Isaiah Roman

Apostasy and False Teachers in the Last Days

It should come as no shock to the present church that there are false prophets, false teachers and corrupt preachers in its midst.1 The Apostle Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, was a traitor! In appearance he was just like the rest of those Jesus called. In the eighth chapter of Acts of the Apostles there is one Simon a sorcerer who was converted and later offered a bribe for the gift of “laying on of hands” from the Apostle Peter (See Acts 8: 9-23).

There have been any number of so-called tele-evangelists and preachers who have shown their true colors through scandals which have received nation wide attention. The Lord himself gave to His disciples the parable of the wheat2 and tares3 which concerns the falling away of people thought to be Christians but were Christians in name only.

Soon after the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of the living Christ there were corrupt people among the Christians at Jerusalem as well as gentile churches.

It should also be obvious that everyone who disagrees on a given issue in Christianity is not necessarily a false teacher. But, the scriptures exhort us to “believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (I John 4:1).4
Many brethren hold different views on certain issues in good faith and they are not necessarily in error, nor are they heretics. However, If the Apostles were convicted of a need to warn coming generations of certain things there is need to heed them and be wary. There are at least two reasons; first in order to be able to advise and guide “babes in Christ” and secondarily protect the flock from wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Christians are admonished not to judge i.e., pass sentence or distinguish someone or something by sight or with the other senses, without proper evidence. In fact we are taught to discern;5 but, to shy away from judgment lest we find ourselves judging, unduly, harshly or falsely.6

But within the Lord’s words we can find the measure by which discernment is established; “Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father” (Matthew 7:21)!

Jesus gave His disciples an example, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles” (Matthew 7:16).

Fruit trees are given as a prime example; for instance an Akee fruit that grows principally in West Africa and the West Indies looks very much like a Washington state delicious apple; one taste however will prove they are not the same. When the two fruits are cut in half a more obvious difference is immediately noticeable. A Christian is to be patient, take time, listen and learn, to examine thoroughly.

Look for the “fruit” men and women bear, particularly those who present themselves as Christians, i.e., their words, manners and actions and how they develop. “Taste” or test them and then decide whether they are the genuine article or not. Measure them by the canon of the Word and depend on the Holy Spirit who abides in the reborn Christian to “discern” their authenticity and genuineness.
The beloved Apostle John wrote, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
But ye have an unction from the Holy One [Holy Spirit], and ye know all things.7 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ?8 He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son. Whosoever denies the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledges the Son hath the Father also” (I John 18-23).

The Apostle Peter warned, “There were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not.

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)” (II Peter 1-8)

“The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:9” But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government [Arrogant, willful, rebellious humankind]. Presumptuous are they, self willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.10

Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.11 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings [self deceit] while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam12 the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet”13 (II Peter 2: 9-16).

Peter the Apostle wrote; “I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” II Peter 3: 1-4).

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat” (II Peter 3: 9-12)?

The false prophets begin to move into the arena of discussion. This is a more dangerous person than the others in that this one tends to corrupt a broader area of the visible church.

“When I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1: 3-4).

“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever” (Jude 1: 11-13).

“Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord” (Numbers 31:16). The doctrine of Balaam: through his counsel to send temple prostitutes of Baal among the Israelites to corrupt them and bring God’s wrath upon them.

“Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness” (II Peter 2:15). The way of Balaam; I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. He used his prophetic gift for money.

“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” (Revelations 2:14).

“When I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1: 3-4).

“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever” (Jude 1: 11-13).

“Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord” (Numbers 31:16). The doctrine of Balaam: through his counsel he advised Balak to send temple prostitutes of Baal among the Israelites to corrupt them and thereby bring God’s wrath upon them.
“Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness” (II Peter 2:15). The way of Balaam; I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. He used his prophetic gift for financial gain.

“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” (Revelations 2:14).

Balaam failed to see the love, grace and promise of God; “I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought” (Numbers 23: 20-23)!

Simply put; God keeps every covenant he makes with men regardless of whether they keep it or not. A promise with God is a sacred thing and He will not break it. There is a blessing in the covenant for those who keep it and a curse if they break it; but, God keeps both the spirit of the covenant and the letter, every word.

This of course means God’s covenant with every Christian through the cross is as sure and certain as the Covenant of Noah, Moses and David. His God’s covenant in the passage above was Abraham’s covenant which he kept for the Israelites in this passage.

“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good” (Numbers 23:19).

1. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15)
2. “gather the wheat [God’s grain] into my barn.(Matthew 13:30).
3. But while men slept, his enemy [Satan] came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way” (Matthew 13:25).
4. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (I John 4:1).
5. distinguish (someone or something) with difficulty by sight or with the other senses
6. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” (Matthew 7:2).
7. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).
8. This could be either by words, thoughts and actions. Make certain all these agree before making a decision.
9. “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish” (Psalm 1: 6).”
10. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire” (Zechariah 3:2)?
11. “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee” (Jude 1: 8-9).
12. I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days” (Numbers 24: 14)
13. “when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again” (Numbers 22:25). (See also Numbers 22: 28)