#100 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – October 19 and November 2, 2003

                                                                                                                              

THE PROVISION OF THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM OF PERSONNEL FOR THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION – IV

 

False prophets were especially evident during the Early Church when the legitimate gift of prophecy still existed.  They had existed in Israel during the Dispensation of Law and continued to have a strong influence through the transition.  The legitimate gift of prophecy ceased with the completion of the canon (cf. 1 Cor. 13:8-11).  False prophets are literally lying prophets who present revelation as prophecy that is really a false witness to what God is doing.  In the last message I presented the material found in I. describing false prophets who were visible in Christ's earthly ministry during the Dispensation of Law.  This message covered the single reference to a false prophet in Acts in the transition period from Law to Grace. It also dealt with the two passages in grace revelation and the three references in Revelation to the false prophet.  This material begins with II. in the outline.

 

Acts 13 describes a false prophet of the world system that confronted Barnabas and Saul (later Paul) early in their First Apostolic journey.  Note that they are sent by the church in Antioch in verses two and three.  They arrive on the island of Cyprus arriving at Salamis on the eastern shore of the island.  There they preached the word from God in the synagogues of the Jews (13:4-5).  They passed through the island to the city of Paphos on the western shore.  There they met a specific man who was a magician and a Jewish false prophet named Bar Jesus (13:6).  This man practiced magical arts that were characteristic of the occult and certain world system religions.  He proclaimed false prophecies as noted in the descriptive title "false prophet."  He revealed information that was either demonic or self-generated.  The proconsul Sergius Paulus is identified as a man of mental acumen for thinking through things and putting them together.  Sergius Paulus called Barnabas and Saul into his presence earnestly seeking to hear the word from God (13:7).  Elymas or Bar Jesus stood in opposition against Saul and Barnabas before the proconsul attempting to turn him away from the faith (13:8).  Saul was filled by the Holy Spirit focusing his gaze on Elymas (13:9).  {Pletho filling – this is the last time this word is used of the Spirit in the Bible.  It indicates a complete control of the mind by the Spirit.  It is unique to the early part of the transition and is different than the plerao filling that still exists today – Eph. 5:18.} Verses 9, 10 describe Saul's open confrontation with this man.  Be reminded that the Holy Spirit had complete control of his mind when he made the following statements concerning Elymas.  Saul identifies him as one who is full of deceit and "mischief (recklessness, levity, fraud)."  His is a mature son of the devil.  He is an enemy of all righteousness.  He is one who perverts (twist or turn around) the good or well-put ways of the Lord.  Saul's question "will you not cease perverting . . .?" indicates that this perversion of the way of the Lord was an ongoing thing.  He evidently offered other ways than those of the Lord and had continued to do so in the presence of Sergius Paulus.  And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand (Acts 13:11). Saul did not tell him how long his blindness would last only saying "until a certain time."  The proconsul saw what had happened, believed the gospel having been astonished at the doctrine to be believed and practiced concerning the Lord.  This false prophet suffered for his interference with the true revelation from God by his own lying revelation.  As a result, he was blinded physically in addition to his spiritual blindness.

 

Two passages forthrightly describe false prophets approaching Christians in the Dispensation of Grace.  2 Peter 2:1 describes the early involvement of false prophets with the Church at a point in past time.  They were among the people.  Peter anticipates the prominence of false teachers in the immediate future for the Body of Christ.  True prophecy from God is described in 1 :19-21. False prophets and false teachers sneak in with heresies that bring ruin to the saint's present tense salvation.  These deny the Despot that bought them – paid a price sufficient for guilt in Adam (cf. Rom. 3:23; 5:12).  The next message will continue a study of the chapter dealing with false teachers. 

 

1 John 4:1 says, "Loved ones, stop believing every spirit, but be putting the spirits to test, if they are out of God as to origin, because many false prophets have gone out into the world [my translation]." When John writes this he sees these false prophets in a state of having gone out (perfect tense), that is they are there and continue to be there.  John provides a rule for evaluating the spirits and determining, that which is from the Spirit.  The AV gives the rule.  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world (1 Jn. 4:2, 3). The idea of "antichrist" is not so much one who is against Christ but rather one who is in place of Christ.  This spirit is in the world and continues to be.

 

IV. presents the verses that describe the second beast in Revelation 13.  He will come on the scene and provide religious support for the first beast, the man of lawlessness.  He is identified as the false prophet.  He is a religious Jew who has great powers – authority.  He is Satan's instrument to make the inhabitants of the earth to worship the first beast. He does great sign miracles including bringing fire down from heaven (13:13).  He deceives the inhabitants of earth with his sign miracles.  He will animate the image of the first beast that was slain and resuscitated. As a result, many on earth receive the mark of the beast.  He arranges for the kings of the earth to come to the battle of the great day of God Almighty (Rev. 16:13, 14).  For additional information concerning the activities of the false prophet see Dan. 11:36-38 where he serves the god of forces (the first beast).  He and the first beast will be cast into the Lake of Fire when Christ returns to earth in his Second Coming (Re. 19:20).  Satan will join them and share their torment (Rev. 20:10).  The False Prophet is the epitome of all false prophets having supernatural powers and prophesies.  He is the false prophet that all false prophets would like to do.

 

False prophets confronted the early church when written revelation was limited and the spiritual gift of prophet was present in the Church.  They provided contradictory revelation to confuse the true revelation of God.  As the canon of Scripture was completed, the gift ceased and lying prophets were less useful to the world system in its confrontation with the Church.  They continue to function in the world system whether in world religion or in Christendom.  False prophets and prophetess as Ellen G. White, Mary Baker Eddy Glover Patterson Frye, Judge Taze Russell, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young have run on the edge of Christendom as well as many others.  More so the subtlest problem in the church today is the presence of false or lying teachers that are nice guys that teach error and heresy with the intention of ruining present tense salvation of true Christians.  These have infiltrated Christianity and are a critical part of its ongoing success in the Satanic world system. 

 

THE PROVISION OF THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM OF PERSONNEL FOR THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION – IV

Prophets of Human Moral Religion -- #4

 

1 John 2:15

Proposition:   To develop the data concerning the provision of prophets for the human moral religion of the world system and to show the characteristics of their proclamations and practices.

        Introduction

              A. The Existence of True Prophets in the New Testament Era

                  1.  Under Law

                  2.  Through the Grace Transition (cf. 1 Cor. 13:8-11)

              B. The Extent of World System Prophets in the New Testament

                  1.   yeudoprofh,thj (pseudoprophetes) – 11 times in NT

                  2.   profh,thj (prophetes) – one time in NT

              C. The Expression of the World System Prophets Related to the New Testament

                  1.  Lying

                  2.  Heresies of Destruction

              D. The Evidence of the Threat of False Prophets

                  1.  Under Law – five times (Matt. 7:15; 24:11, 24; Mk. 13:22; Lu. 6:26)

                  2.  In the Transition – one time (Acts 13:6)

                  3.  In the Dispensation of Grace – two times (2 Pe. 2:1; 1 Jn. 4:1)

                  4.  In the Tribulation Period – three times (Rev. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10)

TRANS:  False Prophets are described during Christ's earthly ministry.  Some were active in His day and are predicted to be active later in the dispensation of Law during the 70th week.

I.    FALSE PROPHETS DESCRIBED DURING CHRIST'S EARTHLY MINISTRY – THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FALSE PROPHETS IN THE DISPENSATION OF

      LAW – THE APPROACH OF FALSE PROPHETS IN THE TIME OF CHRIST AND THE FUTURE

      A.  Christ's Description of False Prophets in His Warning in the Sermon on the Mount –

            Matt. 7:15

            1.   False Prophets Come Disguised as Sheep – Vs. 15

            2.   False Prophets Are Greedy Wolves Inside

            3.   False Prophets Produce Fruit That Will Identify Them – Vss. 16-20

                  a.   The Potential for Full Experiential Knowledge from Watching Their Fruit –

                        Vs. 16a

                  b.   The Production Identifies the Reality of the Species of Plant – Vss. 16b-19

            c.   The Principle Concerning the Fruit as Proof of Who the False Prophets of the World  System Are  - Vs. 20

      B.   Christ's Denunciation of Men Speaking Well of His Disciples – Lu. 6:26 (cf. vs. 20)

            1.   Blessings of Persecution as True Prophets Were Persecuted – Lu. 6:21-23

            2.   Woe Pronounced on Persons with Physical Blessing in Time – Lu. 6:24-26a

            3.   Fathers Spoke Well of False Prophets – Lu. 6:26b

      C.  Christ's Prediction of False Prophets in Daniel's 70th Week

            1.   Many False Prophets Will Be Raised – Matt. 24:11

                  a.   Someone Else Will Bring Them on the Scene

                  b.   They Will Cause Many to Wander

            2.   Many False Christs and False Prophets Will Be Raised Up – Matt. 24:24

                  a.   Lying Christs and Lying Prophets (Quality)

                  b.   Someone Else Will Bring Them on the Scene

                  c.   They Will Give Great Sign Miracles

                  d.   They Will Give Marvels (Signal Acts) [cf. Jn. 4:48]

                  e.   Their Purpose Is to Cause as Many as Possible to Wander

                  f.    Their Intention Is Possibly to Lead the Elect Astray

     3. Many False Christs and False Prophets Will Be Raised – Mark 13:22 [as in Matt.

                  24:24 with the following additions]

                  a.   Refuse to Believe One Who Identifies a Man on Earth as Christ – Mk. 13:21

                  b.   Purpose Is to Cause to Wander from [AV "seduce"]

 

TRANS:  There is one time in which the noun prophet is used of a world system prophet in the New Testament.  This is found identifying Bar Jesus or Elymas.

 

II.  A FALSE PROPHET OF THE WORLD SYSTEM IDENTIFIED DURING THE TRANSITION IN ACTS – THE CONDUCT OF BAR JESUS AGAINST THE PREACHING OF BARNABAS AND PAUL – THE ATTEMPT TO DISSUADE SERGIUS PAULUS – Acts 13:6 (6-12)

      A.  His Identification as a Magic Practioner and False Prophet – Vs. 6

      B.   The Investigation of the Word of God Sought by Sergius Paulus – Vs. 7

      C.  Elymus' Intervention Attempting to Divert Him from the Faith – Vs. 8

      D.  Paul's Identification of Elymas for the False Prophet He Was – Vss. 9-10

            1.   Full of Deceit and All Recklessness or Wickedness

            2.   Mature Son of the Devil

            3.   Enemy of All Righteousness

            4.   Perverter of the Right Ways of the Lord

      E.   The Imposition of Instant Blindness on Elymas – Vs. 11

      F.   The Salvation of Serguis Paulus – Vs. 12

 

TRANS:     There are Two Passages that identify problems with false prophets of the world system in the dispensation of grace.  These were gradually replaced with false teachers.

 

III. FALSE PROPHETS FROM THE WORLD SYSTEM IN THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE – THE COMMUNICATION FROM FALSE PROPHETS EVLAUATED FOR THE GRACE BELIEVER – THE ASSURANCE OF THE PRESENCE OF FALSE PROPHETS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM

      A.  The Invasion of False Prophets and Teachers – 2 Pe. 2:1

            1.   True Prophecy Has Its Origin with God – 1:19-21

            2.   The Presence of False Prophets Among the People – 2:1a

            3.   The Program for Secretly Bringing in Heresies of Destruction           -- 2:1b

            4.   The Position of Denying the Despot That Bought Them

            5.   The Problem from the False Teachers – 2:2on

      B.   The Examination of the Spirits If They Are From God – 1 Jn. 4:1

            1.   Do Not Believe Every Spirit

            2.   Prove the Spirits If They Are From God

            3.   Because Many False Prophets Have Come Out Into the World

            4.   Profession That Jesus Christ Has Come in the Flesh from God – Vs. 2

            5.   False Profession That Jesus Christ Did Not Come from God in the Flesh – Vs. 3a

            6.   Quality of Antichrist – Now in the World

     

TRANS:     The fourth reference to prophets is to the second beast in revelation who is also identified as the False Prophet.

 

IV. THE FALSE PROPHET AS THE HEAD OF THE RELIGIOUS WORLD SYSTEM IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD – THE CONDUCT AND CONSEQUENCES FOR THE FALSE PROPHET – THE ACTIVITY OF THE FALSE PROPHET LEADS DIRECTLY TO THE LAKE OF FIRE

      A.  He Affirms the Ability of the Man of Lawlessness [cf. 2 Th. 2:8-11]

      B.   He Acts in Support of the First Beast – Rev. 13:11-16]

            1.   He Will Have All the Authority of the First Beast – Vs.11

            2.   He Causes Inhabitants of Earth to Worship the 1st Beast – Vs. 12

            3.   He Does Great Sign Miracles – Brings Fire from Heaven – Vs. 13

            4.   He Deceives the Inhabitants of the Earth by His Sign Miracles – Vs. 14

            5.   He Animates the Image of the 1st Beast – Vs. 15

            6.   He Causes Many to Receive the Mark of the Beast – Vs. 16

      C.  He Arranges for the Kings of the Earth to Come to the Battle of That Great Day of God

            Almighty – Rev. 16:13, 14

      D.  He and the 1st Beast Are Cast Into the Lake of Fire in Christ's Second Coming—Rev.

            19:20

      E.   The Devil Will Join Them and Share the Torment – Rev. 20:10

 

TRANS:  False prophets have prophetic ministries designed to deceive and lead people astray.  They oppose God's Word and biblical Christian faith though through subtlety and deceit.