By Dr. Stephen Phinney
DON'T BE MISLEAD
Jesus said to his disciples, "'See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ," and will mislead many.You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end'" (Matt. 24:4-6).
In Matthew 24:4, Christ foretells the going forth of deceivers. He begins with a caution, "See to it that no one misleads you." The disciples expected to be told when these things should be, to be let in on the secret. But this caution only piqued their curiosity. Christ wanted the disciples to mind their duty, follow Him, and not be seduced from following Him. The fact is that Christ conceals much of the prophetic knowledge because of evildoers, not Bridal members. If Christ had revealed what the Father has concealed, the lawless men would have used it to mislead many. Most inquisitive types need to be kept away from the secret things of God; otherwise, they will use them to seduce.
Second Thess. 2:3-4 tells us, "Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God."
Christ reveals that seducers are more dangerous enemies to the Church than persecutors. In this discourse, He mentions the appearing of false prophets three times.
The appearing of these seducers was the occasion of dividing the people into parties and factions, which made their ruin the more easy and speedy. The sin of the many that were led aside by them, helped to fill the measure. Secondly, it was a trial to the disciples of Christ; and therefore, agreeable to their state of probation (trial), that they who are perfect, may be made manifest.
This is the message for the Bride--we will be perfected by staying on our toes.
APOSTASY MUST COME
Most conservative Christians are annoyed by other "Christians" who are liberal in their thinking--not believing the Word to be literal. In the end-times, many Bridal members will view the Word of God to be primarily "cultural"--not literal and absolute. Christ warned us of ...Read More Here
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Tough Times Will Come. . Copyright © 2015 IOM America. Permission to reproduce for educational purposes. Please keep author's name intact.
All Scriptures, unless otherwise stated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible, © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
