End-Times Deception on the Rise
End-Times Deception on the Rise
A recent headline caught my eye: “Christians Find Out Jesus Was Woke and Are Now in Crisis.” The article asserts that the Church is in trouble, citing pastors and evangelicals who refer to the principles of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as “liberal talking points.” Such people believe that what Jesus taught about turning the other cheek “is weak, and doesn’t work anymore.” I was just as shocked and grieved as you might be now while you read this.
Some Christian leaders are rejecting the biblical teachings of Jesus Christ. Reading further, I saw such headlines as: “Jesus Was a Socialist,” and “Jesus Was Woke” — which imply that Jesus would have joined the unbiblical woke culture in our nation. Finally, I saw several similar-sounding links, and I clicked on them; each had a picture of men claiming to be Jesus Christ and deceiving people into following them. This should come as no surprise to any of us, because Jesus warned us that all this would happen.
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As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains (Matthew 24:3–8).
When we hear people speaking of the end times, we tend to fixate more on the wars and rumors of wars. We talk about the signs and wonders like earthquakes and catastrophes. We even pay attention to nations mentioned in Bible prophecy, but the one thing we speak of less is the rise of false leaders. Jesus warned His disciples that in the last days, many would come in His name to lead people astray. It happened in the early church (see Acts 5:36) and it’s still happening today. This is something I have been in prayer over more recently. If you read the entirety of Matthew 24, Jesus warns His disciples clearly. We should not take any of this lightly. Not only will there be men masquerading as the Messiah, but also an increase of false prophets.
Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, and many false prophets will arise and mislead many. Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:9–14 BSB).
Yes, we will see an increase in false leaders prior to the Lord’s return. Thankfully, the word of God tells us how to spot them in 2 Corinthians 11:3–4.
They preach another Jesus.
The first red flag is who they claim to be. If you are listening to someone preach who claims that he is Jesus, that would be the most obvious indication of a false prophet. We know that the Messiah has already come, that He died upon a cross, and that He rose again from death. His work can never be replicated. It is finished! If they are preaching another “Jesus,” run!
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6 NIV).
They come in a different spirit.
The Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth. There is also a spirit of error. If a person cannot, will not, or does not acknowledge the lordship of Jesus Christ or His truth, then that person is false, and you need to stay away.
This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here (1 John 4:2–3 NLT).
They preach another gospel.
There is only one gospel: receiving salvation in Jesus Christ, who died, was buried, rose again, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. It is by grace through faith that we are saved, not by any works.
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word, I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1–4 NIV).
Distinguishing What Is True From What Is False
In the Old Testament, God sent the prophets to His people to call them back to Himself. In the New Testament, prophets are still sent to God’s people — they may travel abroad to other nations, or they may stay in the local church. But they can be found interceding, being watchmen, and teaching, and not just prophesying.
A false prophet wants to intentionally deceive God’s people. They come as wolves in sheep’s clothing (see Matthew 7:15–20). They want to lead you out of true worship and away from God (Deuteronomy 13:1–3). They bring heresies into the Church, secretly, so as to not arouse suspicion (see 2 Peter 2:1–3). A prophet receives revelation from the Spirit of God, whereas a false prophet receives information from some other source, such as a familiar spirit or a “spirit guide,” all of which are demons (see Jeremiah 14:14 and Zechariah 10:2). For a more in-depth look at the character of false prophets and teachers, I recommend reading 2 Peter 2:1–19 which aligns with Jude’s epistle to the Church.
Jude describes false leaders who have crept into the Church, and he compares them to three Old Testament figures — prominent men who used their influence in an ungodly manner. First, he mentions Cain, who gave his own offering of what he thought was better, and was rejected. Cain is the first picture of “religion,” a counterfeit of what God desires. Next, Jude cites Balaam, who was retained by an ungodly king to curse God’s people, and when that little plot failed, Balaam led the people into sexual immorality (see Numbers 31:16). Balaam was greedy and covetous, though revered as a prophet; however, he died as a soothsayer (see Joshua 13:22). Last, Jude mentions Korah, a man full of pride (see Numbers 16:1–40). Korah rebelled against God’s authority and led others into that rebellion, just as Lucifer did ages ago in heaven. A false prophet will never submit to legitimate pastors or other authority figures.
A Word of Caution
We must use wisdom when judging prophets. Jeremiah and Micaiah are examples of two real prophets of the Lord who were wrongly called false prophets by their peers. In Jeremiah 28:1–17, a “prophet” named Hananiah prophesies to King Zedekiah. He claims, in the name of the Lord, that the Lord would deliver Judah from the Babylonians. I’m sure this prophecy pleased the king. Jeremiah’s prophecy said that Hananiah’s prophecy was not the Lord speaking, and Hananiah died as a result. Jeremiah was persecuted greatly for speaking the truth (see Jeremiah 38:1–10).
Micaiah the prophet is another example of a true prophet who stood alone. In Kings 22:1–28, a group of 400 prophets tell King Ahab to go to war, and they promise him victory. However, Micaiah alone tells the king that those prophets are inspired by lying spirits, not by the Lord, and that King Ahab will die in battle. And it happens exactly as the one has said, and not as the 400. Both of these true prophets were mocked, persecuted, and treated as false prophets until their words came to pass. Sometimes believers are quick to call a true prophet false, based on what our flesh desires to see happen, or on our personal opinions. All the “prophets” can be prophesying the same thing, and it can be completely false, while one who is less popular prophesies the truth and is ridiculed. We must seek the Lord and use discernment.
Testing, Temptation, and Triumph
The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him (Deuteronomy 13:3–4 NIV).
The Lord uses false prophets to test our hearts. When false words are released, we have the opportunity to choose to follow God. He gives us the way to avoid deception in the same verse: keep His commands, be obedient, serve Him, and hold fast. If we do these things, we will pass the test.
Remember that God does not tempt anyone, but we are tempted when we are drawn away by our evil desires (see James 1:13). If you have ever seen an obviously false “Christian” leader flourish and wonder why, it may be what the Bible calls itching ears (see 2 Timothy 4:3). Many people, including Christians, are interested in hearing what appeals to their flesh. We are to follow Jesus, not our feelings or hearts. We are to guard our hearts (see Proverbs 4:23).
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:1 KJV).
In the last days, we are told even Christians will depart from the faith due to seducing spirits. This will come from false leaders. I chose the KJV because it uses the word seduce — which means to lure away or beguile. In the KJV it also says the serpent beguiled Eve. Satan has no new tricks. He is luring the Church away with false teachings that sound good, but they are nothing more than doctrines of demons.
As many Christians are rejecting the word of God and Jesus’ teachings, it is clear they are in pursuit of another Jesus. Just as the people who call Jesus a liberal, socialist, woke, or even a homosexual, some people want a god they can control. They want a god who can fit into their narrative, and they will preach it to anyone who will listen. They will rewrite His word by adding to it or by removing truths from it to deceive the masses. When I see how many false messiahs are appearing, I know we are nearing the Lord’s return. This will increase as we grow closer to that time. We need not fear, but we should be prepared. Here’s how we can prepare.
Some are scared of prophets and prophecies altogether, but we shouldn’t despise them; instead, we can test them (see 1 Thessalonians 5:20–21 and 1 John 4:1). It would also be wise to use discernment, and if you feel you are lacking in that area, simply ask the Lord for it. It would also benefit you to study the word. When you know the Bible, it becomes easier to distinguish the authentic from the counterfeit (Hebrews 4:12). It’s so important to read the word, but what is most important is to know the Living Word, Jesus Christ. Your daily pursuit of His presence will make the greatest difference in your life — especially with deception on the rise. The safest place to be is in the presence of God.
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception (1 John 4:4–6 NLT).
Let’s pray now:
Father, we come into Your presence, and we glorify Your name. You alone are worthy of all the praise. Forgive us, Your people and Your Church. We have sinned against You by refusing to honor Your words. Forgive us for giving any false prophets or leaders a platform due to our ignorance. Give discernment to Your people. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear according to Your word. Give us wisdom and knowledge, like the sons of Issachar, to know what to do and how to prepare. Thank You for Your indwelling Spirit, because greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. We praise You because You already have the victory, and we rejoice because we are victorious in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
How are you praying about deception in these days? Share your thoughts and prayers below.
IFA contributing writer Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor and listen to her podcast, Something To Share. Photo Credit: photobyphotoboy/Canva.
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Comments
I’m praying for stronger discernment , for only what’s true . More hungry for the word of God. Pure ness, ti stay humble to have ears to hear sound truths eyes to see clear! To stay focused on JESUS EYES FIXED ON JESUS! To hear where The Holy Spirit is leading me. To know the truth always to set me free ! Live holy put pray according to His will HIS KINGDOM COME!!! Please pray for me to hear see and move be go what He the Spirit wants me to do. Now I’m seeking Him for TRUTH. If I’m in the right church and ti stay or leave and where to go ? I’m in prayer the Bible seeking HIM! Please pray for me my family !
I appreciate the admonition this review brings to our attention. I am as discerning as much as possible when it comes to giving ear to anything new coming down the pike. There is ample scripture to lead guide and direct my thinking so as not to be lead astray. The fact is, it is imperative to be into scripture daily so as not to be tempted to fall in a ditch. I stay between the white lines of the straight and narrow for my correctness.
This is the very reason we must the truth of God’s Word. It will always remain the same. It is our standard as members of the body of Chris.
Deception, lies and manipulation is all over we go Lord God Almighty! Please help us all see the truth by spending time with you and believing by trusting in you every day! In Jesus’s mighty name AMEN!!
I am deeply concerned about deception among Christians.
One concern not mentioned is when there is an unholy alliance of religion with worldly politics. For example, when Christians elevate a political leader to the point that he is treated almost as a demi-god. What he does and says is beyond criticism, as far as they are concerned. He is to be followed in an unquestioning manner. If he says or does something that is bizarre, to avoid honest discussions as to what the words or actions reveal, they try to distract and cover them up by saying ‘he is not perfect’ or I want ‘someone who shakes things up.’
Religious spirits are controlling spirits. They don’t like opposition. They try to force compliance. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is a gentleman. Anyone being led by the Spirit is not going to try to force another person to do his bidding.
A false prophet’s message takes the focus off of Jesus Christ’s authority and what He has done at the cross. They emphasize anything other than Jesus’ true work.
Colossians 2:8
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
A false message initiates drama and fear, which ignore Jesus Christ’s overcoming power. False messages may also include utilizing focal points to synchronize fulfilled prophecy (e.g. mark of the beast, antichrists, rapture, and…false prophets) with today’s events. Which make great entertaining movies and literature! It categorizes events based on either pre-, post-, A- millennialism or tribulation and even preterist or partial preterist.
Instead, focus on God’s Word for us…
Ephesians 1:20b-23
He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
Colossians 1:18-20
18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.
Pastors with good intentions are mistakenly repeating satan’s lies to weaken the church. Remember to stay focused on Jesus Christ and what He’s done for us at the cross! Avoid becoming obsessed with someone’s teaching of the “end times” and instead, ask God to reveal Truth to your heart for today as you read His Word!
Heartbreaking to read this
I’ve been praying for God’s people to have a fresh encounter for the lost I pray for their salvation, we pray for baptisms.Thank you for sharing this.
Here is a tip: I have never met a Falun Gong practitioner. Their practice seems benign or beneficial, but if they believe what their founder, Li Hongzhi, wrote in “How Humankind Came to Be,” they are on a path to destruction. My analysis of that book is that Mr. Hongzhi is unknowingly being fed lies by demons and he is setting up his followers to be possessed by demons. From what I can gather his followers are generally peace loving and truth seeking, but they need our prayers if they are to be saved.
An excerpt: “So that the universe could be saved, the Creator directed a multitude of higher beings and divine sovereigns to descend to the earth and assume human form in this setting, where they would suffer, elevate, atone for their sins, and forge themselves anew—re-ascending to heaven as a result.
https://www.ntd.com/falun-gong-founder-li-hongzhi-publishes-why-do-human-beings-exist_896384.html
I agree about the deception within the Church. The Church today DOES fixate more on the catastrophes (including false prophets), rather than on God’s promises and His instruction to His Church. Everyone teaching on the “end times” is obsessed with the SIGNS…INSTEAD OF God’s power for us in scripture.
Matthew 16:18…and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
John 16:33 In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.
John 17:15 I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to protect them from the evil one.
Hebrews10:12-13…but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat
down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet.
Matthew 6:10 “This, then, is how you should pray…Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
During Jesus’ ministry, when He warned His disciples of the “end of the age”, He was referring to the upcoming destruction of the Jewish Temple and a better covenant coming to take the place of the one they’d known. Why would He alert His disciples to the “end of the age” if it wasn’t going to happen until our generation?
Hebrews 8:13 When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear (near destruction).
Jesus is waiting for the Church to walk in faith and overcome with the power of His Word. Every time the Church speaks satan’s lie of the “end times”, the enemy’s false plan escalates. Instead, we are to walk in the power of His Word which Christ has given us from the cross, when He cried, “It is finished!”
Father, we ask you to give us discernment regarding false prophets, Help us to quickly recognize lies vs truth. Your word is truth, so stir up an even stronger desire in us to read and meditate on your word. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.
Amen and Amen
Thank You Jesus You are the risen one and standing with You Lord as You release Your truth from Your Word to the nations in Jesus powerful name, amen
THank you so much for this commentary. It means so much. Please respond to me if you can. How am I to view a prophet/evangelist/apostle who seems to magnify and love the Lord Jesus but truly aspires to the “preterist” or “partial preterist” escatology? He/she and others do not really believe that we are in the end times but that we are entering “The Kingdom of God on Earth” and that we are responsible for bringing the kingdom of God to earth, thereby bringing the biggest revival ever known. They also do not really believe that Revelation applies and that much of it already occured in AD 70. It may not be a salvation issue but it’s about as close as one can get to division among friends and christians. How do I reconcile this? How can I respond to my friends and not alienate them? THanks so much!
You could find where you have common ground with them and emphasize that. Avoiding certain topics just like we do with politics. I can appreciate certain friends and family who I disagree with and I just don’t argue with them.
But maybe you could find out just why they believe what they do. For instance, it’s a historical fact that Matthew 24:2 actually happened in 70 AD. Not one stone of the temple was left upon another when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. They killed millions of Jews at that time. Indeed, you could say they endured great tribulation.
I have been hearing about the Rapture being imminent since the 70’s. Partial preterists are not saying Jesus is not coming back, they just expect it to happen differently than what we have been told for so many years. But even more than that, we know from the words of Jesus that the gates of hell will not prevail against His Church. I’m looking forward to that time. In 2 Cor.2:14, it says He always causes us to triumph. And, He’s coming back for a bride without spot or wrinkle. There are many things that still need to happen.
Consider the words of Jesus in John 6, verses 39, 40, 44, and 54, where He says He will raise us up on the LAST day. When you consider those verses along with 1 Thess. 4:16, where “the dead in Christ will rise first”, it doesn’t sound like pre-trib rapture to me.
Good points, Ms Mary! And let’s not forget Matthew 27:50-54, after Jesus gave up His Spirit, the veil in the temple tore, the earth quaked and many dead saints rose from the dead to walk into the city. Sounds like a “rapture” to me! Done!
All we can do is remain humble and ask the Lord to give us a peace in our hearts of the Truth. Even when I think I understand the answer, I continue to ask Him, “Lord, show me if I’m missing something.” We’re all growing and working out our salvation. His grace and mercy covers.
I’ve had the same conversation with a coworker, and I’ve come to the conclusion that they have to want to go through the Bible and find the truth for themselves. Point them in the right direction and love them. I know this may not be much comfort but it ends up being their choice. God bless.
Hi Rita,
I don’t have time to respond to every comment, but I am amazed at the maturity of the comments. The advice I can give you is to pray for for you prophet/apostle who is a preterist. You said they seem to truly love the Lord and that is key. Some people are deceived and do not care to know the truth. Some people are deceived and don’t even know it. I was such a case. When I first gave my life to Jesus it was in a church that were cessationists. They didn’t believe in any of the gifts of the Spirit, or the fivefold ministry. They taught it was all demonic, and I believed it. When I questioned their teachings versus the Bible, and I did it out of a clean conscience, I was met with rebukes. I loved the Lord and I was hungry for the truth. I prayed and searched the Word and the Lord Himself revealed that I was in deception. I repented and left the church, as far as I know they still hold to those teachings. It does grieve me to think about it. Because your friends truly love the Lord, I pray they would find them truth in the scriptures and the Lord would reveal it to them.
How do we process the fact that millions of Christians were used to push the plandemic and the shots? Shouldn’t we have used discernment and ask questions rather than blindly going along with the powers that be since 2020. I am perplexed that my fellow brothers and sisters did not use wisdom which comes from the Holy Spirit living within us? Can anyone explain this?
Who? What Christians? Where?
Teresa, I understand your feelings. But I encourage you to #1 – give grace, and #2 – not assume that anyone who did receive the vaccine was not seeking guidance and listening to the Holy Spirit. This was not an issue with a ‘one size fits all’ answer’. I know many see it as such, and judge it almost as serious as idolatry – bowing down to governmental overreach, but even if so see #1 again – ‘give grace’. We are each servants answering to One Master.
I agree.
People had to make decisions based on their health and medical history.
While not disagreeing that the vaccine distribution was mis-handled, the vaccines did save lives especially among the elderly and reduced the number of people hospitalized, thus, enabling there to be beds and staff to treat those who needed help.
Praise the Lord. This is indeed my prayer as well. I pray God’s people will stand strong and be courageous regardless of what is going on around us.
I want to share something God has placed on my heart. There is false worship in the church. I never really realized until now. I feel like God is opening my eyes. There are artists claiming to be worshipping Jesus and many of their songs are being sung in churches across America. I have noticed the words are slightly twisted. Often times the title given to Jesus in the song could be used in a way that worships Satan, because the lyric mentions father or master, but does not mention the name of Jesus. I don’t know if this makes sense, but I urge to ask the Holy Spirit of God to show you if the worship service is false or if the song you are singing is false and not really exalting our Savior and Lord, Jesus. There is so much deception. We truly need to be in tune with the Holy Spirit and testing the prophets and prophesies, the worship, the message, all of it.
I’ve actually wondered this often, even while singing along. My thoughts are that each heart knows. If someone is singing for our Lord in heaven then all glory to my Heavenly Father. If some choose to worship the evil one then they will do so regardless of what the song says. I will continue to worship King Jesus !
Great article, Gloria, thank you. The awful think about deception is that you do not know you are being deceived. Deception is so deceptive! If there were a letter to the church in America sandwiched into Revelation (hypothetically) between letters to the churches in Ephesus and Smyrna what would be recorded? This hypothetical account would be a shocker to most Christians today I think
So my prayer would be that there is conviction and awakening of today’s church. Also that people will look to the Bible (untainted version) to learn how God wants us to live our lives. Knowledge and understanding of an original raises a red flag on a counterfeit. Lastly, I thank God for His mercy on those He calls His own.
Our new pastor believes in Replacement Theology. I believe this to be false teaching.
The elders say RT is non-essential to the gospel and to disagree with them would be divisive to the church.
What should we do? This church has been our home for 10 years? We are very involved. Am I being divisive if I leave?
I can’t counsel you, but I can say that we left a fellowship 17 years ago that was steeped in replacement theology, which we were not aware of when we began attending. We have never regretted it. Some issues are important enough to take a stand on. Being divisive is not about just separating from a fellowship, but the attitude in which you do it, and whether you attempt to draw others away with you. We were honest about why we were leaving if asked, but without recrimination or hostility.
Melody,
Pray for your pastor and elders. Stand firm in your belief of God’s Word. The Lord will direct your footsteps.
Praying for you.
A sister in Christ.
The Bible says it’s false teachers who cause division & to not associate with false teachers
Gloria, i have been preaching this same message for years now and often receive rebuke from far greater so-called prophets & evangelist and pastors that do not hold to the scriptures alone as the Truth and only truth!
I have often said, “If it ain’t in the Bible, then it ain’t so. No amount of new prophetic words will ever change the perfect Word of God.”
Thank you for this article, it is encouraging & confirmation of what I preach.
Excellent article! Relevant, concise, comprehensive.
Did you know that other religions are attempting to lead people away too. Sometimes I don’t speak to everybody especially if they are of a non Christian faith but now you have to test those especially who say they are Christian.
I read the word everyday and pray for wisdom and discernment
Sadly many churches were deceived by the covid lie. Many churches closed. God allowed it to clear the churches. Apostasy as spoken of in the bible. Covid separated the Christian in name only from the true remnant Christian’s.
Do not be deceived Christian’s.
I see a lot of false teachers & self proclaimed prophets on this website who claim to have “ new revelation” . Watch out . Pray for discernment.
This was foretold in the bible. Jesus said do not be deceived.
2 Thes. 2:1-12
1.Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
I Pray every day for GOD to expose
False prophets, false preachers and false teachers!
There are several very dangerous teachings that have infiltrated the church.
I am going to address two of them here.
The first has been around for centuries. It is that the Sabbath was changed from the seventh day of the week to the first day of the week.
Adonai Elohim did not do this! Yeshua taught us to follow the commandments out of our love for Him! He would not command us to “remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy” and then change it. He has given no such instruction! (see Malachi 3:6)
The other teaching concerns survivalism.
This teaching says that we must be prepared for any coming disaster or upheaval.
Yeshua addressed this in Matthew 24!
Father, You know all things and have given us Your Word and Your promises to always be with us in times of trouble and have commanded us to always trust You!
You are also the One Who never changes! You have declared that Your Word endures forever!
Forgive us Lord for following the things and the teachings that You have revealed to be false!
It is Your desire that we follow You and trust You in each and every situation that we face in this life.
I pray that You would strengthen us and fill us with Your resolve to live out Your Word as You have revealed it to us who are Your people!
In Yeshua’s Name I pray. Amen!
The early church began to worship on Sunday because that is when Jesus rose. And Paul said one day was not better than another.
If we truly understand history, scripture, our current affairs, and most importantly our evolving relationship with God Almighty, and absolutely know beyond a shadow of a doubt, no mystery that God Almighty, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is alive and well and in control, then one should come to the following conclusion: There is absolutely NOTHING, NO EVENTS in this world, on this Planet Earth, in this Solar System, in this Galaxy, in all the Galaxies, and ALL of this Universe that God Almighty does now about or allow to happen. ALL things happen or are allowed to happen based on God Almighty’s plan and THAT plan, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY is to a more just, moral, righteous, and ethical Universe! There is NO DOUBT about this. There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING more powerful in this Universe than God Almighty! Yes, we have seen hardship, wars, earthquakes etc. and personal tragedies, and wars and strife that have killed and injured literally 10s of millions of people. The only thing we can say here is that God Almighty, while absolutely DID NOT want these examples of strife, “ALLOWED” them to take place to wake humanity up, (NOT ultimately destroy the WHOLE Earth) to all the evil and to change course. God Almighty has an extremely clear history of allowing our little planet called Earth to get pretty darn ugly before “righting the ship”, then it repeats and repeats and repeats, over generations. We are all living proof that God Almighty is allowing this planet to continue and to overall learn and overall get better, while hitting potholes (some very big) along the way. Aside from some “minor instances” the Universe s in Order, the planets revolve in Order, the stars, constellations etc..etc..etc..etc.. are all there. No Planets and Stars colliding on a grand scale, no Solar Systems colliding on a grand scale, no Galaxies colliding on a grand scale etc. etc. Basically NOTHING has changed on a GRAND scale and this Universe WILL, under God Almighty’s hand, move toward a more ethical, righteous, loving, caring, moral, good direction. ABSOLUTELY NONE of us can change or alter God Almighty’s ongoing and good plan for this Universe. Period! Just as”most” human beings get wiser and better as they become old and get closer day by day/approach the ultimate end their time on this planet and judgment by God. It would seem to violate God Almighty’s rules, visions, plans, and past history for this Earth, and all of the vast Universe, to have him “ALLOW” the destruction of this whole planet with the vast majority of the 8+ Billion people being much more good than evil, by a few evil, demonic souls either by nuclear war or man made viruses etc..etc..etc..A good moral, ethical, and righteous God Almighty has always been and will always be in total control and management of this Earth and the vast, beautiful Universe. What a blessed truth!!!! May God Almighty bless us all!!!
Our God is sovereign over all, but He did not create us to be robots. Hence, we introduced sin into His perfect world. So I contend, respectfully, that what you describe sounds like some form of moral evolution, and I reject that as strongly as I reject natural evolution. I believe a more careful read of Genesis will refute the latter, and a more careful read of Revelation will refute the former. And everything between these alpha & omega books, in His Holy Word, will address anything else we need to know – for it is truth. God will create a new heaven and a new earth, because at His predetermined time the current heavens and earth will be destroyed. Neither it or we ourselves are evolving into something better. But we can be transformed, because those who are redeemed have been “predestined (by YHVH) to be conformed to the image of Yeshua, His Son”. Romans 8:29 Praise His Holy and Glorious Name!
James 2:14 argues and rightly so that faith without good works is dead.
I believe that faith alone does not guarantee salvation.
Geraldine, I agree with your first statement from James 2:15, but I do disagree with your second statement. Remember, Jesus told the thief on the cross: “This day shall shall you be with Me in Paradise.” There was no time or occasion for the thief to do “good works.” His faith in Jesus granted him forgiveness and eternal life.
I agree that salvation is by grace through faith alone, but contend that true saving faith will be expressed through obedience. How sad that the thief was unable to express his saving faith through his actions. But his expression of faith through his words had to encourage Yeshua at the most difficult time of his earthly existence in human flesh.
James 2:14 argues that faith without good works is dead!
I believe that faith alone does not guarantee salvation.
James 2:14 argues and rightly so, that faith without good works is dead.
I believe that faith alone does not guarantee salvation.
Jesus is coming back. Will we be ready? Not if the church continues to focus on the wrong things. We discuss more of the unnecessary things than the world does. We have a different agenda. We have become silent and The Gospel is not being preached. The Word of God is he Only Truth and we are sitting on it. O, God. Help us!
Read your Bible and then believe it, obey it. The Lord has given it as THE path of life to His people and will NOT change, hallelujah! Yes, the Lord promised that there would come people prophesying in His Name and yet NOT speaking according to the Bible.
Here is another aspect, some of God’s people just need a further teaching of His Word. Take for example Apollos who in Acts 18:6 had to be “brought up to speed” by Aquilla and Priscilla. What was his reaction? Apparently, he received it well and repented. This, false teachers, will not do. Even though they have the insolence to go against God’s Word, they will NOT confess that they are in error! There is no use talking to them. This is why Christ tells His people to just walk away.
Wonderfully complete article with outstanding verses to refresh our minds.
Eyes focused on Jesus.
Saturate yourself in the “ Living Word.”
Eyes focused on Jesus.
Get into the Bible the “Living Word.”
Wonderfully complete article with outstanding verses given to refresh our minds.
LORD, I am thankful that You warned us so that we may prepare. You told us You would be our shepherd, and guide us to pastureland free of anything impure or poisonous. So call us to personal responsibility to know You, and to know Your Word – for that is where our safety lies. Make us like the noble Bereans who “received the Word (from Paul & Silas). . . and searched the Scriptures (the Tanakh) daily whether those things were so”. When we have a question, let our default always be to ask You first, for You promised Holy Spirit would teach us, and guide us into all truth. Help us to faithfully compare any teaching of man to Your truth as revealed in Your living, Holy Word. You are the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE.
In recent months I have become very aware of people within the Church saying the right words but their actions don’t match. And that led me to look in scripture for what God had to say about it.
I was astonished when I found that nearly every book in the New Testament says something about false teachers, or people who claim to be believers but don’t have behavior that demonstrates they have faith or that they obey God’s word in the Bible.
Father God,
I pray Your Holy Spirit convicts everyone, both those within and outside the Church, of their personal sin. Lead everyone to repentance that enables them to turn away from every deception and enter Your family in Jesus name.
Amen.
FATHER, Open the the eyes of our understanding IN YESHUA’S HOLY NAME AMEN AMEN
Social Justice, “Ignorance Silencing Knowledge”
Thomas Sowell
My prayers focus on God awakening us to see that we are in a true spiritual battle in which Our Lord is going to manifest in powerful ways to awaken us to the truth of what is going on in our world and unite us to join with Him and see righteousness and justice return to America. That He, by His Spirit, would awaken the remnant, however large or small, to the deceptions of two extremes; That Jesus would embrace the evil of our times and call it righteousness, and the other extreme that He is going to come and snatch us out of the mess we created and then destroy this earth that He loves so dearly! These are two extremes we see evident in too many parts of our ecclesia but have faith, we will awaken when He calls, and the awakening is already here!
Lord, I thank you while the church and the world are fixated on “end times” and the demonic work of the enemy, You are busy raising up a generation of followers who are passionately pursuing being ” new creation” believers who will not forget You are coming for a glorious Bride. You are releasing revelation of the power and authority given us through the cross that will bring great change for the better.
Raise up leaders who are willing to truly equip the saints to walk as You walked, do what You do and say what You say.
You are the Victorious One and and have promised one can put a thousand to flight. Free your church from the bondage of fear and raise up an army of lions!
When one considers that the creators of “woke” have created “woke” for the sake of destroying the United States as a Constitutional Republic; and as a nation of traditional families, convincing blind sheep and goats that our nation is so flawed with racism that it must be destroyed, it’s not hard to imagine how these same would seek to use religion to their benefit.
When one considers that the Communist Chinese Government and the World Economic Forum have agreed that a new version of “the bible” should be created with AI so that it can be made in their image and in conformity with their depravity, it is of no surprise that they would seek to hijack Jesus Christ for their own purposes.
Woe to these; for the Lord will visit upon those who add to His word, the plagues that are written in His Word (Rev. 22:18-19)
Amen, Michael. This is so very true. Unfortunately there are many Christians who have no idea what the WEF is or about the evil indoctrination that has been going on in our schools, our churches, and throughout our country. If we ever needed discernment it is NOW.
Thank you.
Lord, there are also ones who are saying the new era into which we advance is going to be distinctly ruled over (yet somehow not overlorded by) “apostles.” Also that it is the actual Millennium Reign of Christ without Your needing to be here (and who then will hold a rod of iron in their desires?). Also that the order of events which you reveal in Revelation 19-20 is not actually the order of future events for guiding our attitude, but that in some mystical way it is merely spiritually and allegorically significant. Let us be adherent to your word, take Revelation 22:18-19 to heart, and let your truth be very clear over the errors and worse.
Lord Jesus, please, give us a double dose of discernment of spirits in these end times. It is crucial to know what is truth, and what is deception. Help us to stay focused on You, the living God, and not to be deceived by falsehood. In Jesus Name we pray.
I’ve prayed this prayer and will continue to pray for discernment in the body of the true church of the living God. And May all false witness be cast off into outer darkness, until becoming of the day of our Lord Jesus. In Jesus name amen.
Bankers study true money to spot the fake. Faith comes by hearing the word of GOD!
The biggest demonic doctrine of our day is the atheistic doctrine of evolution and the big bang of nothing created everything over billions of years rather than the Creation of Genesis that God spoke and it was. Jesus several of the miracles of Jesus involved creating with but a word. (Water to wine, ready to eat fish and bread to feed thousands)
If evolution were true then death has been around for millions of years and not the result of the fall and the Gospel is brought to nothing.
John 5:46-47 “For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
In fact Charles Lyell (father of modern geology and the number one champion of millions of years) stated in a letter that his goal was to “free the science from Moses”
If the Church rejects what God’s Word says of the of the past, which has happened, how can it believe in what His Word says of the future (the end of all things) which has not yet happened…. and ultimately, how can they continue believing the things His Word says of Jesus?
This demonic doctrine is the doctrine the evil one brought from the very beginning when he spoke to Eve questioning God’s Command “did God really say?” and then contradicted God by saying “you will not die but become like a god yourself”.
As Jesus said, the devil was a liar and murderer from the beginning.
Christians must understand exactly Who our Lord is for He was there from the beginning and through Him all things were made. He is the One Who commands and even the winds and the waves obey Him.
Those who have rejected the writings of Moses have rejected Truth and have built their houses upon sand and great will be their fall.
My prayer: “Lord, expose the liar and those who follow the lies with the Light of Your Truth. Give Your Children an understanding of the days that we are in so that we know what we should do. Help us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, speaking Your Truth in boldness and in grace. Lord, give us the patience and perseverance we will need for the days we are in and to remember that for such a time as this You have placed us here. Help us to keep our lamps full and wicks trimmed that we may be ready to join the procession at the call of “the Bridegroom is coming!” and not be found hiding in shame as You found us when we first sinned against You in the beginning. Help us to walk and live by the spirit and not the flesh; fearing not the one who can kill the body but do no more but rather fearing Him Who can kill both body and soul in hell.”
Well said, Michael Bethel! Amen!
Jesus thank you for dying for us. Thank you that your blood covers us and cleanses us. Father thank you for seeing your children as righteous because we are covered by the blood of your son Jesus. Holy Spirit thank you for living and moving along your people. Lord I pray that your people will not be deceived in these last days. Lord I pray that your word be written on our hearts and deeply rooted in our souls. Your word is a sword and May we use it . Thank you that your word is true. Lord May we rise up and speak when we know there is a spirit of error because you have given us your spirit of truth. Father I thank you that your word says that those who look to you are radiant, there faces are never covered in shame. I thank you that your word says that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, so take heart and wait on the Lord. Father I ask that you would strengthen each of your children to stand firm on your word no matter what. Your word is true and you are king and you will return for your people. Help us to occupy and endure until you arrive. We love you and pray this in the name of Jesus
Amen
Great read! I’d highly recommend reading Lucas Miles’ book “Woke Jesus: The False Messiah Destroying Christianity”.
Father, help us to be wise. To accurately discern what is right. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Thank you for consistent truth and encouragement. Amen
I need to pray more .
Jesus came for all mankind, but His mission in salvation was not to reconcile the races or to affirm anyone’s sinful ideas. Praise God that he came to seek and to save the lost like me. We have to know the Word and call our pastors to teach the truth in love.
In the 1960’s, the late Dr. Martin Luther King called out by name wicked politicians in state and federal legislatures in his sermons. An informed public is a wise public. The media cannot be trusted at all or anything controlled by wealthy heathen billionaires for that matter. Prior to 1986, billionaires weren’t a problem since high income tax rates siphoned off money that otherwise would go for nefarious purposes. George Soros and other wicked heathen billionaires need to be stopped and the only solution I see is tax away their money.
Heavenly Father,
You are the ONLY ONE who has ALL the answers that can pull us out of the mess we are in as a Country. Please help us to preserve the very FREEDOMS that you bestowed on this Country at our Nation’s founding. Your Prayerful prayer remnants here along with other Christian prayer remnants around this Nation understand this, and why we humbly seek YOUR FACE and ask that YOU please forgive us individually, and collectively as a Nation for the sins we have committed against YOU.
We ask for YOUR ALMIGHTY MERCY and PRAY that it’s not too late that YOU might HEAL our LAND, save our Constitution, and most importantly help us to BRING YOUR people across this Nation together in PRAYER, that might result in YOUR total and complete GLORY, that also bring people who need to know YOU, to YOU!!
We have been very poor stewards of the resources YOU have given us. Please show us the servants YOU want in positions of authority, that will help a Nation use those resources wisely. Please protect us against false teaching.
Thank You for the inspiration we received from a powerful Pastor last night in our PRAYER group, (Pastor Rafael Cruz) who lit up an entire PRAYER meeting with YOUR TRUTH! We PRAY more Pastors would come along and Stand with this conduit for the LORD, and our Nation!!
We lived in Texas when Ted Cruz’s father Raphael traveled the state campaigning for Ted. I had the privilege of voting for TED in the primary, then the runoff, and finally for the office of Senator. Is this the same Pastor?
“And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of Hosts, in that day I will publically recognize and openly declare them to be my jewels, my peculiar treasure. And I will spare them as a man who spares his own son who serves him.
Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked,
BETWEEN HIM WHO SERVES THE LORD AND HIM WHO DOES NOT SERVE HIM.” Malachi 3:17’18
Lord, help us to diligently test every spirit in keeping ourselves undefiled by this present darkness of deception and false doctrines. May we reflect the ever increasing glory of Jesus Christ’s eminate return!
Amen
Ecc 8:5
Hebrews 5:14
How to be Jesus’ Light in darkness is an honor yet, not easy in such times. Even the church bickers of pre/mid/pro end times. Guess what? Jesus wins! When we choose honesty & His righteousness we are clothed in.
‘Discerning words and action at everyday life wherever you’re at.’
“It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”
Isaiah 55:11
God’s Word does not go void”, even when used by a Calvary of crusaders. God knows our hearts and loves each one of us despite our fleshy natures.
Jesus died a sinners death, “sinless”,
for God so loved the world… Jn 3:16
Grateful for all of us & pray we persevere where we are at and continue on in Christ.
It’s an honor to know Jesus and grow along side each other, knowing and believing there is truly a Heaven & Hell after we leave here.
“All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.”
1 Corinthians 12:27-28
“Our Unity” in Christ – (The Body) can be as challenging.
Love Christ #1
With all of our hearts, minds, & soul- Then love others as we love ourselves.
“Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.””
Matthew 22:37-40
God Bless
I loved praying that prayer. I could feel the lord Coursing through my vanes
God is everywhere all the time and obvious if we just seek him out, and he is in us, he has already given us the victory in Jesus Christ his son and our savior, we only need to choose to be on his side, the winning side
It would help if names were given. We need to avoid those who say they believe but dont.
Truth Amen!
Lord forgive us for not walking in your Word and Spirit. In a day when only 4% of Christians have a Biblical Worldview and only 9% read their Bible daily (according to a recent Barna group survey) we have no foundation and the church structure is wobbling. How can we know Jesus apart from His Word and His Spirit? We can’t. His words and His works go hand in hand. But there is a remnant. He always has a remnant and He has and can work with a small but faithful number.
Amen, we need to be proclaiming the Word!
Dear Jesus we need discernment we need wisdom and we pray that you will help us to be a light that shines bright in this world for Jesus Christ amen
This is what happens when men or women allow their political world view to takeover thier Biblical world view, just to fit in and to be liked or accepted, to “fit in”.
Pause and think about that.
Pray for those persons to repent- metanoia to “Seek first the Kingdom of God”, their very life, their eternity is at stake.
Lord have Mercy, Christ Have Mercy, Lord Have Mercy, on them and us.
I concur with your observations, but I simply can’t read them all. This is becoming a widespread concern. Do I just randomly delete a bunch of them ? (Hard, because they are obviously reasonably solid. .. And at the moment I probably have more time than most people…
These comments here are highly relevant to our situation in the west. What is sighted here I have seen already, and, as the writer states, they come in unobtrusively like a creeping paralysis and take us their captive. I have long been aware of the catastrophic Biblical illiteracy within so much of the ‘church’, and this alone heightens our vulnerability to this deception. Daniel states that ‘even the elect, if it were possible, will be deceived.’ That is warning enough for anyone of us. I am very grateful for this article, as it states such issues clearly and as they are.
I believe one of our biggest threats today is the strategy Satan uses to wear down the believer with injustices, the onslaught of slander, and accusations from non believers and Christians the attacks are fierce. It makes it easy to weary and slack on not doing good when bad keeps happening. One must really stay anchor in Christ to continue to not get weary in doing good (Gal.6:9,10). I found myself thinking this way in had to reel in my thoughts
(2 Cor 10:5).
This has alot to do with turning the other cheek ( Matt 5:39). I pray for eyes to be open, and hearts healed, spirits to be renewed, in Jesus name amen
I believe one of our biggest threats today is the strategy Satan uses to wear down the believer with injustices, the p Roscommon of slander, and accusations from non believers and Christians the attacks are fierce. It makes it easy to weary and slack on not doing good when bad keeps happening. One must really stay anchor in Christ to continue to not get weary in doing good ( Gal.6:9,10). I found myself thinking this way in had to reel my thoughts (2 Cor 10:5). This has alot to do with turning the other cheek ( Matt 5:39). I pray for eyes to be open, and hearts healed, spirits to be renewed, in Jesus name amen
I’m afraid with AI it’s only going to get worse. These are the days that were prophesied and in which the Lord Himself must intervene or no flesh will survive. Praise the Lord for His Kingdom is at hand and our redemption draweth neigh!
Amen!