Beware of false prophets Speaking of the end time, Jesus said, “Many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many,” Matthew 24:11.
When you think of a “false prophet,” what image comes to mind? A wild-eyed fanatic? Jim Jones? David Koresh? Most people think in those terms. Jesus’ warning said that many would be mislead. The fanatics mislead only a few. Jesus was warning about the misapplication of prophecy affecting the masses of people. Do we see that happening today? In Matthew 7:15, Jesus said that false prophets come in “sheep’s clothing.” By this He meant that they appear very innocent, even Christ-like. “But inwardly are ravenous wolves,” He continues. A ravenous wolf is a threat to life. So, false prophets mislead the masses and appear Christ-like, but their messages lead to death.
Today, the majority of the Christian world has been listening to these false prophets predicted by Jesus. Christians are entertained by the Left Behind novels, which they take seriously in may ways. Most Christians believe in the Futuristic fulfillment of the Antichrist and his rule. Most do not emphasize the good news of the soon coming of Christ because they hold to a false belief that when a person dies he or she receives his reward at that moment: heaven of hell, or somewhere in between. Most believe that when Christ does come He will set up an earthly reign with His people to bring an era of peace. Most do not sense the urgency of the times we live in that will soon come to an end and after which there will be no second chance.
Jesus said, “For a little while longer the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you,” John 12:35. He was specifically referring to His soon departure, but He was also laying down an important heavenly principle: when we receive light (truth) we are to walk in it (believe and practice it) lest we loose the light and are overcome with darkness. It seems that the Holy Spirit does not bring more light until we respond to that which he has given us.
Sometimes I wonder how so many can be so far off on the interpretation and understanding of last day events. I have come recently to believe that it is because they have rejected some of the plain and simple truths taught in the Bible such as the Sabbath, God’s Law, Christian living, and salvation by faith alone. When light comes, and we reject it, we become like a rudderless ship on a storm in the high seas.
One of the great pillars of the Protestant Reformation was that the Papal system fulfills the predictions laid forth in Daniel 7, and II Thessalonians 2. In Daniel 7, there are 11 identifying characteristics pointing to the Papacy of the Dark Ages as the fulfillment of the prophecy to the letter. Revelation 13 says that after that power would receive a “deadly wound,” the wound would be healed and all the world would “wonder” (marvel) after the “beast.” Not only have Protestants passed by the interpretations of their founders, but they have taken up Futurism, not realizing that Futurism was a deliberate ploy by the Catholic Church to take the heat off the Papacy.
Sola Scriptura (the Bible alone) was another hallmark of the Reformation. It was a good start, but the churches that came out of the “Mother Church” have reverted back in that they could not give up several of its teachings. The Sabbath is the best example. Those who claim to follow the Bible alone continue to make holy the day that the Catholic Church set up in place of the true Sabbath, by is own confession and authority. The teachings of death and hell fire both come from the Catholic Church rather than the Bible. Because of these flagrant violations of Biblical scholarship, Protestant churches are floundering around in a maze of speculations concerning the future. And, because of the many speculations, a political correctness has taken hold that causes many to say that no one really knows what will happen. All viewpoints are equally valid. We will just have to wait and see! Nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus said in Revelation’s introductory remarks, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it.” A person cannot heed what he does not clearly understand. Also, if we are warned against receiving the mark of the beast, how can we avoid it if we are not sure what it is? Satan has deliberately caused all this confusion and political correctness (relativity) to confuse as many as possible and make it so that when they do hear truth, they will not recognize it because of all the “noise.”
The best way a person can guard himself against deception is to always be walking in the light that they have. Do not reject or postpone implementing what you know to be true, and God will lead you into more truth. Protestants? Many claim to be Protestants. I have been wondering recently what Protestants are protesting? The term Protestant was given to those who protested against the Papacy and the Roman Catholic Church’s teachings. What are Protestants protesting today? They follow the Catholic Church in keeping Sunday. They believe in the future reign of the Antichrist in accord with Catholic teaching designed to take the heat off the Papacy at a time when the Protestant Reformers were pointing to the Papacy as the fulfillment of Bible prophecy concerning the Antichrist. Protestants teach the immortality of the soul in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church which today we realize came from the strong platonic influences when Catholic dogma was being worked out. One of the hallmarks of the Protestant Reformation was sola Scriptura, the Bible alone. The Protestants protested against traditions that had replaced Bible teaching. Today, most “Protestants” are steeped in traditions that can easily be proven as unbiblical, yet they will not listen to any explanation as to their origins. I believe it is high time for another “Protestant Reformation.”
What would the great Reformers say if they came back from their graves to witness their followers? They would probably agree with Jesus that the “blind are leading the blind.” I was once giving a series of public meetings on prophecy. When we came to the subject of the reign of the Antichrist, I showed clearly from the Bible how the Papal system of the dark ages met all the qualifications as laid down in Daniel 7. After that study, one of the students quit coming and called to let me know that she wasn’t continuing. She wanted me to make a home visit so she could tell me why. I visited her and this was her story. She was Lutheran, and when I addressed the subject of the Antichrist, she went to her pastor to ask him where I got such a teaching. He said he didn’t know, but probably I just made it up. As she told me this experience, I remembered a book I had in my car. I excused myself for a moment to get the book. Opening the book, I said, “Here is where I learned the teaching.” Then I read from Martin Luther. She could hardly believe it, yet she never returned to the meetings.
The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus also asked, “When the Son of Man returns, will He find faith in the earth?” Luke 18:8. Faith is a must, and faith is scarce, yet many claim to have it. A close study of Hebrews 11 reveals that those who God considered worthy of holding up as examples of faith were people who obeyed God even when it didn’t seem to make sense. Noah built a huge boat, even though it had never rained and there were no oceans, because God said to do it. Abraham left Ur and went where he knew not, because God said to go. Abraham went to offer his son of promise because God said to offer him. Moses gave up the throne of Egypt and chose to lead a stubborn people through the wilderness because God asked him to. Rahab, the giant harlot, believed some midgets who said their people were going to overthrow Jericho because God was with them. Faith is obeying God even when it doesn’t make sense to us. I have come to believe that most people follow Christ because it makes sense to them. Faith is still a rare commodity.
Obedience and faith are inseparable. Jesus said, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life,” John 3:36. John said, “The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him,” I John 2:4. Revelation says of the people who avoid the mark of the beast, “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus,” Revelation 14:12. In Acts 5:32, we are told to whom is given the Holy Spirit: “and the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Daniel 7 pinpoints the Church of the dark ages as the power that would “think to change times and laws,” (Daniel 7:25). The Church did indeed change God’s by removing the second commandment and changing the Sabbath commandment to apply to Sunday. Today, “Protestants” follow blindly along, unwilling to do their homework by studying the Bible and history. Yes, they study the Bible, but only to find texts that seem to prop up their weak positions.
Today, we need another “Protestant Reformation.”
Until next week,
Dennis
dennispumford.com
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