How can we avoid being deceived by Satan? What challenges will come for Christians in the future? We must hold fast to the truth to avoid deception.
Brethren, is it possible that you and I could still be deceived in the future by false teaching and false approaches. In 1995, as we know, there was a bombshell dropped in the middle of the church of God community. Drastic doctrinal changes took place that shook the Church of God to its very foundation and many of us lived through that. I think one of the most striking facts that struck many of us was the number of people who were deceived or misled or misdirected by the new teachings and we stood back and wondered, how could this happen? How could that take place? We need to realize that we could be vulnerable to another deception that might come our way. We need to be aware, as the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. says, and on guard. This year at the Feast of Tabernacles in Panama City Beach, Bruce Gore gave a BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. Study addressing this topic and I want to pick up with some of the information he had and build upon that and discuss that in the sermon today.
There is a great deceiver, we all know, afoot. The BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. says he has deceived the whole world, so everyone has been deceived to a certain extent by him. The BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. indicates he is such a wonderful deceiver that he deceived one third of the angels into rebelling against God. And he never gives up – now I emphasize never gives up – on trying to deceive, mislead, misdirect the people of God. Consequently we need to be aware of that.
Is it possible for a Christian to be deceived? Even old-timers who have been around for a long time - I look out in this audience and I see a lot of old-timers and some young-timers. Is it possible that we could be deceived? What I'd like for us to do is take a look at the biblical record of the first century and look at what it has to say and what you and I will be faced with here in the future and what we have been faced with at the end time.
In Luke 21 and verse 8, I want you to notice the warning that Jesus Christ gave and the warning, as we will see through a number of these scriptures, that Christ and the apostles have given to all of us and to the first century. Verse 8 - He said,
Luke 21:8 - "Take heed that you be not deceived. For many, will come in My name, saying, 'I am He...' so they are going to come in His name He is the Christ and, notice, ...'The time has drawn near.' ... The time is near. The end is near. Christ is coming and they will be talking about that. ...Therefore do not go after them... Christ said.
In researching this sermon, looking up on the Internet and I found one website that actually listed over 200 prophesies beginning in 44 A.D. down to our day today of different prophets and ministers who had predicted the return of Jesus Christ, normally in their day and their time. And it went great lengths to explain the teaching and the approach of what these individuals had said. Almost all of them have died and they are in their grave and Christ has not returned yet. Now we know that the most sure event prophesied in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. is the second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth. He will return and it is very possible, I think most of us believe that it will probably be in the lifetime of many of us. When you begin to look today, you see all of the books being published today about the end time. Many books about the rapture, the Left Behind series, the beast rising, the mark of the beast, the number of the beast - you know, all of these are popular themes today in popular literature. Many ministers write about these events and, actually, even talk about them.
When you go back to the '40 and the 50's when Mr. Armstrong was first teaching about Europe rising again, you find that very few people, if any, were actually addressing this topic. He was a lone voice, in a sense, in the wilderness proclaiming what was going to happen in the future. Well, what has transpired over the years is that many people have picked up on this theme and so today you find it's not unique to us at all to be talking about a coming beast power, that there are many who talk about that. But the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. indicates that as we approach the end time and Christ's return is near to beware. In verse 16 He goes on to say,
Verse 16 - "You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends; and they will send some of you to your death. So we find where families will turn on you.
Verse 17 - "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.
Now, it is almost inconceivable. You think, why would we be hated? Well, the question was, was Christ hated? Was His message received? We will be hated for the message that we teach, for what we believe and what we stand for. You can already see that in the political arena today. Anyone who has the moral courage to stand up and say that abortion is wrong, that certain lifestyles are wrong, that certain approaches are wrong and have a little bit of morality are put down, ridiculed, made fun of. They are suspicious. They are accused of being radical and you find that today. What will happen to those who are religious?
Remember Jesus Christ talking to His disciples before He was crucified said, if the world hates you, that it hated Him first. He said, if they love me, they will love you. If they've accepted my message, they'll accept yours. Why will you find the true servants of God, the church of God, the people of God will be hated? Because we are not of this world. We are not of its customs, of its culture, of its traditions, of its lifestyle, of its way of life. We are different. We live according to God's standard, or we strive to live that way and so, consequently, you find that so many rebel against that.
In Matthew 7 and verse 15, Jesus Christ told His disciples again,
Matt 7:15 - "Beware of false prophets... and you find that phrase used continually in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ.. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
So outwardly they appear like sheep, but inwardly they are wolves. We've all seen cartoons of this, but this is what Christ warned.
Matthew 24 we know is a parallel, a repeat of Luke 21. Mark 13, Luke 21, Matthew 24 - all of these give the Olivette Prophesy. I want you to focus, though, on verse 24.
Matt 24:24 - Christ said at the end time, ...false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
So here is a warning from Christ. But notice what He says in verse 25.
Verse 25 - "See, I have told you beforehand."
So before these events happen, before they transpire, before they take place Christ said, "I have told you." In other words, He has warned us. We are warned by Christ and, as we will see, also by many of the apostles.
If you will quickly turn back to 2 Peter chapter 2 beginning in verse 1, you notice what one of the original apostles wrote here. He says,
2 Peter 2:1 - ...there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you... Now Peter was talking to converted Christians, those who were in the Church at that time. I think we will see that these prophesies are parallel, are dual in application. Not only do they apply to that time. I don't have time to go through this whole chapter, but you will see that this chapter basically is set in the end time. ...who shall secretly... notice ...bring in destructive heresies... so they will teach heresies ...even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. So they bring in secret teachings, destructive heresies and you will find he was warning his generation. He was trying to prepare them for this. But notice verse 2 and here is the sad part:
Verse 2 - many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
We've gone through in our age and we've seen this exact thing happen. The way of truth, the way of life, the way that God has called us to live, that we have dedicated our lives to for decades - thirty, forty years - all at once, just (snap) like that overnight people were told, "Well, you don't have to do that anymore." And you find that this happened in the first century.
2 Thessalonians chapter 2, we won't go there right now, but it talks about the fact that there would be a falling away from the truth. And that occurred at that time and it's occurred in our day.
Instead, let's focus on chapter 20 of the book of Acts. Acts chapter 20 and verses 28 through 31 – one of the most important prophesies in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ.. Beginning here in verse 28, Paul met with the elders in Ephesus. He thought this might be one of the last times that he would have an opportunity to talk to them so he says in verse 28,
Acts 20:28 - "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd... or feed ... the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
So, as shepherds, as pastors, as ministers we are to feed, to tend the flock - look after them, to care for them. Now in verse 29 he says,
Verse 29 - "For I know this... so this is something that he knew. It wasn't something he was guessing at. I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
I don't know how many of you have ever seen or read about a wolf attack on a flock of sheep or goats. You will find that a wolf will come in and he's not content to kill one, drag it off and eat it. He will savage as many as he possibly can and then he will take one and eat it, but he will kill as many as it is possible. So here you find very clearly it is talking about people who come from the outside in, who pick off the flock and savage the members of the church. Now, verse 30 – I think the interesting part of this scripture
Verse 30 - "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things... The word, perverse, means distorted, turning aside - in other words, not holding the line, not doing what is right - corrupt or perverted or to mislead. Misleading is another way this word in translated. So they will speak perverse things... or things are distorted to mislead - ... to draw away disciples after themselves.
So here we find a problem with the leadership of the church back at that time that some of them would mislead the church. They would be betrayed by the shepherds or the teachers. Now we never expected that to happen, did we? You go back to the '70's and '80's and even though we occasionally had what we might say is a person who went off from the church as a minister, and he had a little group over here, there was never really that big of a deflection from the church except in '74 when there were three or four thousand who left at that time. But what we found, we never thought that the deception was going to come from within and that it would come from the top down and that people would be mislead and misdirected; that the truth, the way of God would be distorted and twisted. And yet, it did happen. We were warned. But, you know what? We didn't heed the warning, did we? I mean, we knew it was in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ., we knew that scripture was there, we knew that Paul said it was going to happen in his day and, knowing human nature, things repeat themselves. So he said,
Verse 30 - ...among yourselves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. And I'd like to emphasize after themselves, to get a following, to have those who will support them and take care of them.
And, verse 31 – very interesting. It says,
Verse 31 - "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So for three years he had warned them night and day about these events and yet, it still happened. It did happen in Ephesus and it happened in other places.
I'd like for you to project yourself for a moment back to the first century and let's take an overview and a look at what occurred during the first century and then we'll get more specific and compare what happened in the first century with our day today, the century, the age that we are living in.
As you know, the church started in 31 A.D. There were twelve original apostles. There was James and Jude, the Lord's brothers, and there was Paul and Barnabas - all of these men, as far as we know, being apostles. There were a whole host of prominent teachers at that time listed in the scriptures - men like Timothy and Titus, Aquila, Apollos, Mark, Luke - and you could go on, Tychicus, I mean, Epaphras you could mention all kinds of men that are mentioned. These men were taught by the apostles. So here you had the early New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. Church with the twelve apostles there, other apostles called out of due season who were there to lead the church. They, personally training to guide and direct the church. And yet, you find this still happened in the first century. The church started with power, it started with zeal. Thousands were added to the church in a very short period of time, as we know. Great signs and wonders were done. People were healed, demons were cast out, all kinds of miracles took place at that time. And yet, within a very short time, false prophets arose, false teachers rose up in the church. Many ideas that were false and contrary to sound doctrine were being promulgated and many followed after those teachers. Now, you ask yourself why, I mean, how could that have happened?
Now, look at the parallel between the first century and our age today - if you want to draw a parallel, I will. The church of God in this modern era - this phase of it if you want to put it that way - began around 1931. So you can almost draw a parallel between 31 and 1931 as to when things began. It didn't begin with twelve apostles. I'm not intimating that. But there was a strong leader, strong leadership. There were a number of prominent men we have all known over the years that I could enumerate to you whose names you would recognize, who were evangelists, who were in prominent positions who are no longer in the Church. As the Church of God reached the '60's and '70's it was like it mushroomed. You found that thousands were coming into the Church at that time and I won't say great signs and wonders were done, but I can tell you that there were many miracles performed that I know of, that I've seen, people that I know who were healed – things of that nature. And yet, during a period of time you find apostasy, false teaching and deception arose just like we find during the first century.
Let's take a look at the scriptural example of some of the heresies in the New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation.. Take a look at what would be called the First Century Church or the Primitive Church and I want you to notice what was going on at that time. There was a struggle going to maintain the purity of the faith, to maintain the proper way and we'll try to hit some of these very quickly, but it's amazing when you begin to look at what the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. says. In 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 12 - we'll do a quick survey here - Paul writing to the church in Corinth and he says,
1 Cor 15:12 - ...if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
So in the first century some of them were saying, "There is no resurrection, there isn't going to be such a thing." What you find, certain ideas began in local congregations and many were influenced by them. Now, at that time it was a little different. You have to look at our day today and that time. You find if a heresy began in a local congregation people began to promulgate that, that it did not spread everywhere overnight. They did not have the Internet, they did not have radio, they did not have TV, they did not have the printed word like we do today. They had foot power. They had camels and horses and donkeys and boats. And so it would take a while for things to spread. In our age, any type of idea that somebody comes up with, they can put it on the Internet and, BOOM, almost immediately it can be spread anywhere and everywhere and so you find there are favorite pages that some people look at to find out what's going on in the church of God community.
The book of 1 Corinthians was written somewhere around 55 A.D., about 24 years after the church started. Now, compare that to our age today. How many of you were in the church in 1955? Not very many. I see the Smiths, my wife and not too many others. You find, I'm just trying to illustrate, twenty-four years. Most of us were not even in the church after twenty-four years of this phase of the work beginning. It gives you an idea of how quickly false teachings were injected into the church, that people began to come up with their own ideas, their own approach and they began to pass those off. Paul, in a letter, had to address them because he was concerned about people being misled.
2 Timothy chapter 2, is another classic example, verse 16. Paul writes,
2 Tim 2:16 - But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
Verse 17 - And their message will spread like cancer... We are all familiar with cancer - or gangrene maybe was the reference here - that spreads and it begins to influence and kills, putrefying you and destroy the body. It says, ...their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort... so here were two individuals who he cites publicly.
Verse 18 - Who have strayed concerning the truth... how did they stray? ...saying that the resurrection is already past... Okay, some at that time were saying there is no resurrection, others then were teaching that the resurrection had already occurred. ...and they overthrow the faith of some. So some at this time had already had their faith undermined and overthrown by these false teachers.
This book was written around 67 – 68 A.D., about 36 years after the church. Think of 1967 and 1968. What was the Church of God doing at that time? Well, we were more in our heyday at they period. I'm just trying to give you some markers so you can see a parallel of what took place and how quickly it took place at that time. They deviated from the truth and they overthrew the faith of some.
As I mentioned earlier, today there are many websites and publications that teach contrary ideas and publish those. Many people are influenced by them. Many people, you know, maybe do not have the technical background to be able to withstand some of the onslaughts of some things that they read.
Now I want you to notice in these cases here and what I read to you back in the book of Acts, the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. doesn't say that these teachers were preaching against the Sabbath or the Holy Days. It doesn't say they were preaching against those. Apparently they were still keeping the Sabbath and the Holy Days, but they had come up with their own ideas or other ideas or heretical approaches. Now the reason why I mention that is because sometimes people think, well as long as someone keeps the Sabbath and the Holy Days, they are okay. Well, that's fine, that's what they should do, but you have to be careful about what they believe as a whole - the whole package.
In 2 Thes. chapter 2, I referenced this earlier, but in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 beginning in verse 1, we find the context of this chapter is talking about the Lord's day, the coming of Jesus Christ back to the earth. It was written around 51 to 52 A.D. This is one of the earliest books written in the New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation.. That would compare to 1951 or 1952 in the modern era. Now let's notice:
2 Thes 2:1 - Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
Verse 2: - not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled... So some of them were being shaken, they were being troubled. In what way? Well ...either by spirit... where it's getting a vision, claiming that God's giving them a special revelation in some way ...by spirit or by word... somebody's stand up and preaching ...or by letter... written word - somebody writing ... as if from us... so, in a sense, counterfeiting Paul ...as though the day of Christ had come. Here were some who were teaching, actually, that the day of Christ had come. So he's trying to warn them about that.
Verse 3 - Let no one deceive you by any means... he says. Don't be deceived, misled. ...for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first... Well, you find there was a falling away from the truth in the first century as it has been described in the past. At the end of the first century it was like a curtain fell over the church and when that curtain lifted, a hundred years / fifty years later, the church that you see was a completely different church in its teaching, traditions, customs than the primitive church. So it says, don't be deceived. It says there will be a falling away first. I think we have seen a falling away in our age. I don't know what you would call it if it's not a falling away. But notice, secondarily ...and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition. So the man of sin has to be revealed first.
So you find that there has been a falling away; the man of sin has not yet been revealed, he has not yet come on the scene. I think we know who he is going to be, but he has not yet appeared on the scene. But, brethren, do you realize that we have had members of the church who have sold their possessions, sold everything that they own and have moved to various locations right now awaiting the return of Jesus Christ to the earth and thinking that Christ is going to come back to a certain spot or place where all of them are gathered and they are waiting.
Now verse 6 here, though, let's notice verse 6; it says,
Verse 6 - ...now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. So there is an appropriate time, prophetically, when this man of sin will come on the scene.
And Verse 7 - For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work.. it's already taking place, he says. It's already at work. ...only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
What we find, by the time this book was written, which was about twenty years after the church had started, the heresy of lawlessness - of teaching that you don't have to obey the law, misrepresenting grace, misrepresenting the teaching of the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. in these areas - was already being promulgated. And we have lived today to see the same teaching inculcated into the church back in the late '80's and '90's where it was injected, the same type of teaching, and many have followed that teaching.
RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 2 and 3 would also correspond to our period of time today. It was written toward the end of the first century or right after the first century and we have entered into the 21st century. We have also passed a century mark. Let's go back to RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). chapter 2 - Rev. 2, verse 2. Here we have a summary of seven churches. These are churches of God, congregations who were in Asia Minor on a mail route and what was going on within those local congregations? They were hand picked out for a reason. Notice in verse 2. It talks about those who claim to be apostles and are not and have found them liars. So some were claiming to be apostles. By this time for all we know, only the apostle John was left alive. All of the other apostles were dead, but yet, there were some claiming to be apostles at this time. Do you know that there at least two men today who claim to be apostles who used to be a part of our fellowship and, you know, they are claiming to have a special anointing from God. And there are people who follow them. It says,
Verse 14 - "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam... the doctrine of Balaam was a false teaching. We know that Balaam was in it for the money also. You know, he wanted the money. There are those today who get a following for themselves for the sake of money and we need to be very clear. The BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. is very clear on this and not everybody who stands up and preaches and who goes off and does his own thing, does it out of true motives, but to get a following and to get money.
Verse 15 also talks about the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. So here were false teachings very clearly spelled out. They were be promulgated in local congregations in the church at that time.
There are a number of scriptures that we could go to. I would just say, go back and read RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 2 and 3 and you will see – read it from the point of view of churches existing at that time and what was going on at that time.
In Galatians – the book of Galatians – chapter 1 we see that Galatia was not a church, it was a region. There were problems in the churches in Galatia and they are enumerated here in chapter 1, verses 6 through 9. I will just read one of it - one verse here, verse 6
Gal 1:6 - I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, so there were those who were turning to a different gospel, another gospel. As verse 7 says, there were those who were coming along who were perverting the gospel, the teachings. Now these ideas were introduced into the churches in Galatia in the 40's because the council in Jerusalem was basically called to address some of these questions in 49 A.D. so these problems had to be extant in the church at that time. And that catered to after the church had begun. Notice what Paul chapter 2, verse 4 of the book of Galatians.
Gal 2:4 - But this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ, that they might bring us into bondage). You find in Galatia there were two problems. There were those false teachers, basically Jewish background, who came in teaching that you had to keep the law, save yourself by works and Paul was combating that. You find Paul combats in Galatians and Romans the false idea about justification and grace – how is a person forgiven, how are they justified? Can you earn salvation / forgiveness? And, of course, the answer is no, so he had to combat that. But in chapter 4, verses 3 and 9 you find there was another heresy being taught that was mixed in with this. Verse 3 talks about the elements of the world and verse 9 – this is chapter 4:
Gal 4:9 - But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? The Greek word in both verses is STOICHEION and it refers to the basic elements, fundamental teachings, doctrines of the world and can refer to the 'elementals' to the spirits of this world and you find it's referring to the Gnostic, part of the Gnostic teachings that were being introduced. They were going back again to worship with involvement with the elementals and with angels and claiming that you had to – the only way to achieve salvation was to go through a series of elementals or angels and he had to combat that.
In Jude verses 3 and 4 - I want you to notice the book of Jude verses 3 and 4. It says,
Jude 3 - Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning the common salvation, I thought it necessary to write to you and exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Verse 4 - For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God... the teaching on grace, God's favor, forgiveness ...into licentiousness... license to do evil, to disobey, to give a license. When you go hunting, you have to get a hunting license. What if somebody gave you a license and said, "It's okay to break the Sabbath. This license permits the holder to break the Sabbath. This license permits the holder to break the Holy Days, to eat anything he wants to." Nobody can give you that type of a license. And yet, that's what was happening back at this time and, again, has happened in our day.
So you find men creeping into the church who would start the teaching of grace. What if they grew up in the church, but suddenly got into positions of power and responsibility and then began to subtly inject teachings that were wrong? Verse 8 shows part of what they teach against.
Verse 8 - Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries... So they reject authority.
Verse 11 - Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of CainFirstborn son of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:1), he was a farmer, or tiller of the ground. He committed the first recorded murder when he killed his younger brother, Abel (Genesis 4:8). After the murder of his brother, Cain settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.... and they ...have run greedily in the error of Balaam... and perished in the rebellion of Korah. So you find all three of these heresies mentioned in one verse.
Verse 16 - These are murmurers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts... and notice, ...and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage... to get the advantage.
Verse 17 - But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Verse 18 - how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time... so this is for our day today, also. All of this comes down to our day. ...who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
Verse 19 - These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
So they would cause division within the church. You find from one end of the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. to the other, one of the main jobs of the ministry is to try to preserve the unity and the harmony within the church.
Back in the book of Romans – and we're not going to have time to read through all of these. There are so many scriptures that touch on this topic that we could give several sermons, but let's just notice this:
Rom 16:17 - Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine... so there were those who were doing that ...which you... have ...learned, and avoid them.
Verse 18 - For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. So they deceive those who are not well-grounded.
In the New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. we find it talks about 'beware of false apostles', deceitful workers. Beware of dogs and evil workers, beware of those who follow the basic elements of the world and worship angels. You think it's impossible for somebody to get involved in worshiping angels today? What's all the craze about angels today that you find that so many people are looking to? I have known people over the years in the church of God who have gotten mislead into believing that they should get up in the morning and pray to an angel and that angel would guide and direct them into what they should do during the day. They prayed that the angel would guide their hand in writing out what was going to occur to them during the day.
In 1 Timothy chapter 1 - Paul, in writing to Timothy - and Paul wrote Timothy these instructions because he knew that his days were numbered, that he wasn't going to be on the earth very much longer, that Timothy was going to have to pick the mantle up. He was going to have to stand in the gap. He was going to have to teach the truth. He was going to have to try to preserve the unity in the church. And so, in verse 3, it says,
1 Tim 1:3 - As I urged you when I went into Macedonia -remain in Ephesus that you may charge some... you see, we come back to Ephesus again. ...that they teach no other doctrine,
Verse 4 - nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies...
Verse 6 says - some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talking...
Verse 7 - desiring to be teachers of the law... wanting to be a teacher, wanting to be a minister - ...understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
And then he goes on in verses 18 through 20 to mention Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom he had turned over to Satan and that they were insubordinate, they were blaspheming the truth. All you have to do is go back and read 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and the book of Jude and you will find some of the heresies that were taught. There were those at that time who were saying that Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh, he only appeared in the flesh, He looked like a vision. He wasn't really in the flesh, he was not God in the flesh. And they denied Christ. And this was one of the major heresies taught at that time.
You find with the record of the New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. scriptures and all the warnings that we have seen, is it still possible, brethren, that you and I could be deceived prior to the return of Christ? You know, we went through '95 and it's wonderful we're here and we realize that doctrine was undermined. But is it possible?
Well, 1 Tim. chapter 4 - let's notice quickly two or three scriptures dealing with the end time.
1 Tim. 4 - Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.
Verses 2 and 3 talk about how the truth, they will turn away from the truth, from the right teachings and doctrines.
Now, Verse 6, Paul writing to Timothy said - If you instruct the brethren in these things... in other words, if you let them know that these things are going to occur, that they will take place. If you warn them, he says, ...you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and the good doctrine... the good teaching, the sound, the right, the good ...which you have carefully followed. So you find that the ministry is instructed to teach these things and to instruct in these things.
In 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 1 - 2 Tim. 3 and we read here in verse 1:
2 Tim 3:1 - But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come... perilous times. The word there means stressful times, times of stress.
Verse 2 - For men will be lovers of themselves... it goes on to talk about. But let's notice verse 7. It says they will be:
Verse 7 - always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. There are some who seemingly never are able to settle down to the truth. They are always out here on a twig somewhere - they are always looking at some new doctrine, never able to just simply say, this is what's right and try to learn it better and to live by it.
Verse 8 - Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds... So you find that it talks about those who resist the truth.
Let's take a look very quickly at some of the modern day teachings - I've already referred to some of these things as I've gone through the sermon, but let me just delineate some of the things that we have been faced with. I read to you some of the things in the first century, teachings such as the resurrection has passed so there is not resurrection. Christ didn't come in the flesh. Or lawlessness. What about doctrinal - false doctrines and doctrinal problems? It seems like every fifteen to twenty years the same old heresies or teachings come around. Mr. Armstrong, back in the '40's had to address a number of teachings that I remember in the '60's the church had to address and we've had to address them in the '90's. Things like Passover observance; what day to observe; what is the correct time to observe the Passover. Who decides this? Does the individual decide it on his own or is this something that God wants His church to decide? Calendar issues: there are those who think that they should establish their own calendar and, therefore, they call it Biblical because they have established it. What about sacred names? That comes around and we have had a few people leave the church over all of these issues. What about the nature of God? As a minister over the years, I have talked to people who believed there was only one God in the family; there were two Gods; there were three Gods; you know, who knows how many more some might think. There are those who believe that Jesus Christ is a created being, the He has not always existed. What about the changes that took place in '95 concerning the truth that we're all very much aware of? What about prophetic ideas? I can think of at least six men who have set themselves up as prophetic authorities and many have followed them - into the thousands, in some cases, hundreds. Apparently, each one thinks that he is God's true servant to reveal to members when Christ will return, how He will return, where He will return. And so, many have been deceived by this.
What about the independent spirit and approach that we see? There are so many who say, "No one is going to tell me what to do." "I don't want anyone to tell me what the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. teaches. I can find out on my own." "We don't need organizations. These cause all the problems." I'm just relating certain ideas that you find floating around out there. The problem with this approach is fundamental. Who establishes doctrine? Who says when a teaching is wrong? If you are by yourself or two or three and you think that something is wrong, who's going to search that out? Who's going to say, no, you're wrong and prove you wrong? The individual is the one who is the final authority.
You know, United was established with the idea of establishing doctrinal integrity, that we were no longer have one man who is going to come along and force on the church doctrine or teaching and that we would have the whole eldership when it comes to a doctrinal teaching who would be involved in that, and input from the members. You find that the autonomous person, many times is not willing to submit to others, work together for the greater good. They want to do their own thing and it leads to another idea which naturally it has to, and that is that the work is over, that all we have to do is just simply wait and Christ is going to return. We don't have anything to do. And yet, the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. clearly says that we are to continue to preach until Christ returns.
In 2 Thessalonians, again, let's drop back here very quickly and I want you to notice a warning for our age today. Verse 7, we read already that the mystery of lawlessness is introduced. This is part of the message to arise in the last days. Verse 8, obviously, plucks this right down in the end time.
2 Thes 2:8 - And then the lawless one will be revealed... so there is coming a time when he will appear - that's what the word, revealed, means. He will appear. He will come on the scene. ...whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. So it's talking about the second coming of Christ to the earth. So this is, obviously, an end time prophesy. So I said, we think we know who this office or this individual is.
And verse 9 - The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, all signs, and lying wonders. Now I want you to notice something very carefully. We are approaching an age of the supernatural. We are approaching a time when there will be supernatural signs and wonders and lying miracles, as it says here, according to the working of Satan. Satan will be the power behind that, especially behind this man.
Now, what if miracles, signs and wonders come from somebody else besides the man of sin? Here he is over here, the false prophet. He's performing all of these signs and wonders. What if somebody else comes along and begins to perform signs and wonders and you say, there's the false prophet, here's somebody else. Would we go after that person simply because of the signs and the wonders? What if a leader in the church had these works? What if someone within the church began to get certain powers and yet, began to teach false doctrine? Would we follow that person? You see, there would be a temptation. Why? Well, notice verse 10. It talks about this deceiver:
Verse 10 - ...with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
The love of the truth is what you and I have to hang on to. The problem is, with too many, they did not love the truth. They did not love the right way.
And, verse 11 - for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
Verse 12 - that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Now, many of you in the church who have been in the church for a long time (and I'll refer to us as 'old-timers') remember - we have speculated over the years that the age of miracles might return again to the church. I'm not referring to just the two witnesses - we know that the two witnesses will have supernatural power at the end time, but that as we approach the end time that God will once more begin to perform some supernatural miracles. All of us read about those who are sick and infirm, who have major illnesses in the church. Wouldn't it be great if God were to begin to more dramatically heal some of those people? It would be easy for a leader to whom God might grant certain gifts in these spectrum, to feel that he is special because he has a gift and then begin to go off and get a following after himself. I'm not saying that, you know, that's exactly the way things will happen. But, brethren, the warnings are there, are they not?
Remember Matthew 16:1. I won't turn there, but I'll just refer to it. Matt 16:1. Jesus was asked by the leaders of His day, "Give us a sign." It's human to want to see a sign, to want to see miracles. What if an independent minister, who used to be a part of the Church of God, began to do signs? Would many be tempted to follow that person, to go after that person? Maybe the reason they would: "Well God must be with him. How could he have those powers." You and I are told to try the spirits (1 John 4:1) are we not? We are told to try them.
You might remember back in Matthew chapter 24 – we will finish here. Matt. chapter 24 beginning in verse 23 again.
Matt 24:23 - If anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. Again, many trying to say when Christ is going to come back, where He will come back. As I said, there are at least two groups that I know of who have gone off to await the return of Christ - sold all their possessions and are sitting there waiting right now.
Verse 24 - "For false christs and false prophets... I want you to notice, this is in the plural ...will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible... the very ...elect. Why is this warning given to us? So that we would not be deceived. As it says, if it were possible, the very elect... What about those who are not - they're 'elect', but maybe they're not the 'very'. I don't know who the 'very elect' - I know that's God's church, but what we have to realize, we have seen people deceived and misled. And it says many false prophets will perform miracles and wonders at the end time. There is a reason why Jesus Christ gave these warnings and, as we read in verse 25, He says:
Verse 25 - "See, I have told you beforehand." I have told you ahead of time. And, brethren, as the ministry of God, we have it laid upon us to preach these things, to let you know what the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. says.
What is the key to staying power? What is key to enduring to the end and not being deceived? Well, we read it back in 2 Thessalonians 2: a love for the truth, a love for God's word, that God's way of life must become internalized within us. The BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. calls that 'internalization'. That His law is written in our hearts and our minds. It is written within us. We found in the past that many hated the Sabbath and the holy days and the laws concerning clean and unclean meat. The first opportunity that they had to chuck those things, to get rid of them, they did and they did gladly. And they talked about them being a burden. Brethren, God's way must not only be in our minds where we agree with it intellectually. It's got to be inside of us, in our hearts so that we live it and it becomes a part of us and we would never dream of going any different way. We have to hold fast to what we have been taught. We grow in truth and in knowledge. But truth will not contradict the trunk of the tree, it will only augment it. It will add to it, it will give greater depth, it will help us.
I've only touched one facet of this topic in this sermon today about deception at the end time. The warning in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. is clearly articulated by Christ and the apostles. Brethren, we are told, hold fast to the truth.
