On the Devil, Photoshopping, False Prophets, Teachers and Shepherds

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

The devil is the "Photoshop" master. Do you know what I mean by Photoshop? It's that picture program that allows you to do things to pictures, add and subtract, etc, to make them look real when they are not.

At first look at the picture of the alligator and tourist boat, wow! Can you imagine having that happen? One minute you're minding your own business enjoying a lovely day on the river and the next minute you've got Jaws in a crocodile suit about to eat you!

And yet if you look closer (click picture to enlarge), it's not too difficult to tell that the alligator (or boat) was added ~ and it may even be that the alligator was enhanced (made bigger) at least a couple of times?

Getting back to the devil as the "Photoshop" master ~ that's really what I want to talk about here. We are living in the last days of planet earth. The Bible says that during this time, among all the other crazy things that are taking place, there will be a spirit of deception like never before. (Matthew 24:24) Satan will be "Photoshopping" all over the place!

DECEPTION OF UNBELIEVERS

And let me just talk about the deception of unbelievers for a moment, first. If you think all religions lead to God, you are being deceived. Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father, but through me." (John 14:6) If you think a person can be good enough to make it into heaven, you are being deceived. "'There is none righteous, not even one.'" (Romans 3:10) If you think your sins are so awful that God couldn't forgive you, you are being deceived. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7c)

DECEPTION OF "BELIEVERS"

The deception of "believers" is different. (I put "believers" in quotes because ~ are they really?) This deception doesn't come so much from "without" the church, but from within. It comes through prophets, teachers and shepherds whom Satan has "Photoshopped."

And yet if you look closer, it's not too difficult to tell the bad from the good. They have certain characteristics that give them away...

How to Tell a False Prophet:

1. A false prophet can have the ability to do signs and wonders. (Mark 13:22)
2. A false prophet declares out of his own imaginations and not Christ. (Ezekiel 13:2-3)
3. A false prophet can be bought. He speaks pleasantly to those who feed him. (Micah 3:5)
4. A false prophet disguises himself as a believer while all the time he's under the control of the devil. (Matthew 7:15-23)

How to Tell a False Teacher:　

1. A false teacher portrays himself as having knowledge when he does not. (1 Timothy 1:7)
2. A false teacher offers contrary doctrine to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (1 Timothy 6:3-5)
3. A false teacher speaks what people want to hear instead of what people need to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
4. A false teacher is bound to wickedness, unconverted and destined for destruction. (2 Peter 2:1-3)

How to Tell a False Shepherd:　

1. A false shepherd is only concerned for himself and not the flock. (Ezekiel 34:2-3)
2. A false shepherd leads the flock astray in word and deed. (Jeremiah 50:6)
3. A false shepherd abandons the flock when they need him the most. (John 10:12)
4. A false shepherd does not exalt the Good Shepherd. (John 10:14-15)

Source: epicsnaps.com via Pastor Mike on Pinterest

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Is October 21, 2011 the End of the World?

Here we go again (and again and again). The Camping camp (Harold, that is ~ pun intended?) is setting another date for the Apocalypse. Except this time it's the "real" date. Because, you see, last time they were wrong. (Huh?) Last time they said the Rapture would take place on May 21, 2011 and it didn't. (To read my post: "Is May 21, 2011 the Day?, click here.) But this time they're right(?) This time it's for sure. This time ~ well.

I started reading their "proposal" as to why October 21st is the day for the end of the world and I didn't have to read too far. There "logic" is flawed (of course) ~ aside from the fact that Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour. (Matthew 24:36) Their thinking begins with the genealogies in the first book of the Bible (Genesis 5:1-32; 11:10-31) as the framework for determining dates and God's timetable. (A red flag should already be going up.)

The fact is if you understand Biblical genealogies (and I'm no scholar on it ~ you don't have to be) you'll know there are gaps. Oftentimes there are spaces. Some people are missing from the ancestral line.

And so if there are gaps / spaces and people are missing from the genealogies (think about it), you can not use them to base a calendar on. There are years, decades, centuries ~ how do you know? ~ that can not be accounted for. Whatever calendar you come up is nothing short of foolish (or worse ~ Satanic).

Such is Harold Camping's calendar. (Click here and page down three times for a look / see.) A few quick dates from it:

11,013 BC—Creation. God created the world and man (Adam and Eve).

1988 AD—This year ended the church age and began the great tribulation period of 23 years (13,000 years from creation).

2011 AD—On May 21st, Judgment Day will begin and the rapture (the taking up into heaven of God’s elect people) will occur at the end of the 23-year great tribulation. On October 21st, the world will be destroyed by fire (7000 years from the flood; 13,023 years from creation).

There's that October 21st date. Did you see it?

(Pictures above in the public domain: click here, here, here and here.)

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• 7 Dynamics at the End of the World
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What If Oprah IS a Christian?

One of the biggest television show superstars has finally called it quits. It's been an astounding 25 years for "The Oprah Winfrey Show," but it's now officially over. After some 30,000 guests, 4,500+ episodes and 48 Daytime Emmys, Oprah is moving on. She's starting a new venture that includes her own TV station.

And much has been made of Oprah's (quote) "Christianity" over the years and even now. The very last words on her last show, "To God be the glory," even seem to indicate a belief in Christ(?)

And so let's just say Oprah IS a Christian for the sake of discussion.

And let's just add to that the following two possible scenarios (whether you're Oprah or somebody else)...

The first is scenario is you're living for Jesus. It's apparent by your words and actions that you love the Lord ~ that you're surrendered to Christ alone and to nothing and no one else.

The second scenario (is obvious?): You're not living for Jesus. You're not surrendered to Christ alone. You say you're a "Christian," but your words and actions say something totally different.

It happened in the church at Corinth long ago. The following: A certain person who was a "Christian"(?) and welcomed among the brethren was living an immoral lifestyle. (1 Corinthians 5:1) To compound the problem, the church and its leaders allowed the person to continue without confrontation or rebuke. The Apostle Paul was up in arms over this (to put it mildly). (1 Corinthians 5:2-8) In his response he commanded how to deal with the "believer" (of the second scenario above): He must not be associated with as a "Christian," but as an unbeliever. (1 Corinthians 5:9-13; Matthew 18:17b)

Intepreted? We must call "sin" what it is. You can't portray yourself as a follower of Christ and say there is more than one way to heaven aside from Jesus and not be called on it. (No matter who you are!) What's happened to us as preachers? We are more concerned with the acceptance of the crowd (with building "mega-churches" and selling books) than the acceptance of Christ.

The goal of the enemy during these last days is to water down the Gospel. And so he infiltrates the church with false prophets, teachers ~ and so-called "believers." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) It's how he will bring about the great apostasy / falling away ~ and is already doing it. (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?" (2 Corinthians 13:5)

"'And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.'" (Acts 4:12)



(flickr picture by alan-light)