sacrificial giving? May God grant you wisdom in what you hear, and how you apply it.