When Christ warns of the coming deception in the end of the age, which age we are in, most have the impression that the deception will be outrageous and very obvious. But if it was so obvious, it would not be very deceptive one would think? According to Christ, the deception will be so good (in a bad way) that even the very elect, if possible, would be deceived. I believe that many deceptions are alive and well, right in front of our faces today. Simply put, we are warned to take heed that the light in us is not darkness (Luke 12:35).

As the Apostle Paul warns us in 2nd Thessalonians, “Let no one deceive you, for that day (the 2nd coming) will not come unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (chapter 2:3-4). The evil one’s aim is to set himself up in God’s rightful place in our life – as an angel of light in God’s temple.

Let’s shine some light into the darkness of our own heart to reveal who is enthroned in God’s rightful place. A simple test for yourself: you may sadly or judgingly shake your head at some of what is outlined below, but if something comes a bit too close to home – are you willing to judge yourself with the same measure you judge others? My observation is that us humans are very forgiving of ourselves, but not so forgiving of others.

As Christ’s warning about the deception states that many will come in His name and deceive many (Matthew 24: 4+), it stands to reason that the name of Christ, His teaching and God’s Word would be used in some shape or form – just like that old serpent used on Eve, and even attempted to use on Christ himself. So, it also stands to reason that we should be aware that such teachings from various organizations/people who insist that they are ‘Christ’ based, needs scrutiny by God’s people.

The simple goal in writing this is to demonstrate the need to develop and exercise our ‘spiritual taste buds’: so we can learn how to spit-out that which is not good for our souls. From my experience false teachings, dangerous doctrines and faith-destroying beliefs are propagated mostly in beautiful, dynamic and even energized religious settings. I’ve observed firsthand, often, people attempt to conjure up God in meetings – ranging from very loud to completely quiet – thinking that God requires just the right atmosphere to make his presence felt. What does God require? A humble and contrite heart, that’s where the most-high dwells.

Strangely, the true body of Christ seems to be hidden and scattered within so many separate denominations and various places of all kinds. I hope my sharing demonstrates how the living Christ shepherds us no matter our sheepfold or our wonderings. As the whole earth is infused with energy from one sun, so too does His children live in the light and life of the one true heavenly Father (a stranger’s voice we do not heed – a false light we do not walk by).

Jehovah Witness Jangling

Early on in my initial seeking the truth, a zealous Jehovah Witness would visit me every Saturday (as I invited him to) and would expound his beliefs to me. As he shared I would show him what the scriptures said about each and every topic he put forward – even using their own version of the scriptures. Everything he shared would come up short when put up against the light of the scriptures.

It was obvious he was parroting what he was told to believe – having never questioned what he was taught – even confused at times that I just didn’t believe what he was putting forward. He became so exhausted in going away each week, researching answers and coming back explaining their views, that he gave me their ‘book of answers’, which had many scripture interpretations. So, sitting with him we opened up this ‘book of answers’ in discussion about what happens when people die. He said they simply go to sleep and have no consciousness – very different to what the scriptures teach (to be absent from the body, says the Apostle Paul, is to be present with the Lord).

I opened up the Watchtower’s Interlinear Greek New Testament (which shows both the Greek and English interpretation side by side – a publication of his organisation) to Matthew chapter 27, verses 51 to 53, which just follows Christ’s crucifixion, it reads – following the Greek language structure:

51: And look! the curtain of the divine habitation was split from above and till below into two and the earth was shaken and the rock-masses were split.
52: And the memorial tombs were opened and many bodies of the having fallen asleep holy ones were raised up.
53: And they having gone forth out of the memorial tombs after the being raised up of him they entered into the holy city and they were made apparent to many.
(Source: Jehovah’s Witnesses online library)

He found the interpretation within the ‘book of answers’, which said the bodies were thrown out beside their graves due to the earthquake – nothing more. He was confused as his ‘book of answers’ totally ignored how the bodies of holy ones who had fallen asleep were raised up and entered into the holy city, being seen by many. His ‘book of answers’, no doubt, could not enter into explaining a phenomenon that contradicted their belief system. The filter over his mind won out in the end and he believed the ‘book of answers’ over his very own scriptures.

The following week he brought with him two very senior leaders from his organisation (the big guns), as he had hit a snare in converting me to his teachings. It was very obvious he was seeking to please these men; he was not a truth seeker, but a man pleaser. How true is that scripture in saying, how can you believe when you seek to please men and not God. And again, the fear of man brings a snare.

Tradition Trumps Truth

Myself, having been raised a Roman Catholic, was also exposed to such logic – that teaching based on an organization’s interpretation over-rides the scriptures. For example, during a Catholic bible study with about 10 people, I politely asked the priest (who was leading the study) how is it that the Catholic Church changed the ten commandments? The group looked at me shocked and said, what are you talking about, no such thing has occurred.

The priest knew better, as the 2^nd commandment about idols is deleted and the 10^th about covetousness is divided into two to make up the shortfall (A simple Google search, ‘Catholic 10 commandments’, will show such results). After the study the priest called me aside quietly and said that the church has authority to change the scriptures as it sees fit – quoting Matthew chapter 16, verse 19:

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

This scripture is precious, which is said to Peter in response of him declaring his belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus reveals to Peter how he has come to such knowledge in a previous verse, 17:

Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven

Christ’s true church, which is the body of believers scattered throughout the nations, has this assurance, we will be taught by God himself – our heavenly Father reveals Christ to each one of us. This scripture is for every believer.

Don’t swallow the falsities that anyone (even an angel) has some special power to change God’s Word. Even the Lord Himself says that heaven and earth will pass away but His Words will not (Mark 13:31).

Could you imagine what would happen to anyone who attempted to engage a stonemason to alter the Ten Commandments after Moses brought them down from the mountain? Out of all the writings in the history of the world, The Ten Commandments are the only words written by the finger of God Himself, in stone. The arrogance in changing them amazes me – to boot, they claim they can change the very scriptures that give them power to change the scriptures: this logic makes one’s head spin. Put simply, they changed the Word of God to suit their tradition of worshipping images. Tradition trumping truth.

Diluted Evangelical Doctrine

On mixing with various evangelical denominations – which I actively fellowship with – I often hear professed that the power demonstrated in the early church, as outlined in the scriptures, has been done away with, it was only for that time-period many have said to me (both in person and from the pulpit). This belief, soaked down deep within many over the years, is totally faith destroying. They even twist a scripture to prove their point, 1^st Corinthians 13:8-13:

8: Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9: for we know in part and we prophesy in part. 
10: But when that which is ^[d]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12: For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13: And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Those professing that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were only for the early church, zone in on the words, ‘whether there are tongues, they will cease’. and again they use the text, ‘But when that which is perfect has come…’, to mean the completion of the bible. Their logic is that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are no longer needed because we have the bible in its fullness. Yet these same people will admit that the scriptures teach that we need the Holy Spirit to understand the bible – to reveal the truth of it to us – which is, in itself, a supernatural occurrence.

The scripture quoted above, simply put, is talking about when perfection has come, when all things are made new and perfect, as it says in Revelation 21:1, “… I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away”. And again, “… the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God”. (verse 3).

That is when all things, except love, will fail and be done away with. There will be no need of prophecy, as all will have been fulfilled. It is then we shall know as we are known. But for now we know if part, we prophesy in part. The truth also being, we only understand the bible in part.

To use this scripture to throw the gifts of the Spirit, which are most precious, underfoot to the history books and teach they are not for Christ’s church today is very dangerous ground to walk. I personally highly recommend not despising the gifts of the Holy Spirit in favor of some odd teaching that uses this scripture to explain why the propagators of it don’t have any such gifts.

Remember, just because we don’t see or experience something that the scriptures show is possible (or others fake and exaggerate – offering up a strange fire), it does not mean we cannot enter into the truth of such things: just as Joshua and Caleb believed they could enter into the promised land – 10 out of the 12 didn’t believe – only the two who believed entered in from their generation.

Pentecostal Pivot

While we are here, let’s not gloss over the Pentecostal movement: which I’ve had much experience with for many years. I absolutely believe this movement was a great move of God, with such giants of faith as Smith Wigglesworth, with many true saints of God within. Sadly, from my experience, con-artists and imposters have forcefully taken the banner of this movement and placed it over themselves – thereby positioning themselves as the great power of God.

This was subtly achieved by pivoting the focus away from God Himself to focus on the gifts of the Spirit – specifically speaking in Tongues (which of all the gifts, is the easiest to fake). Then in turn, they naturally shifted the focus to themselves as the anointed instruments of God by whom such gifts were administered by. Today you will clearly hear such people teach about ‘The Covering’. You, they say, must come under this covering (which is themselves or their organisation) to be protected by God. True fellowship with God’s people is very different to coming under such a covering.

One amazing fact about the great Apostle of Faith, Smithwigglesworth, is that he had no denominational alliance. Throughout his life he stayed unattached from any religious body, seeking out all and sundry to pray with and minister to (Frodsham, 1948). He did not ‘come under the covering’ of any human organisation. Teaching such, is a subtle move to place people or an organisation in God’s rightful place in your life – just as it has been done for hundreds of years by many before.

Let me share a sad observation I experienced to help demonstrate how the narrow focus on God’s gifts side-tracks our mind and heart away from God Himself. In one Pentecostal home group I attended many years ago, I came across two girls in their late teens crying on the veranda as the group was ‘praying in tongues’ inside – a loud show I’d call it, hence why I was walking outside – even though I do believe in this gift, for private edification unless someone can interpret. I asked why they were crying? They looked up at me, with tears running down their cheeks and said, we don’t speak in tongues.

How sad was the sight – two young women crying outside a bible study group due to the focus on a gift and not the giver. If only the leadership would have shared the full story in where it says, ‘If I speak in the tongues of men and angels but do not have love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal’. I clearly heard much clanging coming from inside that house that night, as these two girls sat crying outside – feeling very much unloved.

I personally believe in all the gifts of the Spirit, just as the scriptures expound in 1^st Corinthians chapter 14, verses 1 to 5:

1: Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 
2: For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
3: But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
4: He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
5: I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; ^[a]for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

This scripture speaks for itself – spiritual gifts are valid and should be sought after, including the gift of tongues; but it’s not the greatest gift. Remember, the scripture says that the Spirit divides gifts as He wills to benefit the church; if you back-up to 1^st Corinthians chapter 12. Hence, the focus on one gift is another deception used by twisting God’s Word.

The danger with solely focusing on gifts, as mentioned, is it draws our attention away from the giver – away from God Himself. Also, we become prone to accepting anything that seems supernatural as coming from God. For example, at a massive Pentecostal conference I attended (with the focus on spiritual gifts over five days) one international preacher proudly expounded occult principles gilded with Christian terminology to ‘help the medicine go down’ – and down it went. It was so obviously occult that the preacher himself proclaimed on stage, “Why should the Devil have all the good music”, as he admitted that what he was teaching was from the occult – to which the audience cheered and clapped. Let’s test the spirits to see if they are of God.

Submit to Me – So Says Arnold

One evening I decided to visit a friend who had joined with a newly established church, independent from any other denomination with its base in a capital city (they were setting up satellite branches around the country and he was in a leadership role). Arnold was his name, with a lovely wife and several kids. I was friends with them for several years.

After making ourselves comfortable around the family table with a coffee and kids playing off to the side, Arnold looked straight at me, leaning forward in a serious manner and stated, “I am your father in the faith, you need to submit to me”. After realizing he wasn’t joking, I was rather bewildered that this guy, who had had no input into my faith or spiritual life was now declaring himself my superior in all areas of my faith.

I simply replied firmly but politely, that I’ve just came over for a coffee and chat, but I’ll be off now. I promptly walked out and drove off. I have never seen or heard from him again to this day (that was over 30 years ago). Just recently I was messaging a friend who was deep within this group for eight years, he said they turned into a cultish movement which he finally left – I’m glad I knew my true heavenly father’s voice and started walking out in less than eight seconds: a stranger’s voice I will not follow. Please cut away from such controlling people and groups fast (even if they are your friends, as Arnold was mine), as your time is too precious.

I had had a very similar experience with a bishop from the Catholic Church, who waved his finger at me in anger when I refused to bow down and pray to the Eucharist during a church retreat as a young adult (again, I didn’t make a fuss, but just would not join in). This bishop angrily announced over me that, “It’s people like you who divide the body of Christ”. I didn’t respond and we both walked off in silence (this event caused no small stir back in my home town, with the local priest chastising my mother for not bringing me up as a good Catholic).

In both of these instances, these people, who have had no input in to my life or spiritual growth, took it upon themselves to exercise authority over me in matters of my faith. They basically believed they had the rule over me and were exercising that rule; in essence putting themselves between me and God (trying to set themselves up in the holy of holies, which is where God desires to reign in us, being our conscience).

These were difficult times for me to be harassed in such a manner – all because I simply believed the scriptures and would only bow down to the living Christ (not a wafer that was presented to me as Christ or any leader that was attempting to position themselves in Christ’s rightful place in my life). These are examples of imposters that attempted to lord it over me. Remember, we should have no other god’s other than the true God before us – do not allow anything or anyone to be positioned in the place where Christ should be in your life.

This is also a deception, where they come in ‘my name’ says the Lord: basically putting themselves in the place of God in your life. We are warned, we may even be killed for not bowing down to such – which has happened en masse in years gone by. The book of Daniel instructs us that in the end times, “Those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering” (Daniel 11:33).

What Should We Do?

Rember one strange fact; throughout the ages, the truth of God has often been suppressed, with violence and force.

Paul writes (Romans 1:18):

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

What should we do then? Look to God and seek hard after His knowledge and wisdom directly – not trusting the traditions of men, who change God’s traditions into their ways and teach us such. As Moses gave the pattern for the Israelites to follow in the books of the law, so the Lord has given us His New Testament as a pattern for us today – all of it – which is good for us to follow and believe.

Christ is our true high priest; no other being on this earth or in heaven is to be our mediator between us and the Father. Many will come in Christ’s name, saying ‘I am he’ (Mark 13:6), they’ll seek to put themselves in God’s rightful place in your life. Don’t believe them. Be like the Berean Jews who, “… were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).

A subtle and consistent technique used to move us away from fellowship with Christ is to put in a layer between us and Christ. This layer could even be referred to as ‘Christ’s representative’, but not always so blatantly. Many different words are used, such as ‘protection’, ‘covering’, ‘leadership’, and even ‘church’. If you ever find yourself asking someone else what you believe, or you are living in fear of being rejected if you don’t believe as you’re told – take this as a measuring stick that you’re most probably allowing yourself to be controlled by others for their personal gain.

Be aware that many false teachings exist, potentially tucked deep within ourselves; which negatively affect our faith. Even Christ warns us of such when He says to beware of the leaven – doctrine – of the Pharisees. Walking by the truth of God’s Word is paramount. Dig deep into the scriptures, raising our voice on high for understanding. God has much pleasure in seeing our heart cry after Him; as it is written, if you draw near to me, I’ll draw near to you says the Lord. What a great, simple promise. We just need to do the ‘moving close’ – seeking hard after Him – not seeking the approval of others.