Deceptions in the Last Days
The love of many is waxing cold in the world as everything seems to be turned upside down. The love of God and even the mention of His name and His commandments are hard to find. And where Christ is preached, most are offended in these darkening times, as foretold. Those precious few in the faith need to remain vigilant and endure the many deceptions and evils we confront daily.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
The Lord is separating the sheep from the goats in this day of the Lord. Today is that day if we belong to the Lord and have the living Word, the sayings and commands of Jesus Christ working its work in us. We best heed all apostasy warnings lest we, too, fall away.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
An expanding deception is the perversion of the meaning and intents of the word Love. The relentless promotion of unnatural relationships between men and women impacts all nations. The so-called gay lobby has successfully promoted the lie that not accepting their abominable behaviors is akin to hate, and by agreeing with their views, one would be deemed to be siding with “love.” Those so deceived have it entirely backward and flip-flopped as prophesied.
Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
My purpose in this article is not to get entangled with those in the world nor contest what the Lord is doing, as He is ultimately responsible for everything we witness.
Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Rather, the Lord quickened me to write a follow-up to my last post, “Heeding the Lord’s Commandments in Faith.” The goal is to expose a related perversion of love, a growing apostasy that has ensnared brethren who previously stood firm in the faith. Godly love shares some attributes with the love that those in the world know, but it is distinctly different in one key component. What sets it apart is that love must be tied to doing the Lord’s commandments and sayings. Any action contrary to what the Lord has commanded of us is not love in the eyes of Christ. May these words the Lord gave me, sharpen our senses to be on guard.
Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
The further we walk with the Lord, the more the warnings and admonishments about falling away and deception take on a more significant meaning. When you experience it firsthand, then it becomes a louder wake-up call to stay vigilant.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Many are fallen into apostasy, going beyond what is written in their doctrine and selectively adding to or taking away from the Scriptures. If not corrected, such departure removes one from the Book of Life and entrance into the Holy City in this age. Be forewarned.
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
The commandments are the power of the Gospel; apart from them, we have no part with the Lord, instead building our spiritual house on sand. Do not be deceived.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
We need to be circumspect in testing the spirits and trying the doctrines others bring to us. As the Scriptures show us, carnal minds (Satan) are good at speaking half-truths and making spiritual writings or talks that, on the surface, appear godly to the undisciplined. The Word of God is pure, and no lie is found in what is spoken to be the Truth.
1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
The spirit of Satan is the spirit of man’s carnal mind which is opposed to the commandments of the Lord. The father of all lies is a proud and lying spirit that sways many with their smooth words and a forked tongue. A recurring experience is seeing brethren forget and now dismiss the Lord’s commandments and replace them with a mantra of “let us just love everyone” and accept everything. Such a doctrine is not the way of Christ and most certainly is not what the Scriptures, the sum of them, teach us as doctrine. Following these seductive lies keeps one from having eternal life and entering into the Holy City that is Jerusalem above.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rebellious children are brethren (Israel) who have been ensnared by the lie and have no desire or ear to hear about the Lord’s commandments [The Law of the Lord]. A smooth sounding “feel good” gospel is their spiritual bread full of leaven, which leads away from the true Gospel. All flesh wants to hear the wide and tolerant easy road versus the narrow path defined in the Scriptures.
Isa 30:8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
Isa 30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
Isa 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits
In our day of the Lord (the latter times), we experience more brethren departing the faith and giving way to lies, such as the perverted concept of love in the world.
1Ti 4:1 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;
We continue to pay a high price to walk with the Lord in terms of what we lose in this carnally-minded world. It is such a blessing to be called and chosen to receive the blessing of the Lord. We continue only as the Lord disciplines us to guard our gates and protect our crowns from the prevalent liars, thieves, and antichrists. The last days are upon us now, and many antichrists IS COME disguised as angels of light. We need to be on guard, try the spirits, and test the doctrines espoused by those who claim to be the Lord’s people.
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 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.
The Apostle John gives us many warnings and encourages the true church [The Elect Lady] explicitly to stay focused on loving the Lord [which is obeying the Lord’s commandments] and beware the many deceivers out there who would bring in false doctrines to lead us astray. In this powerful Scripture from 2 John, the Apostle defines godly love for us and starkly reminds us of a specific commandment we need to be exercising in faith to keep the prize of salvation.
2Jn 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
2Jn 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
2Jn 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2Jn 1:9 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.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Flesh is naturally opposed to obeying the Lord [Gal 5:17] and resists the law of the Lord at every turn. Jesus Christ, The WORD, is inseparable from His commandments. Denying Jesus Christ is come in one’s flesh is denying that His commandments are alive and working righteousness by His divine power within us. Those not staying the course will stray from the commandments, while those being saved in their day of the Lord will be pressing into those same commandments.
The Lord is surely creating these experiences as part of the all things He is working in the lives of every man. Christ brings division in one realm as He winnows down His little flock in this age who are promised the kingdom of God. In this age, there will be few given to endure to the end on the narrow way of salvation. This feat is impossible with man, but with God, it is possible. We should always pray for wisdom and discernment and keep our hearts on the commandments of the Lord. Those commands include requirements to take action and do things contrary to what the carnally-minded world thinks about the meaning of love. But we are not here to please the world or men, but only the Lord and the Scriptures say this.
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Jas 4:4 whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
The mark of a true disciple [“disciples indeed”] is the one keeping His commandments. Staying our minds on those commands is how we are making our calling and election sure in the day of temptations. If we want the Lord to come the Lord will put a spirit of obedience within us that will make the commandments, the true love of God, the focus of our walk. Nothing else matters without this true love and this is how we know who belongs to the Lord and who does not.
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Joh 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
It is so important that the Scriptures give us many warnings not to be deceived about who enters and who does not enter the kingdom of God. We best remember the warnings to obey the Lord’s commandments, including not partaking in the apostasy of others.
Further Witness of the command to separate:
The fable of false love, which calls for accepting everyone and just going along to get along, is an insidious lie that steals one’s reward [the mind of Christ] in this age. Twice rejected, we as Christ need to move on to be obedient to the Lord.
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
It is not “love” or “godly” to hang around and argue and contend over the most fundamental truths. Instead, godly love is our obedience to the commandments to not engage with those the Lord has deceived. We are to separate.
Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
Tit 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
When we are given to love God more than flesh feelings and emotions, we have the steadfastness to stand firm even amid great opposition. We won’t give an inch and waver not in exercising our love [obedience] for God. Separating even from brethren bringing false doctrines and polluted gospels is not just wise to do; it is a commandment of the Lord.
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Entering the kingdom of God is impossible by the will or strength of man. It is all God’s work in the brethren; remember, it comes by us being caused to pay a high price. This includes losing relationships and engaging contact we once valued with brethren we have walked with for years.
Luk 18:29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,
Luk 18:30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
When this happens in our walk, Lord willing, we are obeying the commandments and not being trapped by the insidious lies of another gospel. We yearn for reconciliation and repentance to our fallen brethren and know whether now or in the age to come; we will be reunited and be ONE in the faith.
The True Christ, the Commands is Not Attractive
The Babylonian or orthodox definition of love is attractive to flesh and draws people towards it. Yet the true Christ and His Word are contrariwise NOT ATTRACTIVE to the flesh, and one is only drawn to Christ by the power of God.
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The commandments of the Lord [The Word, Christ] are not esteemed by the carnally minded. There is nothing about Jesus Christ, the WORD that flesh desires, and His Words were never intended to profit our flesh.
Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
When we heed His Word and begin to do them (obey the commands), we enter into newness of life and start reaping the promises of salvation.
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
As we mature, we more readily move beyond our sadness when brothers and sisters are swept away in apostasy. We are also commanded to try to snatch them back from strange fire. Yet if our words regarding the commandments are not received, we are commanded to move on as we saw above. If we deny the Lord, He also denies us until repentance is granted. As our Lord is, so are we as His Christ in the world. We are commanded to do the same as our Master does when the commandments are rejected.
2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
We learn that it is impossible to wake brethren to errors unless the Lord has mercy and opens their eyes to see it. All we can do is preach the Gospel boldly; the rest is up to the Lord.
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Let those who have been given ears to hear, hear these Truths and remain vigilant in the walk of faith.
Grace and peace to the Saints.
Pete & Ronel
peterjwilson56@gmail.com