FALSE TEACHERS

The Bible speaks very clearly about how things will be in the last days. One of the sure signs for such days is the rise of false teachers. A false teacher is not someone who necessarily speaks blatantly and brazenly anti-Bible. They appear to speak what the Bible says, but on closer examination, and a comparison with the true teachings of the Word of God will reveal and expose their duplicity.

Let us see what the Word of God has to say about the “false teachers” of the last days. “3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day [the Second Coming of the LORD] will not come unless the falling away comes first…” – 2 Thessalonians 2:3. This simply means, people will be deceived and will reject and walk away from the true teachings of the Bible.

False teachers will arise, and the LORD Jesus says, “I Never Knew You” – “24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.” “21 “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. 22 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?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” – Matthew 24:24-25, Matthew 7:21-23

How can we know them? We will know them by their fruits – “15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits…17…every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit…20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” – Matthew 7:15-17, 20.

Deception and lies are the tools of the false teachers. They are empowered by the evil one, who is the deceiver and the father of all lies – “13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast…”
“9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” – Revelation 13:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:8

Let us be aware of the days we are living in. Let us earnestly seek the LORD to help us discern the false teachers. Let us faithfully and obediently follow what the LORD says, and not some peddler of lies. May the LORD help us to stand strong and true for Him in the last days.