The apostasy is here! Have no doubts about it, my dear reader, what you hear preached and taught by many so-called 'anointed' ministers of the gospel (?) proves that it is! More and more is the truth of 1 Timothy 4:1  being clearly manifested, and has arrived. Much, very, very much, of what you hear today preached and taught is of "another Jesus", is of "another spirit", and is of "another gospel" (2 Corinthians 11:4). Yes, the terminology might sound the same but what is meant is something else; and I'm not referring to what is generally accepted to be the doctrines of a "Christian" cult or sect. No, I'm referring to what is believed by multitudes to be a Scriptural and evangelical Christianity; or at least, they claim to be.

    Do you think that the Scriptures say in vain that "the time will come when they (i.e. professing Christians) will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables"; or that "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. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of" (2 Peter 2:1,2)? I think not! These, and many other Scriptures, warns us of the apostasy, which is now here.

    Someone might ask: "What is the apostasy?" First, note that this is called the "falling away" in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. There the Greek word is "apostasia", which means a 'defection' from the truth (properly the state) as found in Strong's Greek Dictionary. This is the feminine of "aphistemi", which means to 'remove', i.e. actively instigate to revolt; but also to desist, desert, etc. Another word related to "apostasia" is "apostasion", which is properly something separative, i.e. divorce. So, then, the apostasy is a defection from the state of professing the truth, or removing oneself from the truth and rebelling against it, i.e. to desist from it, or desert it. Also, we might express it by saying that an apostate is one who separates, or divorces from the truth, as in the divorce between a man and his wife.

    Perhaps someone might say that this is an 'overkill' of words, but what I'm trying to show is that the apostasy is not just simply one changing a church's doctrinal beliefs, such as an Assembly of God church member becoming a Baptist, because you can be either one and not be an apostate. But what I will endeavor to show, by God's grace and Word, is that the apostasy is much more serious than that, because it is the denying of the doctrinal truths of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, which before they professed to believe. But keep in mind, that, it is not the denying of the terminology of the Bible that we're referring here to, but the meaning of the terminology of those doctrines of the "one faith" (Ephesians 4:5), "which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude v.3). This is why it is so dangerous; because so many are being deceived in hearing the words, but then what they mean is totally contrary to the truth, "as the truth is in Jesus" (Ephesians 4:21)

    Now, I don't want to sound like a fanatical alarmist, but isn't it true that if we were going down the street, and if we see a house on fire, wouldn't it be, not only our duty, but also our concern for the people in the house, to sound the alarm? In fact, according to the Scriptures, it is our responsibility to give warning whenever God gives us insight or understanding of something that is happening, or is about to take place. We have examples of this: Enoch in Genesis 5:21-24 was given a message of coming judgment in the name of his son Methuselah, which meant that when he died, there was going to be a missle attack from heaven. This, of course, was the Flood; and Enoch proclaimed this according to Jude vv.14,15: "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him". Also Noah did the same; for "by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith" (Hebrews 11:7).

  Don't misunderstand me: I'm not some self-appointed prophet; or that I'm the only one who sees what I'll be referring to to in this article. I am pretty sure that there are other believers who have seen the same thing. But the reason I have to write this article is that I 'sense' an urgency in my heart to do so, because I personally believe that the apostasy is already here; and consequently, there will be an outright persecution of true believers, especially when they strive "together for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27). What 2 Timothy 3:1 says "that in the last days perilous days shall come"  should not be taken lightly. The Scriptures make it very clear that the closer we get to the Return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His people and to the Judgment of those"that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:8), the more dangerous it will get if you dare to expose the false doctrines and the apostasy that is already being manifested within much that is called "Christianity"! Oh, people of God, may this drive us to our knees, seeking His face, and casting ourselves upon Him; for He only is our Refuge and Strength in Christ. Amen.

    What concerns me, not only by what I personally see and hear, but also by what many other believers are writing about with respect to the same thing, (check Deception In The Church, here on my site; or http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com), that there is a definite movement, not only to bring all of professing Christianity together, but all of the religions in the world. (Again, this is already happening, check the World Council of Churches, which is made up of mostly of liberal churches, and the Charismatic movement, and the Roman Catholic Church [What do you think the Pope has been doing lately?]). Of course, the issue is not so much that there will be a One-World Religion, but how this will be accomplished; and I believe that there is two sides of this movement: From the apostatized professing Christianity of today, and the New Age Movement. Now, we know that the Bible doesn't specifically give 'names' as to who is involved in doing this, but we do have the TRUTH, which is God's Word; and so therefore we are to see and hear, not only what is being preached, taught, and practiced, but also what is not being preached, taught, and practiced; and in doing so that will show us who are the ones involved in the apostasy. We need to be like the Bereans, who, when Paul preached to them, "received the word with all readiness of mind, and seached the scriptures daily, whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11); which I'm afraid multitudes of professing Christians are not doing!

  Having said this, let us consider that one way that you can tell that the apostasy is here, is that sound doctrine is rejected by a very great majority of professing Christians; especially as they sit under the ministries of the so-called 'anointed' preachers and teachers that are so prominent on television and radio today. Not only is "sound doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:3) any longer important to them, but they are willing to accept any doctrine that they are being preached and taught without examing what the Scriptures say, as the Bereans did. But then that's what the Bible teaches that that was going to take place, so that now it looks that multitudes are like "children, tossed to and fro,...carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14), especially those doctrines that make them 'feel good', or when they hear "Peace, peace, when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14). The danger with this is like when the LORD told Jeremiah: "To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it", so that further on, He said, "Reprobate silver shall men cal them, because the LORD hath rejected them" (vv.10,30).

    Doctrinally speaking, my dear reader, the teachings of the Bible are not going to change to accomodate man, or the times, as some have said. You see, the doctrines of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are the same since from the beginning. "For ever, O LORD,thy word is settled in heaven"(Psalm 119:89). In other words, the same "apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2:42) that was preached and taught in the primitive church is still the same "apostles' doctrine" we are to be preaching and teaching today. But sad to say, this is not the case! Just listen to what is being preached and taught TODAY, and not only you will hear different doctrines of the Person and the Redmptive World of the Lord Jesus Christ, but also of the Person and Work of the blessed Holy Spirit, and of "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24). As I said at the outset, you are hearing of "another Jesus", of "another spirit", and of "another gospel" (2 Corinthians 11:4). But what is worse, that multitudes of professing Christians do not care!

    Perhaps someone might ask why I am making so much of doctrine? In fact, there will be those that will object to what I've said so far! I remember as a young Christian I would hear some individuals say that didn't 'preach doctrine, but Christ'. But what these individuals forgot, and as so many have today, that you can't preach the TRUTH apart from the doctrines of the Bible! In other words, you can not preach "Jesus Christ, and him crucufied" (1 Corinthians 2:2) without preaching the doctrines of the Bible. What is doctrine? It is simply the teaching, or instruction, of the particular teachings, or instructions, of "the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27), i.e. the whos, the whys, the whats, the wheres, the hows, etc., of what the Bible of the revealed will and eternal purpose of Him who is everlasting and "inhabiteth eternity" (Isaiah 57:15). Therefore, when one decides that doctrine is not important, such a person has taken a very dangerous step towards apostasy, because that person is in a position to be deceived with "damnable heresies" (2 Peter 2:1).

  The Bible makes much of sound doctrine, especially the New Testament. There is doctrine that one can expound "that is contrary to sound doctrine" (1 Timothy 1:10); there is a time when professing Christians "will not endure sound doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:3); "sound doctrine" is "both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers" (Titus 1:9); and it is to "speak...the things which become sound doctrine" (2:1). But what is "sound doctrine"? It is doctrine that is 'true' and 'uncorrupt' in the teachings and instructions of the Bible. It is the same word that means to have sound health, i.e. be well (in body); and therefore, "sound doctrine" are those doctrines that make the believer spiritually healthy and well. This can be referred to as being "nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine" (1 Timothy 4:6); it is to be fed with "the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2); it is to grow from "a babe" to "full age" by the "strong meat" of "the word of righteousness" so "by reason of use have (your) senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:13,14); and for sure, it is to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

    But also "sound doctrine" builds a solid doctrinal foundation for the believer to rest their faith upon; for as the Lord Jesus Himself said in Matthew 7:24,25 - "Whosoever heareth these sayings (doctrines), and doeth them (by believing and practicing them), I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell fell not: for it was built upon a rock" (Matthew 7:24,25). In other words, because "sound doctrine" can only come from the Word of God, and "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17); therefore, when you are taught the "wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness" (1 Timothy 6:3), then, and only then, will you be built upon Christ and His Word; "for other foundation can no man lay than that that is laid, which is Christ Jesus" (1 Corinthians 3:11). Now, when the rain descends as false doctrine, and the floods of false preachers and teachers come, and the wind blows as seducing spirits, and beats upon the house of faith of the believer, it will not fall; for the true believer's faith is built upon that ROCK, who not only is Christ Himself, but also His unchangeable Word.

    Therefore, "sound doctrine" is a necessity because, first, it establishes the believer in the "one faith" (Ephesians 4:5) "which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude v.3), that is "the faith of God's elect" (Titus 1:1). This means, then, when this is true of the believer, there is a knowledge and understanding of the true doctrines of "the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27), so that in hearing false doctrines preached or taught by someone, they will be rejected because of the truth abiding in the believer. But when who professes to be a Christian doesn't have this doctrinal foundation, then they'll be more apt to be deceived, especially when they hear is some truth mixed with deadly error.

    Let me illustrate: Suppose that someone was mixing a little bit of arsenic with your food. But because you were ignorant of it, and didn't know the truth of what was happening to you, eventually the arsenic would accumulate to the point that it would kill you. You might have notice some difference in your health, but you would either ignore it, or go to some doctor to give you some sugar-coated pills to make you 'feel good'. You might say that this is an extreme illustration; but, beloved reader, this is what is happening! Multitudes are hearing some truth of the Gospel, but instead of being "nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine" (1 Timothy 4:6), they are also being fed with the 'arsenic' of false doctrine. Yet, because "they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:3,4). How dangerous is this? Well, consider this: "Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them stroing delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness"(2 Thessalonians 2:10,11); and note that this connected with the apostasy! Cp. v.3.

  Secondly, "sound doctrine" is a necessity because it establishes the believer in his, or her's, saving relationship in the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, the doctrines of the Gospel either confirms, or rejects, the profession of one who claims to be "in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5) of Christ. Don't misunderstand me: I'm not saying that Doctrine is what saves... Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is the only assurance of salvation! But in Paul telling Timothy: "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Timothy 4:16), tells us that depending on the doctrines that we believe shows, whether we have the truth and are saved, and those that hear us will hear the truth and be saved. This is confirmed by 2 Thessalonians 2:13 where Paul tells the believers that "we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth...". This means, then, how can I know that I'm saved if I don't know, or hear the TRUTH; and it has to be based solely on the Word of God, and not on some "revelation" or "word of knowledge" of some special "anointed" person, whoever they might be! "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17); and so true faith can only come from, and of, the truth!

    Let me illustrate it this way: We know that there are different segments of professing 'Christianity' that claim to 'believe' in the Gospel; and that they have the truth as far as they are concerned. So, whatever they preach and teach about Jesus or the Holy Spirit are the doctrines that they adhere to. Do you agree with me on that point? I believe you do. Now, consider what the Jehovah Witnesses', the Mormons, the Unitarians/Universalists, and such sects or cults believe with respect to Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Gospel, and you'll find that their doctrines are totally contrary to the Biblical doctrines of evangelical and orthodox Christianity. Therefore, unless one is totally ignorant of the basic doctrines of the Bible, I would believe that any professing Christian would be able to discern between the truth and a lie; and not just simple error, but a lie! Of course, I know, and can say with all certainty, that these sects or cults believe in "another Jesus", and "another spirit", and in 'another gospel".

    But let us come closer to home: As we consider what would be referred to as evangelical and New Testament Christianity, which would include mainline denominations, Pentecostalism, Charismatics, Churches of Christ, and even the Roman Catholic Church, etc., there to we find differences of doctrines; and very important doctrines, I might add. Within this group, there are those deny the Trinity, that teach water baptism salvation, or works salvation, or their church salvation, etc., etc. In other words, within this group, there are those churches that, although on the surface they might profess to accept the orthodox doctrines of the Bible, yet as one scratches the surface of their doctrinal foundation, you'll find, not simply error, but fatal error, that can cost the soul of those particular church-members because their "beliefs" are based on half-truths, if not not on outright false doctrines; and there is no way that there can be a true saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ if they don't have the truth.

    Having said that, let us now consider that which is more visible to the general public, and that is, what is generally seen on television, or heard on radio. The reason I refer to these two mediums, is because they're the two that all people, whether professing Christians or not, ae more apt to come into contact with. What they see or hear being preached or taught is the view that they will get of what "Christianity" is all about. Personally, whenever I turn on my television or radio to a "Christian" station, with the exception of very few stations, or programs, there is the dominance of one particular view of "Christianity". What is tragic is that multitudes are being deceived by the doctrines that are propagated by these particular churches or ministries. Unless God, of HIs grace, intervenes to deliver them from what could be referred to as "damnable heresies" "(2 Peter 2:1), there will be no hope from the awful judgment that will be poured forth upon an "apostate Christianity". Pray with me as the prophet Habakkuk: "O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy" (3:3) for Christ Jesus' sake. Amen.

    Now, before I make note of some of the false doctrines that are being preached and taught, let me make some comments on the Scriptures that are used as the texts for this message: First, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-3ff: "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition....". Here we are told that the 'apostasy' , i.e. the "falling away" has to take place before the Rapture, or as it is referred here to as "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering unto him" in the clouds. (Cp. this statement with 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 24:29-31.) This doesn't mean that all of the professing Christian church will be 'true' in its doctrines, or will be"the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15), until a certain point in history, and then all of a sudden just before Christ returns, professing Christians will start to apostasize, because we know that the 'apostasy' started almost from the beginning.

   To see this, we can refer to Acts 20:28-30 where the apostle Paul warns the "elders" from the Ehesian church (v.17): "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to fedd the church of God, which he hath purchased ith his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them". Then he asks the church at Corinth: "How say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?" (1 Corinthian 15:12). Also the apostle Peter says: "There shall be false prophets among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies" (2 Peter 2:1). Cp. 1 John 2:15. Therefore, what the 'apostasy' means in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is that although throughout the Church's history there have been heresies and false doctrines, yet there will be a time, and I believe that it is now, in that it has gotten worse, and will get worse, to the point where Paul writes to Timothy: "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" (1 Timothy 4:1); and that this will take place just before Christ returns.

    But note that connected to this apostasy before Christ returns for His people is that the "man of sin, the son of perdition" (2 Thessalonians 2:3), who is generally referred to as the Antichrist, "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God" (v.4). The reason this is so important to know, and imperative to understand, is because of false doctrines being preached and taught, multitudes of professing Christians are, and will be deceived when this evil Personage is manifested. Even now you are hearing of Jesus Christ appearing on the platform of a well-known so-called 'anointed' preacher in his crusades. But because "sound doctrine" is rejected, it is said that "because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved...for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (vv.10-12). Yes, you can believe it: THE APOSTASY IS HERE!!!

  Secondly, let us look at 1 Timothy 3:1 - "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", i.e. demons. Here we note the awfulness of the apostasy; and it is that in departing "from the faith" it involves in being seduced by "spirits" (and what "spirits" are these but demonic spirits?); and accepting "doctrines of devils" as truth! But consider this: That if "forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats" (v.3) are "doctrines of devils", how much more serious do you think it is when you hear preached and taught false doctrines of the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit, and of the Gospel? You can see, then, that the apostasy is not just simply the opinions, or "the commandments and doctrines of men" (Colossians 2:22), but are men and women who profess the Name of Christ, who have listen to demonic spirits and been led away from the truth of the "one faith" (Ephesians 4:5) by accepting the teachings of demons. What's tragic of this is that it is professing Christians who are the instruments of the "seducing spirits" and "devils"  to bring about the Apostasy! Look around you: THE APOSTASY IS HERE!!!

    One way we can tell that the apostasy is here is, thirdly, not only that 'the time will come", but is already here, "when they", i.e. professing Christians, "will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables" (1 Timothy 4:3,4). If anything I've learned these past few years in my minstry, and in seeing multitudes flocked to many of the so-called 'anointed ministries', is that a great majority of professing Christians "will not endure sound doctrine". In other words, they can not bear to hear the truth, and they don't want to hear the true doctrines of the Bible. On the contrary, they look for those teachers, or preachers, that will tickle their "itching ears", i.e. make them 'feel good', or give them an emotional high! But worse, not only do they reject the truth, but will turn to "fables"; which are fictitious doctrines. As I said before, they can use the same terminology from the Bible, but the meaning is contrary to the truth; or they can have some truth with their doctrines that it will 'seem' to be the truth; or they can take away from, or add to, the Word of God, that it becomes a "fable". Yes, you can believe it: THE APOSTASY IS HERE!!!

    One way we can confirm that the apostasy is here is, thirdly, not only that "the time will come", but is here already, "when they" (i.e. professing Christians) "will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and theu shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:3,4). If anything I've learned these past years in my ministry, and in seeing multitudes flocked to the many so-called 'anointed' ministries there are very prevalent today, is that so many that claim to love the Word of Godt, "will not endure sound doctrine". In other words, they can not bear to hear the truth, and they don't want to hear the doctgrines of the Bible because it bothers them. On the contrary, they prefer to look for those teachers, or preachers, that will tickle their itching ears, or make therm 'feel good', or give them an emotional high! But worse, not only do they reject the truth, but are willing to accept "fables". And what are "fables"?, but that which is 'fiction'; so that they might hear the terminiolgy which sounds to be the truth, but means something else.

    Let me interject a word of warning and encouragement at this point: First, know that apostasy will be severely punished by God; for there is no other remedy to deliver the apostate from the awful judgment of the God of truth; for as it is said in another place: "But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth..." (Romans 2:2). So, as it is said to the Corinthians, if you are in a place where false doctrine is being preached and taught, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing..." (2 Corinthians 6:17), i.e. that which contaminates and can destroy your soul. But secondly, "study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15), so that you can be "nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine" (1 Timothy 4:6). So be like the Bereans, who "received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11) when the apostle Paul preached to them. Do this TODAY as you hear the many 'anointed' preachers and teachers on radio and television; and you can be sure of this: God will take care of you, if you depend on His Word. Amen!

    That which is false is, not only that which is not true, but also that which deceives. This is obvious; because if a false doctrine is believed andaccepted, not only is one believing a lie, but also is deceived to believe a false doctrine as truth. I'm afraid that this is what is happening to multitudes of professing Christians today. It amazes me that whenever I turn on the TV or radio to some Christian station, I see the so-called 'anointed' preachers and teachers espousing their false doctrines, and at the same time the people listening to them not showing any indication at all of rejecting their false teachings, or even opposing them. But then, as we have seen, this was foretold that it was going to take place. Yet at the same time, I have to confess, that we that profess the TRUTH of the "one faith" (Ephesians 4:5) are not more active, or more visible, in exposing them and their false doctrines; although I can also say that there are some of God's servants and ministries that are being faithful to the Lord and His Word in doing so. Praise the Lord. Amen!

    Having said that, let us now consider some of the false doctrines that are being propagated by many around us. But first let me say this: I will not name anyone in particular that I know who are preaching and teaching these false doctrines, not only of those that I have heard myself, or at the least I've read about in other websites or in literature; and this is not because I'm afraid to do so, but for the following reasons: 1) That anyone that reads this message will be encouraged to ask the Lord for discernment, and to search the Scriptures in order to check this out whether this is really happening; 2) That I won't be falsely accused that because I am of 'Baptist' affiliation I'm just nit-picking on those that disagree with me, or I don't agree with; but 3) That there are websites, such as http:www.deceptioninthechurch.com here on my links section, that do a better job than I can.

    Now, the first false doctrine, i.e. heresy, to consider is the one that teaches that, although Jesus Christ was the Son of God, nevertheless, in the Incarnation when God the Son became Man, He, that is, Jesus Christ divested Himself of His diety. In other words, when Jesus Christ was born, He was just a man as like anyone of us, although without sin. The reason for this is that in order for Christ to experience what we go through life, including temptations to sin, He had to experience it exactly as we do. The reasoning, according to these false teachers, is that if He was God at the same time He was Man, (which we all are not), then He doesn't 'feel' what we 'feel' as human beings. Of course, there are variations to this false doctrine, depending on the false teachers, but basically the false teaching is that the Jesus they referred to is "another Jesus", because this Jesus has only a 'human nature'. But what I've noticed in hearing this false teaching, is that it is hard to discerned if one is not founded on the truth, because the Biblical terminology is used, and they seem to be preaching the Jesus of the Holy Scriptures.

    But what saith the Scriptures? What does it mean that when Jesus was born, it is said that "they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matthew 1:23)? The obvious answer is, of course, is that when the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world as a Man, born of a virgin named Mary (vv.18-25), He was God, and at no time in His walk in this planet did He ever divest Himself of His Deity. The Bible makes it very clear that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God (John 1:1,2,14,18; 3:13,16; 17:5); and He confess this to be so that even the unbelieving Jews understood this (5:18; cp. 10:33). So, then, the true doctrine of the Bible is that the Lord Jesus Christ, who by nature is God, the Son of the Father, had a body prepared for Him in order to enter this world (Hebrews 10:5), and "was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:14) in His human nature, so that at the same time the Lord Jesus Christ in His PERSON is GOD due to His DIVINE NATURE and MAN in His HUMAN NATURE, without sin! This is the "the gospel of God,...concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:1,3-4). Therefore, beloved in the Lord, take heed and listen carefully to what you hear being preached or taught: If there is any implication, directly or indirectly by anyone, that the Lord Jesus Christ is not both God and Man at the same time, or at any time, that is very serious false doctrine! Why? Listen to the Lord Himself when He tells the unbelieving Jews in John 8:24 (and this has reference to Him being JEHOVAH as He walk before them): "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM he, ye shall die in your sins". This is obvious, isn't it?

    Another very serious and dangerous doctrine that is being propagated by many of the so-called 'anointed' prophets of today is that the Lord Jesus Christ had to take on the nature of Satan in order to accomplish the complete redemption of sinners. My dear readers, this is pure BLASPHEMY for anyone to teach that the Holy One of God, i.e. the Lord Jesus Christ, also had a satanic nature! I can't go into all the details of this "doctrine of devils", (for I personally don't want to go into it), but just think what this diabolical teaching implies: That the Son of God, who is none other than the Lord JEHOVAH, the Creator of the universe, who became incarnated in order to redeem sinners, not only had in His PERSON the Divine nature as God, and the human nature as Man, but without sin, also according to these false prophets had the nature of Satan! Beloved brethren, take heed! If you hear anyone preaching or teaching this doctrine, whether on TV or radio; or perhaps go to any church that at least hints to be in agreement to these false preachers or teachers, FLEE FROM IT! Don't even give it a hearing; or even think it deserves the opportunity to convince you if it's Biblical. But then, this is another proof that THE APOSTASY IS HERE!!!

    Now, the following false doctrine has already been around for a long time, which is referred to as "modalism" that denies the doctrine of the Trinity. This heresy states that the Father became the Son, and the Son then became the Holy Spirit, and it is usually associated with the 'Jesus' Name Only' movement, or churches. But recently I've read about certain very popular preachers in the Charismatic movement that came out of these churches that are now preaching and teaching within those that supposedly believe in the doctrine of the Trinity. The danger comes that when these particular persons are asked about their beliefs with respect to this doctrine, they either don't deny it, or admit it, but use language in such a way, that, one could either believe that they believe in the Trinity, or that they are referring to the 'Jesus' Name Only' doctrine. The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that there is ONLY ONE GOD; but within the Godhead there are THREE DISTINCT PERSONS, i.e. the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In other words, the Father is not the Son or the Holy Spirit, or the Son is not the Father or the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Spirit is not the Father or the Son; they each are distinct from each other, and yet at the same time they are Co-equal, Co-essential, Co-existent as the ONE TRUE LIVING GOD. In His Incarnation, the Son 'became flesh" as the Lord Jesus Christ; but in doing so, He was still distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit: The Holy Three existed at the same time, and distinct from the Each other.

    But those that deny the Trinity claim that the Father became the Son, i.e. Jesus Christ in His Incarnation, but after His Resurrection (?), or Ascension, became the Holy Spirit. The essence of this false doctrine is that there is only one person at one time: The Father prior to the Incarnation; the Son as the Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh; and now the Holy Spirit; and that ALL three are named JESUS; and therefore, there is only one person in existence now as God. Of course, this is a very serious and dangerous doctrine; for not only does it contradict the Scriptures, but it is also a "damnable heresy"; for the Lord Jesus Christ Himself: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6); "for through him (the Son) we both (Jews and Gentiles) have access by one Spirit (Holy Spirit) unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:18). These Scriptures makes it very clear that there is a disctinction of Three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. If this is the only way to approach God, not only for salvation, but also for communion with Him, how can this be true for one who denies the blessed Holy Trinity?

    Yet, as I said before, the language that is used by these particular preachers, can be accepted either way, because they're not being honest in what they believe. They don't deny, or admit, but simply say that God has manifested Himself as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It would seem that this is Trinity doctrine, but then the 'Jesus' Name Only' adherent would believe it, too, because it also agrees with their doctrine. The danger of this, beloved brethren, is to deny the precious doctrine of the Trinity, is to teach an aberration of the Truth, which is to preach "another Jesus", to receive "another spirit", and to accept "another gospel"; and the two cannot  be true! Again, I have to say, that multitudes are listening to these so-called 'anointed' prophets, and accepting what they're hearing from them, not showing any concern for their souls; but I exhort you, my dear reader, take heed how you hear, and take serious the exhortation of the apostle John: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1); for "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" (2 John 9). Amen.

    When the Lord Jesus Christ comes back, as he promised that He would, how is he coming back? Well, first, consider what is said in Acts 1 as the Lord ascended into heaven: "He (i.e. Jesus) was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their (the apostles') sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven" (vv.9-11). Now, consider Matthew 24:23-27: "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew  great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall decieve the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be". What is the conclusion? That, first, the Lord Jesus is coming back on the clouds just as He went back into heaven; and there is no other Scriptural basis to teach that He is coming back, or appearing, in any other way! Then, secondly, that there will be false preachers and teachers proclaiming that Christ Jesus is appearing Here, or There.

    Well, don't be surprised! There is now a well-known, and very popular crusade evangelist (?), that is claiming that the Lord Jesus Christ will appear physically on the platform with him in one of his crusades. What is tragic about all of this is that this particular individual is still considered to be a true man of God, and accepted as one who preaches the truth, when not only in this instance, but in many others, not only does he contradicts the Scriptures, but teaches heresy. Yet, I still haven't seen, or heard, anyone stand up to this 'anointed' evangelist and rebuke him for his false teaching; at least, on what is called 'Christian' TV or radio. Nevertheless, if you see, or hear, any 'Christian' preacher saying that Christ Jesus will appear in any way other than what is already confirmed by the Word of God, and that is, in the clouds, you have a false prophet before you; no matter what else they say that seems to be Scriptural; but then, they will mix truth with their lies in order to deceive the elect in Christ Jesus. Take heed, and be watchful, beloved of the Lord.

    The Gospel is referred to in many ways: "The gospel of God" (Romans 1:1); "the gospel of Christ" (v.16); "the gospel of the uncircumcision" (Galatians 2:7); "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24); "the everlasting gospel" (Revelation 14:6); etc., but I've yet to read in the Bible where it's called 'the properity gospel'; or as it is also referred to as 'the health and wealth gospel'. The reason I include the 'health and wealth gospel' in this study of the apostasy is because the propagators of this 'gospel' (?) have to twist the Scriptures in order to prove their false doctrines. It amazes me that anytime I turn on the TV or the radio to some Christian station, generally that's all hear: Either God wants you heal, or God wants you rich! In fact, these false doctrines are so dominant in the teaching or preaching of the 'anointed' prophets (?) that the truths of salvation are secondary; and then, when salvation is presented, it is so superficial it's a wonder that anyone is saved, if at all!

    But is this the Gospel? Do we have the right to tell people that Christ Jesus came into the world to heal every sickness and to make everybody rich? Was the Cross and the empty Tomb the means through which God promised to give those that believe in His Son 'health and wealth'? Apparently, many do believe this, because as I said, this is what is so prominent in todays' 'visible Christianity'. You know what is so sad and tragic about all of this: That multitudes are being deceived by this 'gospel' (?), that instead of being like Abraham, who is called the father of faith (Romans 4:12,16), and desired "a better country, that is, a heavenly" (Hebrews 11:16) one, have set their affections on things on the earth (cp. Colossians 3:2), want to be rich and love money (cp. 1 Timothy 6:9,10), and show more a desire for a healthy body than for a healthy soul. It is sad to see that these so-called 'spiritual' prophets that make so much of the Holy Spirit and spiritual things major on the earthly and physical things of this life, and that multitudes accept this to be the gospel.

    Let me ask some questions: Where in the Bible do we find a guarantee of healing of any sickness or disease for the believer? THERE IS NOT ONE SCRIPTURE THAT PROMISES THAT FOR THE CHILD OF GOD! Oh, I don't deny that the Sovereign Lord, who is in control of all things, and who has the power to heal anything, can, and may, heal completely anyone if He so desires; yet we know that hasn't happen to every believer. To tell people that God "wills" their complete physical healing, as they live out their lives here on earth, is to promise them something that is not in the Scriptures; but worse, it is to twist the Scriptures to try to 'prove' it. Therefore, that is to teach false doctrines; which in turn means that the Redemptive Work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel have to be compromised in order to accomodate them to the false teachings of healing. In other words, it is to say that every sickness and disease was included, with all our sins, in the Atonement accomplished on Calvary's Cross; and in the preaching of the Gospel, we have to tell sinners that Christ not only died for our sins, but also for our sicknesses and diseases, and raised from the dead, not only for our justification, but also for our physical healing; which if we were to do that, we would go above, and beyond, what the Bible authorizes.

    Another question: Why is it that the apostle Paul and Timothy were not completely healed of their infirmities, and there is no promise of complete healing given to them? As far as Paul is concerned, according to 2 Corinthians 12, he had some kind of infirmity that he "besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from (him)" (v.8). Of course, there has been a debate whether this was a "spiritual" or "physical" problem, but regardless what it was, we're told that because of "the abundance of the revelations, there was given to (him) a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet (him), lest (he) should be exalted above measure" v.7). Now, if "the flesh" here means Paul's sinful nature, it could refer to some great temptation to sin, that Satan use as a means to beat up on Paul (spiritually speaking), which God use to keep him humbled. On the other hand, if it is referring to Paul's physical nature, then it could be some weakness or infirmity in his physical body, that Satan use also to "buffet" him for the same purpose. There is some indication that it could have been his eyesight; for in Galatians Paul writes to the believers: "Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in the flesh ye despised not, nor rejected...for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me" (vv.13-15). Whether it was "spiritual" or "physical" healing, (and most likely Paul was beseeching for physical healing), the Lord still didn't grant his prayer; for He told Paul: "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness".

    Why didn't the Lord heal Paul? Was it because he didn't have any faith? Or, perhaps he was living in sin, and being disobedient. No, my friends, it was simply the sovereign and discriminating will of God; and according to what we can see there was a greater purpose than Paul's healing. Nevertheless, read what Paul says even after the Lord rejected his petition: "Most gladly will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9,10). But then consider Timothy: he must have been a "sickly" servant of God; for Paul reminds him to "drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities" (1 Timothy 5:23). Again, the question is: Why didn't the Lord heal Timothy once and for all? Not only could Timothy "believe for his healing", (as it is so often referred to today), or Paul could've prayed and laid hands on Timothy, as he did for "the father of Publius" (Acts 28:8f.), yet we don't see anywhere that he did. So, the question is not so much whether God can heal or not; for we know that God can, and does heal!, but the question is whether God "wills" to heal everyone, and everytime, we pray for healing. The answer, of course, is a resounding NO!

    Then there is the false teaching of God willing that every believer to be rich. It amazes me how all of these 'anointed' televangelists can take every word in the Bible that refers to be "prosperous" and to be "rich" (e.g. Joshua 1:8; 2 Corinthians 8:9; cp. 3 John 2) to mean that God's will for every one of His children is to be rich monetarily. Where in the Bible do you find that? Nowhere! On the contrary, instead of the Word of God teaching to seek to be rich with money and material things, it does the opposite! Consider 1 Timothy 6:5-10, where Paul refers to false teachers that supposed "that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith conyent. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows".

    Suffice it for now that this Scripture makes it very clear that we the believers are not to seek to be RICH materially, but to be content with what God in His providence has alloted to us in this temporal life; for as James 2:5 tells us: "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" But what these false prophets have done is taken the precious Word of God and twisted it to try to justify their BMW's, Rolex's watches and $1,000,000's houses to their devotees, and so they won't question them of their extravances. There is even one of these false teachers that even brazenly (blasphemously?) teaches that the Lord Jesus was rich financially, had a big house of His own, and perhaps even wore designer's clothes of His time! But it has happened to them as the above Scripture declares: "They have erred from the faith"; and so now you have a deluge of false doctrines that are drowning many professing Christians "in destruction and perdition". Oh, dear brethern, remember that "we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18); for "if ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:1-4). Hallelujah!!!

   Another one of the false doctrines that is being preached and taught by many of the so-called 'anointed' prophets of today is the 'godhood' of the believer. Of course, this false teaching has been around ever since the Garden of Eden, when the serpent seduced Eve to take "of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden" (Genesis 3:3), and told her that "ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (v.5). Usually this false doctrine is propagated by the New Age Movement, but now you hear many of the popular televangelists telling us that we as Christians can claim to be 'gods', or 'a little god'. Of course, this heresy justifies some of their doctrines, such as the 'name it and claim it' theology, etc., because just as God spoke and it was, so also we as 'little gods' can speak 'the word of faith', and it will be! Oh, the blasphemy of such individuals! It can be said of them as Paul says that they become "vain in their imagination, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man..." (Romans1:21-23). Whether they admit it or not, this is what they're saying: If the believers are 'little gods' as they teach, then, "the uncorruptible God" is "made like to corruptible man" in order for us to becomes 'little gods'; but if this is not what they mean, perhaps then it is "corruptible man" that is made like "the uncorruptible God" to become 'little gods'. But if they still deny that this is not what they mean, then what kind of 'little gods' are they referring to?

    Now, it's true that in Exodus 7:1 "the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god unto Pharaoh..."; then in Psalm 82:6 the Psalmist says, "Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High"; and then in John 10:34,35 the Lord Jesus refers to this when He says to the Jews, "Is it not written in your law, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken", this does not mean, in any sense of the word, that the believer is converted into 'a god', as many of the so-called 'anointed' preachers and teachers are claiming that we are. Also, even though by the "exceeding great and precious promises"  that "are given unto us...(we) might be partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4), which is to "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:24); or as Colossians 3:10 states it: ""Put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him", so that "Christ is all, and in all" (v.11), in no way is this teaching us that we become 'little gods'. One would have to twist the inerrant Word of God in order to teach this blasphemous false doctrine.