Their day, our day

A selection of bible verses originally written to Israel and the New Testament church, with brief comments under each relating them to today (though the scriptures speak beautifully for themselves and are the real focus here).

An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land. The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and my people love to have it so… (Jer 5:31)

Churches are run like corporations, and many undiscerning people love to have it so.

Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’” And the Lord said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. (Jer 14:13-14)

Many false teachers speak of social justice and world peace, while seeking to erode biblical teaching on the coming judgment. Those who do this claim to be of God, yet it is clear that God has not sent them.

I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My counsel, And had caused My people to hear My words, Then they would have turned them from their evil way And from the evil of their doings. (Jer 23:21-22)

If the shepherds were following God, then good fruits of repentance and righteousness would follow among their people.

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isa 5:20)

Covetousness is taught as godliness, New Age spirituality as Christianity and worldly music is passed off as Christian. Well do Isaiah's words apply to our age.

Thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! (Eze 13:3)

And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'- when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deu 18:20-22)

By this simple test many of today's false teachers are immediately exposed. Weasel words cannot brush over; no one with an ounce of sense should follow those who give a specific prophecy which does not come to pass.

"Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace - and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar - say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it down. (Eze 13:10-11)

When judgment comes the unsound apostate church shall be torn down and swept away.

Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us." (Mic 3:11)

The shepherds are compromised by their income from religion, because following the apostate way ultimately brings the “success”, acclamation and money that they have been subtly taught to desire.

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' (Mat 7:21-22)

The terrible truth about the tares is that they are unsaved, and the very nature of this deception is that they don’t know it.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Php 2:12)

For anyone who may wonder whether they really are the wheat, here is an exhortation for them to seek and ensure right relationship with God and to take the matter in hand with seriousness of mind so that they find salvation.

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Mat 24:24)

The end time apostasy will be so convincing that in the end only the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person will keep them from falling for the lie.

For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. (Act 20:29-30)

Perverse teachers seek to draw disciples after themselves (rather than Jesus). They are spiritual thieves, stealing from the till rather than giving God all the glory.

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 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. (Rom 16:17-18)

It is the false teachers who cause the division, not those who point out their false teaching; though the false teachers are quick to cast the discerners as being “divisive”.

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted - you may well put up with it! (2Co 11:3-4)

We can easily depart from the simple purity of the Gospel when we allow our over excitable minds to gravitate to “some new thing”.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. (2Co 11:13-14)

Many things seem good, yet this is the very nature of satanic deception; it deceives because it makes darkness appear as light. Therefore we cannot accept the argument that something has good in it as a reason not to be discerning.

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (I Tim 4:1)

The source of false doctrine is identified and the prophetic warning given regarding that which is occurring in our time.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (I John 4:1)

Right from the start there has been a need for utmost vigilance and spiritual discernment. How much more in this time.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (2Jn 1:9-11)

The bible teaches that we should separate ourselves completely from false teachers, so let us not seek to “work together” with those who are full of leaven, lest by becoming one lump the leaven spreads to us all.

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