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In the Bible, and particularly in the New Testament, we are constantly warned, over and over again, to beware of false brethren, wolves in sheep's clothing, and outside children of the world who rely upon their cunning craftiness in order to try to sow division amongst the Christian brethren, and pervert the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, with their strange doctrines, and their twisted, ungodly interpretations of the Scriptures, or by their total denial of the same.

Surely, we have seen these things come to pass in this, our current day, as these deceivers and antichrists go about preaching their doctrines of devils. Our Christian faith is without a doubt under attack from these grievous wolves who lie in wait to deceive, and who preach another Jesus, and another Gospel. They attack from without, as well as from within our own midst, just like the false brethren of the First Century did. They seem to be brethren on the surface, but they are not. They are heretics of the first order who have itching ears, and who just love to listen to seducing spirits. Many claim to be prophets and prophetesses who are inspired by God. However, what they say and teach clearly exposes them, and proves that they are no such thing. They have in fact become deceived by their own pride. Remember Jesus' own warning regarding such deceivers:

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."


Following are some additional verses which likewise warn against false prophets who claim to come in the name of the Lord. Please take heed to them:

"But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."


"The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"


"For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD."


"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many . . . For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."


"For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect."


Therefore, because they have not truly been sent by the Lord, according to the Scriptures, we must avoid them at all cost, and not even bid them God speed. While that may seem a little harsh to some people, in his Epistle to the Galatians, while writing about those people who were preaching a false gospel, the Apostle Paul went so far as to say "let him be accursed". That is how seriously the Apostles of the First Century took false doctrines spreading within the Church. Consider these verses:

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."


Where can these wolves in sheep's clothing be found? Sadly, in this day and age, they can be found just about everywhere. They are in many of the churches and fellowships. They are on the television and radio spouting off their nonsense. They're even in some government agencies. They write books and make videos where they spew forth their garbage. They also appear in auditoriums and stadiums across the land where they preach to and deceive thousands of people at a time. Many of them preach a feel-good, get-rich-quick message which is totally absent of any Scriptures from the Bible. In my view, they are just money-making Bible hucksters, and the Bible very clearly warns against them, as we can determine by the following set of verses:

"Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous . . . Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;"


"For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre . . . Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake."


"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;"


As I point out in other articles, in the previous verses, the phrase "filthy lucre" is translated from the Koine Greek word "aischrokerdes". According to Thayer's Greek English Lexicon, this word refers to being eager for base gain; that is to say, greedy for money. Doesn't that perfectly describe many of our modern preachers? These unscrupulous individuals simply view their deceived flocks as money-making machines. The Apostle Peter makes it even more clear in his second Epistle when he writes the following:

"And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."


Wow! That is exactly what many of those deceivers do! It is always about money, money, money! No matter how poor someone may be, those fast-talking Bible hucksters convince them to give them their hard-earned money. And they lie to them as well! They tell them "If you give to my ministry, God will mightily bless you, and He will make you rich as well." But how often does that happen in real life? How many of those deceived people who give to those wolves ever become rich themselves? The truth is that it is all just a bunch of lies and deception by the man prancing on the stage.

However, where millions of people are exposed to these crafty liars and wolves every single day is on the Internet. If you have visited the YouTube website, or any of the other major social networks, you've more than likely already encountered some of these deceivers. They are indeed a very ubiquitous breed. I come across them all the time. I just can't believe some of the things that come out of their mouths, supposedly as "Thus saith the Lord". It is ridiculous. Sadly, a lot of naive, gullible people just suck it up, and enthusiastically post their "Amen!". Some of them are just as deceived as the false prophets themselves. It really makes me shake my head. My friends, I don't wish to offend you, but you really need to ask the Lord to give you a degree of Wisdom and Spiritual Discernment, so that you will not fall within their deceptive snare. As the Apostle James was inspired to write:

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."


I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that you take the time to carefully analyze what these people are saying and teaching. Do their doctrines agree with the Scriptures? If not, beware! Do not embrace the attitude that they must know what they are talking about, simply because they have an impressive list of credentials, and a string of degrees from a variety of colleges or universities. That is not what the people of Berea did in the Book of Acts when Paul and Silas arrived to preach to them. Those smart people in fact tested what Paul and Silas were teaching, by comparing what they had to say with the Scriptures, as we see here:

"And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few."


So as wise Christians, it is imperative that we do the very same thing; because if we don't, we could very easily become just as deceived as the wolves and the false prophets are. Having shared the previous paragraphs with you, please consider the following Scriptural warnings regarding these deceptive antichrists and wolves. Don't just consider them; take heed to them as well:

"Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."


"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"


"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein."


"As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do."


"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"


"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;"


"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."


"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way."


"Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves."


"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock."


"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."


"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him . . . For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."


"And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:"


"If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself."


"But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."


"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."


As you can see by the previous verses, Jesus and the First Century Apostles had some very strong things to say regarding the wolves in sheep's clothing who would try to pervert the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, with their doctrines of devils. Consider a few of the key words and phrases that are found in the previous verses:

another Jesus
any other gospel
avoid them
beware
cunning craftiness
depart from the faith
discord among brethren
doctrines of devils
every wind of doctrine
false brethren
grievous wolves
heretick
itching ears
let him be accursed
lie in wait to deceive
neither bid him God speed
receive him not into your house
seducing spirits
sow division
strange doctrines
wolves
wolves in sheep's clothing

Can the warning be any clearer than that? Do those words and phrases make the threat real to you? So, as the Apostle Paul wrote to his beloved son in the faith, Timothy, we need to do likewise. We need to hold fast to the sound words of the Bible, because they represent the very foundation of our faith. Not only do we need to hold them fast, but we need to diligently study them as well, so that we will acquire the wisdom to discern truth from error, and not be deceived by the wolves, false prophets and money-making Bible hucksters:

"Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."


"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."


With these thoughts, I will bring this article to a close. It is my hope that you have found it informative, enlightening, and I pray that it has been a blessing in your life as well. If you have an account with Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or with any other social network, I would really appreciate if you'd take the time to click or tap on the corresponding link that is found on this page. Thanks so much, and may God bless you abundantly!

For additional information and further study, you may want to refer to the list of reading resources below which were either mentioned in this article, or which contain topics which are related to this article. All of these articles are likewise located on the Bill's Bible Basics web server. To read these articles, simply click or tap on any link you see below.

Heaven's Gate, Suicide and Other Death Cults
Heaven's Gate: A Subliminal Message Concealed in Their Logo?
Women Shepherds, Pastors and Teachers: A Biblical Perspective
Elijah: Where Are the True Prophets of God?
Exposing the Tactics of the Enemy!
Cardinal Ratzinger's Rebellion
Mary Worship, Christianity and Roman Catholicism
Money-Making Bible Hucksters and Mammon
Have You Read the New Scriptures Yet?
Lies and Deceptions of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholicism, Water Baptism and the Trinity
Pontifex Maximus: Pagan High Priest to Roman Catholic Pope
Gargoyles: Satan Loves Church Buildings!
Urantia Book: Attack on the Blood Atonement of Christ
Urantia Book: A Dangerous New Age Doctrine!
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

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