BEWARE OF DECEPTION
Mt 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. NKJV
1 Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons NKJV
We are warned by Jesus, Peter, John, and Paul to be careful about deception. There are not only false teachings but false brethren, false pastors, false teachers, false prophets, and false apostles. There are many false doctrines and doctrines of demons that are in the body of Christ at this time. The following nine points are some of the most powerful deceptions that I have seen in the church in these days.
I. COMPROMISE AND LUKEWARMNESS IN THE CHURCH
Rv 3:14-17 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm , and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. NKJV
Lukewarm is a mixture of hot and cold. You are hot on Sunday and cold on Monday. Jesus warned about this and said He would rather have us hot or cold. He gauges us to be either cold, lukewarm, or hot. If we are lukewarm, or if we are a mixture, He will vomit us out of His mouth. Lukewarmness characterizes many christians and churches today around the world. There is a false veiw of eternal security that does not depend on vibrant daily faith. Their is compromise in the church and a mixture of the spirit of the world (1 Cor. 2:12), materialism and consumerism.
1 Ti 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men ? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
II. REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY THAT DENIES ISRAEL'S PLACE IN GOD'S END TIME PURPOSE
What Is Replacement Theology? Replacement Theology was introduced to the Church shortly after Gentile leadership took over from Jewish leadership. Constantine, who was very negative towards the Jews, introduced many things that moved the church from understanding that we are "grafted in to a Jewish root" (Rom 11) to be grafted into paganism (Pagan Chrisitanity by Frank Viola and George Barna). Here are a few of the main points of replacement theology.
1. Israel (the Jewish people and the land) has been replaced by the Christian Church in the purposes of God, or, more precisely, the Church is the historic continuation of Israel to the exclusion of the former.
2. The Jewish people are now no longer a "chosen people." In fact, they are no different from any other group, such as the English, Spanish, or Africans.
3. Apart from repentance, the new birth, and incorporation into the Church, the Jewish people have no future, no hope, and no calling in the plan of God. The same is true for every other nation and group.
4. Since Pentecost of Acts 2, the term "Israel," as found in the Bible, now refers to the Church.
5. The promises, covenants and blessings ascribed to Israel in the Bible have been taken away from the Jews and given to the Church, which has superceded them. However, the Jews are subject to the curses found in the Bible, as a result of their rejection of Christ.
III. PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE THAT LEAVES THE CHURCH UNPREPARED FOR THE LAST DAYS
The pre-tribulation rapture was never taught in the body of Christ untill the mid 1800s.
There exist at least one 18th century and two 19th century Pre-Tribulation references, in a book published in 1788, in the writings of a Catholic priest Emmanuel Lacunza [8] in 1812, and by John Nelson Darby himself in 1827.[9] However, both the book published in 1788 and the writings of Lacunza have opposing views regarding their interpretations.
The rise in belief in the "Pre-Tribulation" rapture is sometimes attributed to a 15-year old Scottish-Irish girl named Margaret McDonald (a follower of Edward Irving), who in 1830 had a vision that was later[10] published in 1861.The popularization of the term is associated with the teaching of John Nelson Darby, prominent among the Plymouth Brethren, and the rise of premillennialism and dispensationalism in English-speaking churches at the end of the 19th century. In 1908, the doctrine of the rapture was further popularized by an evangelist named William Eugene Blackstone, whose book, Jesus is Coming, sold more than one million copies. The first known theological use of the word "rapture" in print occurs with the Scofield Reference Bible of 1909.[11] From Wikipedia.
Jesus, Paul, and John all spoke of the "catching away" to be at the sound of the "last trumpet." This time will be at the end of the 7 year tribulation period not the beginning of it.
Mt 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
1 Co 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet . For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. NKJV
1 Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. NKJV
Rv 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded (the trumpet): And there were loud voices in heaven, saying,"The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, NKJV
IV. PRAYERLESSNESS IN THE CHURCH BECAUSE OF CESSATIONIST THEOLOGY
In Christian theology, cessationism is the view that the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as tongues, prophecy and healing, etc. ceased being practiced early on in Church history. The results of this is a lack of prayer and fasting in the church and a fervency of contending for the faith.
Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 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 into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. NKJV
Cessationists usually believe the miraculous gifts were given only for the foundation of the Church, during the time between the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, c. AD 33 (see Acts 2) and the fulfillment of God's purposes in history, usually identified as either the completion of the last book of the New Testament or the death of the last Apostle. Its counterpart is continuationism.
Cessationists are divided into four main groups:
Concentric Cessationists believe that the miraculous gifts have indeed ceased in the mainstream church and evangelized areas, but appear in unreached areas as an aid to spreading the Gospel (Luther and Calvin, though they were somewhat inconsistent in this position).
Classical cessationists assert that the "sign gifts" such as prophecy, healing and speaking in tongues ceased with the apostles and the finishing of the canon of Scripture. They only served as launching pads for the spreading of the Gospel; as affirmations of God's revelation. However, these cessationists do believe that God still occasionally does miracles today, such as healings or divine guidance, so long as these "miracles" do not accredit new doctrine or add to the New Testament canon. Richard Gaffin, John F. MacArthur and Daniel B. Wallace are perhaps the best-known classical cessationists.
Full Cessationists argue that along with no miraculous gifts, there are also no miracles performed by God today. This argument, of course, turns on one's understanding of the term, "miracle." B. B. Warfield, J. Gresham Machen
Consistent Cessationists believe that not only were the miraculous gifts only for the establishment of the first-century church, but the so-called five-fold ministry found in Eph. 4 was also a transitional institution (i.e., There are no more apostles or prophets, but also no more pastors, teachers, or evangelists). Wikipedia
V. SYMBOLIC INTERPRETATION OF MOST END TIME PROPHECY
"About the Time of the End, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the Biblical Prophecies, and insist upon their literal interpretation, in the midst of much clamor and opposition" Sir Isaac Newton
By not believing in a literal interpretation of the Book of Revelation and other end time prophecies we significantly reduce, dismiss and ignore the literal, future events in the End-Time drama. This approach to Scripture fuels a "scoffing spirit" of unbelief and hardness of heart (2 Pet. 3:3; Mk. 16:14; Lk. 24:25, 38).
VI. HELL DOES NOT EXIST
Jesus preached about hell more than anyone in the Bible. He also spoke on judgement more than 25 times and on salvation less only two times. The real gospel is a double-edged sword that offers both the "kindness and severity of God" (Rom. 11:22, emphasis added). That's why hell is one four-letter word we should use more often-not to condemn people in mean-spirited judgment but to warn them that mercy has a time limit.
The world rejects the concept of hell because it's too exclusive. Our Oprah-ized culture insists that everyone deserves a warm and fuzzy life free of consequences. "How can a loving God send anyone to hell?" people ask. If we truly love them we will explain that hell is not a metaphor-it is a real place of dreadful separation from God that sinners choose when they reject Him. We must start preaching about hell again instead of worrying about who might leave our church.
VII. EVOLUTION AND HUMANISM
There is a growing acceptance of humanistic and evolutionairy ideas in the church. The mainstream media and academia insist that evolution is pure fact. Anyone who dares to challenge it is considered a religious idiot. What people don't realize is that Darwinism has roots in spiritualism. Welsh naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace shared many of Darwin's beliefs and encouraged him to publish his book. Wallace believed in spirit guides, participated in séances and was intrigued by all things paranormal. He promoted the "science" of evolution because it supported his anti-God views. Is it any wonder, then, that this doctrine he and Darwin propagated has been used to undermine Christianity ever since?
The world does not want to believe in a Creator because if He is real, then He has ultimate authority over His creation. On the flip side, man has no moral responsibility . Evolution is not really about science at all-it is about rebellion against God's rule over us.
Ro 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man - and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. NKJV
VIII. UNITARIANISM AND UNIVERSALISM
All religions lead to God. This isn't a new lie, but it is enjoying a revival today. President Bush has obviously flirted with the idea, since he has told reporters that Muslims and Christians worship the same God. Barack Obama attended a church for 20 years that teaches that Jesus is not the only way to salvation-and he has publicly acknowledged that he believes this.
The doctrine of universalism-which states that all people will ultimately gain salvation and enjoy heaven-has become the religion of the masses. Even some charismatic and Pentecostal preachers such as Carlton Pearson of Oklahoma and D.E. Paulk of Atlanta have abandoned biblical orthodoxy to embrace this heresy. They are now on a crusade to rewrite Christian theology-and they have allies in some mainline denominations (such as the Episcopal Church) where the authority of Scripture is denied.
Christians who embrace universalism are like the prophets of Baal in Jezebel's court who had been neutered. They preach a powerless message that cannot change anyone. We must arise in the spirit of Elijah to confront this deception and prove to the world that the one true God answers by fire.
2 Pe 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.NKJV
IX. THERE ARE NO ABSOLUTES AND THE BIBLE IS NOT INERRANT
Man can redefine morality. This is perhaps the most deadly lie of all. Everywhere we look today, leaders in media, politics, education and entertainment are plotting the virtual overthrow of conventional morals. They want a hedonistic world with no rules and no guilt. This was most obvious last month when Newsweek published a cover story brazenly claiming that the Bible approves of same-sex marriage.
A lying spirit has invaded many mainline churches and is convincing weak Christians to change their views about homosexuality, abortion, and fornication. Evil is called good while those who stand for the biblical values of purity and traditional marriage are labeled bigots.
If we ignore these lies they will engulf us. We need a zero-tolerance policy for spiritual compromise. While we must demonstrate overwhelming compassion and love for sinners, God requires us to oppose cultural brainwashing. We cannot be silent on the issues the devil is attacking.
Mt 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. NKJV
Lk 21:33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. NKJV
Jn 6:68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." NKJV
CONCLUSION
If you are wavering in your faith on any of these nine fundamentals, get honest about your doubts, repent of your lukewarmness and dig in God's Word until your mind is renewed. Don't become a brainwash victim.
2 Ti 2:24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. NKJV
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