![]() 7:20) Promotion of the clergy-laity distinction among nominal Christians paved the way for harsh and autocratic rule of the masses, lacking in tenderness and love. Since Jesus stated, “Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize those men,” let us take note of the fruitage of their selfish and wicked operations. Add to this the multitudes of nominal Christians who have placed their own personal ideas and selfish desires ahead of the teaching of Christ, and who have to that extent usurped the position of Christ as the authoritative Teacher of the Christian congregation. In effect they were saying: “The due time has approached,” and have thereby stifled the expectations of many in a genuine Kingdom rule with blessings for all peoples. Then there is the long line of self-styled vicegerents of Christ who have sat upon a throne in Rome and who have promulgated the idea that their church rule was indeed the foretold thousand-year reign of Christ. From time to time men have also arisen, up to and including our own time, claiming to be Christ, deceiving gullible persons who professed to be Christians. Many false Messiahs (Christs) have arisen since the middle of the first century, men who have duped multitudes of Jews. The facts in fulfillment confirmed those timely warnings. ![]() John points to a denial of the true relationship existing between the heavenly Father and his Son, Christ Jesus, as another indication of antichristian deception.- 1 John 2:19, 22. Jude intimates that a departure from the high moral standards of the Bible would be a danger signal. Peter speaks of counterfeit words and the promotion of sects, groups following men. The apostle Paul disclosed two giveaway signs of deception, namely, a twisting of the words of truth and a lack of the spirit of tender affection. Disarmed by an outward show of godliness and by “smooth talk and complimentary speech,” many unwary Christians would be seduced into following ‘wolves in sheep’s covering’ and eventually becoming prey to such selfish deceivers.- Rom. The peril would be not so much from the openly avowed opponents of Christ as from those who would rise up claiming to be Christ or claiming to exercise the rights and prerogatives of Christ as his empowered representatives. ![]() The combined testimony of these faithful witnesses pointed to danger from within the ranks of professed Christians. They went out from us, but they were not of our sort.”- Acts 20:29, 30 2 Pet. Also, with covetousness they will exploit you with counterfeit words.” Jesus’ brother and disciple Jude, in turn, wrote that “certain men have slipped in who have long ago been appointed by the Scriptures to this judgment, ungodly men, turning the undeserved kindness of our God into an excuse for loose conduct and proving false to our only Owner and Lord, Jesus Christ.” The apostle John adds his testimony: “Young children, it is the last hour, and, just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now there have come to be many antichrists from which fact we gain the knowledge that it is the last hour. These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects and will disown even the owner that bought them. ![]() So the apostle Paul under inspiration declared: “I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.” And Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, also spoke of this peril: “There will also be false teachers among you. Just as wolves will cut off their intended victims from the main flock before attacking and devouring, so it might be expected that human wolves would act. 7:15) Watchfulness and caution are therefore essential to avoid becoming prey to greedy, wolfish men. To his first-century disciples Jesus sounded a warning that applies to us today with even greater force: “Look out that you are not misled for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am he ,’ and, ‘The due time has approached.’ Do not go after them.” ( Luke 21:8) He also admonished: “Be on the watch for the false prophets that come to you in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves.” ( Matt. Each worshiper of the true God is required to be wide-awake, alert to the numerous deceptions that continually beset his path. Today, therefore, hypocrisy and treachery are rife. Thereafter her husband and children fell into the clutches of a wolfish god who has robbed them of everything in life that is worthwhile-fear of God, self-respect, genuine love for neighbor and love of the truth. Can you detect them? How can you avoid becoming their prey?ĭECEPTION caused Eve to become prey to the great Devourer, Satan the Devil. ![]()
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