FALSE PROPHETS -
REAL OR IMAGINARY

Dr. Robert J. Wells

Does the explanation suffice? Look around you and notice how the false prophets in your community fit perfectly into this picture. Sensual lusts; a heart trained in greed; reward and personal profit; because of advantage! “Servants of corruption” indeed! Selfish, lustful, timeserving, greedy, mercenary: such are the ministers of Satan. Having considered these men, their methods, message and results as well as their reasons for engaging in this ministry of enslavement of men's souls, I want you to see.

WHAT GOD THINKS OF THESE FALSE TEACHERS

When a fundamental Bible preacher sometime uses strong, forceful language in speaking of modern false prophets, he is frequently criticized by those whose tender sensibilities are offended by plain speech. If you happen to belong in that category you had better grit your teeth and get a good hold of yourself, because as we consult the Scriptures for an expression of God's attitude towards these minions of darkness, there are some startling, even shocking expressions!.

Perhaps the best method to follow would be to start with the very first reference to false teachers in the Gospel of Mathew and then follow through the new Testament from the point. Here is the list, and please remember that it consists of nothing but Scripture quotations:

“ravening wolves”( Matt.7:15)

“..........grievous wolves....... sparing not the flock' (Acts 20:29)

“...............deceitful workers....... his [Satan's] ministers....... whose end shall be according to their works” (II Cor. 11:13-15).

“........Let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8,9)

“Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (I Tim. 4:2).

“................men of corrupt minds” (I Tim 6:5).

“..reprobate concerning the faith” (II Tim 3:8)

“..........whose judgement now of a long time lingereth not, and there damnation slumbereth not” (II Pet. 2:3)

“........Presumptuous........... natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed............ shall utterly perished in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness........ Spots they are and blemishes...... eyes full of adultery, and cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls......... cursed children...... wells without water, clouds that are carried with the tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever... servants of corruption....... it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delievered unto them” (II Pe 2.10-21).

“.............liar.......antichrist” (I John 2:22).

“They are of the world” (I John 4:5).

“This is a deceiver and antichrist” (II John 7).

“.............ordained to......... condemnation” (Jude 4)

“...........ungodly men....... Likewise these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.............. Woe unto them..... trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever....... ungodly......... ungodly........ ungodly......... ungodly.......... ungodly murmerers, complainers, walking after their own lusts........... mockers...... sensual, having not the Spirit” (Jude 4-19).

How plain can speech be? Is it possible for God to express Himself more clearly than in these all inclusive descriptive phrases of degenerate workers on Satan's crew of soul wreckers? We are not left in the darkness about God's attitude towards this evil crowd! But now all my efforts in presenting to you this total picture of false teachers in the light of the Bible will have been in vain unless you will give very careful consideration to the question.

WHAT SHOULD BE THE ATTITUDE OF THE CHRISTIAN

Now that you have faced the facts about these false teachers, what is your reaction? Where do you stand? I think I can express my reaction clearly and concisely. Without doubt you will agree that it should be the reaction of every child of God. It seems to me that for every Christian there should be;

First, a tremendous respect for the Bible which has so adequately foretold and described these false prophet.

Second, a determination to keep ourselves pure and steadfast in the Faith.

Third, an attitude of righteous indignation and holy intolerance towards these iniquitous men of corrupt minds and deadly, destructive ministry.

Fourth, a full and determined willingness to obey God's instructions to us concerning them.

What are these instructions? They are seven in number. Let me give them to you just as they are:

“...........avoid them” (Rom. 16:17).

“Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (II Cor. 6:4)

“Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord” (II cor. 6:17).

“..............from such withdraw thyself” (I Tim 6:5)

‘..............receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (II John 10,11).

“.................... ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once [for all] delivered unto the saints” (Jude3).

False prophets are not imaginary; they are real! Men of God who are deeply concerned about the purity of the Church and the presentation of an uncorrupted Gospel to the world, cannot afford to treat them lightly. To be indifferent to their message, to be unconcerned about their methods, is to sin grievously against God and man. To associate with them in any way; to fellowship with them in any program; to give them the benefit of any support, moral or material; to belong to their churches; to lend to their influence; to give them the slightest indication of recognition, respect or honor; is to ignore, deny and disobey the plain teaching of the Bible and to compromise with the forces of Satan and Hell!

We sometimes hear good Christian people say, “We must not criticize these people; we must pray for them.” Frequently, those who have spoken out clearly against false teachers and their entire satanically-inspired programs are criticized for their valiant efforts and are condemned for their “lack of love” for these reprobate rascals. Too frequently, the very elect have been deceived by these devilish “ministers of righteousness'' and their so-called scholarship to the point that they have become partakers of their evil deeds.

It is my humble, but unqualified conviction that the true church of Jesus Christ is guilty of grave error and enormous sin if it does not follow the unmistakable teaching of the Word of God and the unflinching examples of Jesus Christ, Peter, Paul, John and Jude in dealing with these perverted preachers of Hell. Although Jesus ate with publicans and sinners, His Word tells us that we are not to have such fellowship with false teachers, “................. receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds'' (II John 10,11).

If these men are ministers of Satan and ambassadors of Hell, and they are; if they are deceivers whose determination is to destroy the flock, and they are; if these men are preaching damnable heresies, denying the Lord that brought them and turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and they are; if, in the sight of God, these men are wicked, ungodly, sensual men who have not the spirit of God, and they are; if this men are, as the Bible declares, actually ignorant, presumptuous, arrogant fools who revile those things they cannot understand, and they are; if they are indeed leading multitudes of precious never-dying souls to their eternal damnation in Hell, and they are; they are the most vicious enemies of God and His Son and His Church with which we have to contend. They are dangerous, deadly criminals in the realm of moral and spiritual truth; and they need to be exposed. There must be no compromise in this. We must “take the gloves off” and in obedience to Divine exhortation, earnestly contend for the Faith!

We must let loose a mighty frontal attack against forces of destruction. There must be a gigantic forward movement on the part of all Christians.

We must attack their strongest fortresses, expose their strategy, demolish their weapons! If they call us representatives of the Protestant underworld and ministers of hate, no matter. We must do the will of God! Let us uncover their hypocrisy and brand them with the mark of Hell which is their rightful lot. We have had some lively skirmishes, some local, isolated battles. Now it is time to launch a mighty offensive. We must engage them in battle at every strategic point. In holy consecration to our God-given task let us “put on the whole armor of God'' and in humble dependence upon Him, let us move into the conflict without delay. He will give us the eternal reward!