3. Be Not Deceived
It is where we consider the signs that we are told will be evident in the last days, and ask ourselves which of them are applicable for today.
It’s not a series of sermons I take lightly, though the topics of the series are somewhat solemn, if they verify the Bible as true beyond reasonable doubt, then there is infinite hope for all who trust the truth of what Jesus has done.
27% of the Bible is prophecy, God has set within his word TESTING CRITEREA
Concerning the last days, Jesus said specifically “So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand” (Lk 21:31)
The Lord wants you to know these things were spoken of before and when you see them, turn to Christ, please, turn to him and believe the gospel.
He died that you might live, free from the penalty of sin.
All will be judged at death, but a time is coming on the world that has never been before and will never be again.
The only way of escape is believing the Gospel.
The signs in this series will reveal the truth of the Bible as we see them playing out during these very times we live in.
Last week we took two sermons to look at Israel, both in regard to the signs spoken of that have already come to pass, and in the evening the signs yet to be completely fulfilled.
- The Sign of Israel’s dispersion. Fulfilled.
- The sing of the People of Israel finding no rest in any of the nations of the world. Fulfilled
- The sign of the land of Israel remaining fallow and awaiting their return. Fulfilled
- The sign of the people being regathered into the land. Fulfilled
- The sign of the nation created in a single day. Fulfilled
- The sign of Israel bringing forth in travail, ie wars from its first day. Fulfilled
- The sign of Israel being a burdensome stone and a cup of trembling to all who tamper with her. Fulfilled.
- The sign of the deserts blooming as a rose and water breaking out in the wilderness. Fulfilled
eight signs spoken of in the Old and New testaments concerning Israel, each single one of them a virtual impossibility on their own, and to consider all eight of just the ones we looked at together is unbelievable.
And that was just the morning sermon.
In the evening we considered signs to come and being prepared for in our very day.
- Preparations for the 3rd temple. Being witnessed now
- The priests identified. Being witnessed now
- The temple furniture made. Witnessed now
- The training of the Kohanim. Witnessed now
- The looming wars being moved against her. Witnessed now
- The coming hatred of the world for the jews. Being witnessed now
- The coming abomination of the temple by antichrist. To come
- The coming realization and mourning when they shall look upon him who they have pierced. To come
Another eight impossible prophecies we considered, MOST OF WHICH are being witnessed now, in these times.
We are only ¼ of the way through this series, are you getting how impossible all this is?
God has given us SIGNS in the Bible that we might WATCH FOR, to know of his coming and of the end of the world.
ARE YOU WATCHING?
Most importantly, ARE YOU READY?
Title: Be Not Deceived.
False Christs
Truth Fallen In the Streets
The Word of God not found
Distress of Nations with Perplexity
False Christs
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 Formany shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Matt 24:3-5)
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: 6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Mark 13:3-6)
7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? 8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. (Luke 21:7-8)
In each of the gospel accounts given to us of this event it is recorded that the Lords first response is “Take heed that no man deceive you”.
In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established (2 Cor 13:1).
It is evident therefore that the priority of testimony to the question given, is that of the risk of deception, and the risk of deception seems great.
Jesus indicates deception will be the prevailing character of the last days, the days the disciples specifically enquired of.
Deception is an untruth. It is the telling of lies with the explicit purpose of leading people astray, having them turn into a false way, a way set by the deceiver, the orchestrator of the lie.
Deceit is a ‘False way’
Deceit will characterize the days that precede the second coming of Christ;
Deception IS A SIGN OF THE TIMES;
FALSE CHRISTS
Jesus however tells his disciples of a most particular deception, one would say the greatest of them all and one that has led and will lead millions, if not billions, astray;
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Matt 24:3-5)
6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Mark 13:3-6)
for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. (Luke 21:7-8)
It must be considered the height of all self-conceit to make such a bold claim as this, if it is false.
It must be the height of all blasphemy to make such a bold claim as this, if it is false.
But without a knowledge of the word of God, how will you TEST if it is true or false?
Without a standard of truth to measure the claim by, how will you KNOW you are being deceived?
JESUS was put on a cross for making such a claim as this, but how did Jesus verify the claim?
He fulfilled over 300 prophecies specifically from the Old Testament.
He displayed the true Character of God.
He died for the sake of the claim.
He rose again from the dead.
300 prophecies identify his first coming, according to many pastors there are almost twice as many that speak of his second coming, WHY?
That we may “search the scriptures to see if those things are true” (Acts 17:11)
But Just as the blind leads the blind and both fall into the ditch, so too shall they all be cast into hell for believing the lie.
But not the false Christs nor their followers have such fear.
Turn to 2 Peter 2:1-3
1 But 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. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 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.
VIDEO: Mix of messiahs
VIDEO: The Aussie
VIDEO: The Spaniard 666
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.(Revelation 14:9-11)
I am not sure how that text is going to be reinterpreted to mean anything other than what it says!
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NB: Notice how many people “feel” so wonderful in the presence of these men? Join me tonight as we deal with THE FALLING AWAY, the apostate church of the last days for examples of how “FEELINGS” are not the test of truth
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To you and I the wickedness of these men seems evident, but to those who follow them “God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear” (Rom 11:8)
Just as Israel will trust in a false messiah who will come in his own name in the last of days, so too do many do today, and have done since the time the apostles wrote;
18 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.(1 John 2:18).
There have been two hundred and sixty-six Antichrists that have led the largest and most wealthy religious institution of the world, the Roman Catholic assembly.
SHOW PHOTOS FROM ROME
Each of these men have claimed an authority that did not belong to them.
Each of these men where leaders of a false way and have ‘deceived many’.
Vicar of Jesus Christ,
Successor of the Prince of the Apostles,
Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church,
Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province,
Sovereign of the State of Vatican City,
Servant of the Servants of God.
Holy Father
Few are the Titles listed here that could be given to ANY man other than Christ.
Take heed lest any man deceive you: 6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Mark 13:3-6)
Truth Fallen In the Streets
Deception is a sign of the times, when truth itself is denied in principle!
13 In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. 14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter (Isaiah 59:13-14)
When truth is fallen in the street deception fills the vacuum.
There is an old saying that claims if no standard of truth is kept, all shall be accepted;
You may have heard it rendered, “Those who don’t stand for anything, will fall for everything”.
Isaiah relates that it is the iniquity of the People that precedes the ‘fall of truth in the streets’, ie truth cast away and trodden under foot as if it has no value.
“What is truth” said the one appointed to govern Jerusalem in the time of Jesus Christ.
It seems evident in Pontius Pilot that the truth itself can be staring you in the face, and you can still not see it.
- We live in an age of POST MODERNISM where the saying; “there is no such thing as truth” has become common.
- We live in an age of RELETIVISM where the saying; “you have your truth and I have mine” has become common.
When truth is fallen in the street deception fills the vacuum.
Isaiah identifies that when there is no truth, there is no judgement, ‘we look for judgement, but there is none, for salvation, but it is far from us’.
If there is no truth, what is our frame of reference to judge anything as True?
How can we discern truth from deception if there is no standard of truth to reveal the deceit?
Is it our feelings that we trust? But how do you know your feelings are trustworthy?
“Follow your heart” you say? But the Bible says the heart is deceitpful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it (Jer 17:9)…what if that is true? How do you know its not?
You do it because it feels good
Do you believe it because it “feels right”?
There can simply be no true judgement if truth is fallen in the streets and Isaiah makes the claim that it is our very own iniquities that has cast the truth aside.
there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Jug 21:25)
Our willingness to look at ourselves as judge and jury of our own actions is primarily what has set truth aside, we long to justify what we want to do, but truth stubbornly stands in the way, best we cast it away, best truth becomes relative, best we have truth fall in the streets….
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
When we seek to do that which is right in our own eyes, we naturally find ourselves not desiring at all to retain God in our knowledge, and when this occurs it is God who gives man over to a reprobate mind, a mind that has no ability to discern truth from error and is easily deceived.
Romans chapter one provides for us the historical context of how it all unfolds and it is worth turning there before we learn how we can Take heed lest any man deceive us.
Romans 1:17-23
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
The first truth the people of the world are held accountable to know is the truth of who God is.
It is the rejection of all that God is that leads man into all that God is not!
It was Friedrich Nietzsche who first wrote that “God is dead”. It was in his book “The Gay Science” in a chapter called ‘The Parable of the Madman’ that Nietzsche wrote “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers?”
Ironically it was after the writing of this book that Friedrich Nietzsche himself went clinically insane.
Ironic still is how much the world reveres his phycology, his theories are considered in every university, and yet he was a mad man.
It was his book titled “Will to Power” that inspired Adolf Hitler.
It is curious how often it is found in our history that when man begins to hate Godso too do they begin to hate man.
When we have killed God, it seems almost naturally easier to kill those made in the image of God.
Too often does history demonstrates that Deicide often leads to homicide.
It is the rejection of all that God is that leads man into all that God is not!
When truth is fallen in the streets, deception takes its wrongful place.
When the standard of truth is rejected, Pilots rhetorical question is given credibility.
The Word of God not found
11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. (Amos 8:11-12)
The Bible is the standard of truth. That is the claim the Bibles makes of itself, and I have come to believe it.
We are today living in a time when we have NO IDEA who is telling the truth about anything. And without a standard of truth, we would not expect to.
Politicians have generally come to make a career of lying in perfect accord with Plato’s precedent identified in Plato’s Republic, and Marx’s mandate as identified in his book Das Capital.
In general terms it is known to us as “The Ends Justify the Means”.
If the end is believed to be ‘good’ then the means don’t matter; deceit, mistruths, lies and statistics all have their proper place.
The media is one of the worst mediums of deception, for it has long prided itself on altering and shaping the opinions of the population, and it has been used for just that purpose from its beginning.
The modern notion of ‘Fake news’ is the old and simpler synonym for “propaganda”.
It is the dissemination of information to the promotion of a predetermined outcome.
It is more than marketing or advertising, we can all identify an advertisement and we can recognise its claims, but propaganda is the marketing of ideas through respectable means to change hearts and minds.
Ask yourself how the world changed from;
- Criminalising homosexuality to sanctifying it in less than thirty years. From;
- Criminalising suicide to assisting it in less than ten years. From;
- Biology determining sex to preference determining it in less than five years;
- From abortion being considered murder to it being considered as health care, and even an “essential service” in the last few months.
It is the media, and it most often speaks with one voice, and just like our modern political parties, when you think you are changing channels, that might not make much difference;
VIDEO “operation mockingbird”
The passage here in Amos indicates a time that people will be searching for the words of the Lord and unable to find them.
What will it be like if the only news we are permitted to receive is that ordained by “the powers that be” as ‘true’ when we do not have any standard to measure it by?
From religious cults, to social media, to search engines and video hosting platforms, to entire nations; the dissemination of information without a standard to be held accountable to, has enslaved and will destroyed many.
It was the influence of a Pentecostal Church that led a man to rule a people, and it was the want of knowing their bibles that enticed a people to be enslaved by a man.
Deception begins for want of the truth, and on November 18th, 1978. 913 people were deceived to death by a Pentecostal preacher named Jim Jones.
It remains to be the largest mass murder / suicide in the history of the United States and it occurred because deception will always fill vacuum when truth is rejected.
(I will be speaking more on the matter of the Church in the last days in this evenings sermon, please be sure to listen as we speak to yet another sign for the last days, the Falling Away.)
There is one way and one way alone to ensure you might not be deceived, read and believe the word of God. Follow no man.
But know also, as the truth is being rejected around the world, even by pastors, there will indeed come a that time the Bible speaks of as a time of famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
With 450 versions of the English bible alone, I believe Satan is doing a masterful job at attempting to hide the Bible in a sea of obscurity. And far too many undiscerning and foolish pastors trust no single version as the Bible.
From their mouths they trust the words of Christ, from their actions they deny them. I fear for them, as they are implicated directly in the famine to come noted here in Amos 8
Distress of Nations With Perplexity
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:25-28)
Jesus indicated that deception is to be watched against in the days before he returns, we have already seen how easy it is to be deceived and led astray.
But how incredible is the description here in Luke 21:25, and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Perplexity; some synonyms are ‘Confusion’, ‘bafflement’, incomprehension, ‘bewilderment’.
Type a search in your browser “Has the world gone mad?” and you will get 389,000,000 pages of results in .77 of a second.
Type “the world is mad” and you get over a billion pages.
Perplexity is the overriding emotion of the day. But we know that “God is not the author of confusion” so how has this come about?
It is because we live in a time of great deception and it is great deception that is yet another sign of the times.
The book of Daniel speaks to the leaders of these last days and he notes something of interest regarding the communication of two kings of that time;
And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. (Dan 11:27)
Lies can never prosper, and rulers of nations can never be benefitted by deception, and yet it seems clear that both of these Kings thought it just to be deceptive and “speak lies at one table”. If this is the state of our leaders, are we to be surprised if upon the earth (is) distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
The Bible often uses the words sea and waves and water as a metaphor for the peoples of the nations or world. Psalm 65:7 speaks about God “Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people”.
Isaiah 17:12 says, “Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!”
It is the perfect picture of distress of nations when the people of the nations are found to be roaring and in great animosity toward their representatives.
LIST OF RIOTS
VIDEO RIOT MONTAGE
- February 3-5: Riots in Lesbos, Greece, violent clashes between Afghan migrants and the Greek Police. Overcrowded refugee camps has been blamed for triggering the riots.[461]
- February 23-March 1: North East Delhi riots in India, 53 killed.[462][463][464][465]
- March 9: In Ukraine A Small Town Was Torn Apart By Coronavirus Rumors. [466]
- March 10: About 50 inmates escaped from Italian prisons as the coronavirus triggered riots and brought the country’s criminal-justice system to a halt. [467]
- March 11: Ohio: Riot breaks out following university’s announcement of temporary closure due to COVID-19. [468]
- March 13: In Italy, riots erupted in almost 50 prisons this month, leaving 13 inmates dead and 59 guards injured. Authorities said the inmates died of drug overdoses after raiding a prison infirmary. [469]
- March 17: Hundreds of inmates escape prison during coronavirus riots in Brazil. [470]
- March 18: Riots rock overcrowded Lebanon prisons over coronavirus fears. [471]
- March 21: In Israel, riots erupts after police limit entrance to Temple Mount. [472]
- March 23: Prison riots in Colombia following Covid-19 panic. 23 killed.[473][474][475]
- March 25: Prison riots break out across Argentina sparked by anger over conditions and coronavirus fears.[476][477]
- March 25: A migrant-detention facility in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas experienced a series of riots committed by hundreds of foreign nationals. [478]
- March 26: Prisoners Riot in Luxembourg Amid Restrictions on Visitors. Luxembourg’s main prison erupted in violence overnight after about 25 inmates started rioting, forcing several police units to intervene. [479]
- April 11: Prison riot in Siberia, Russia, prison set ablaze.[
And that is so far this year.
The Bible refers to the last kingdom to be as Iron mixed with Miry clay, partly strong and partly broken.
So we should expect to see in the last days ongoing and growing discontent and confusion among the people of the nations. Is this the time of this sign?
Four of the signs that will be seen in the end of the end are;
False Christs
Truth Fallen In the Streets
The Word of God not found
Distress of Nations with Perplexity
Are we seeing these things unfolding in these times?
Are you recognising the times?
Beloved the times are to reveal to us the truth of the Bible and to turn us again to its pages. Believe the Bible, believe it speaks plainly and for your understanding.
Trust its truth alone, because the times of today are times filled with deceit.
If you believe the Bible is true concering these ends, trust it is true concering what Jesus did for your sins, that you might be saved. Please, do not wait, you don’t know when the next breath you take is your last, please, be sure you are at peace with the Lord.
Please.
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