Identifying False Teachers
By Pastor F. M. Riley
“But there were false prophets also among the
people [the
Israelites], even as there shall be false teachers among you [Christians],
who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the
Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction,”
2 Peter 2:1.
Introduction
One of the most important portions of
Bible prophecy in all of God’s Word is found in 2 Peter 2. This chapter tells us why “Christianity”
is in the state of apostasy that we find it in today, and who is
responsible for it being in such a state. Sadly, the truths contained in
this chapter are almost totally overlooked or ignored by God’s people
[those truly saved] today. In this study
I want to emphasize again the truths found in this chapter about “false teachers” for the benefit
of all true believers,
and as a warning to all people who are seeking the truth about God and His
Word.
2 Peter 2:1
In this verse God’s
people are warned that just as there were “false
prophets” among the Jews during the Old Testament dispensation,
so there would be “false
teachers” among New Testament believers. Compare Jude
4.
From the days of the Apostles to
the present time there have been “false teachers” who have infiltrated
the churches. These “false
teachers” masquerade as “Christians,” just
as predicted in 1 John 2:18-19 and Acts 20:29. However, if our readers will carefully study the
context in 2 Peter 2 and also chapter 3,
it is obvious that the inspired Apostle especially had in mind those “false teachers” who would come in “the last days,” 2 Peter 3:1-7. Compare Jude 17-18.
In 2 Peter 3:1-7 the Apostle Peter is simply pointing out that the
“scoffers”
he is speaking of are the same “false
teachers” he had been speaking about in chapter 2. These “scoffers,” though “professing”
to be “Christians,” actually ridicule the “coming”
of the Lord [3:3-4], the historical accuracy of “the Word of God [3:5], and the very idea of impending judgment [3:7].
By carefully comparing
Jude 4 with 2
Peter 2:1, it is obvious that these “false
teachers” are really “ungodly
men” [atheists…men
who will not acknowledge God] who have “crept in unawares” [secretly;
subtly]. In other words, they come into the churches “professing” to be Christians. But once inside the churches,
they subtly work to ingratiate themselves into the good graces of the church
members. Gradually they work themselves into positions of influence and
leadership in the churches. All the while they are subtly sowing the seed
of their “damnable heresies” [soul
damning opinions] among the people, even to the extent of denying
that Christ died for all men and is therefore the only way of salvation,
John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 2:9. The end result
of their “damnable heresies” will be their own “swift destruction” and the destruction of
all those who are foolish enough to be deceived by them.
2 Peter 2:2
Sadly, the Scripture
states that “many shall follow their pernicious ways.” Why
would “many” in the ranks of “Christianity”
be taken in by these “false teachers” if they were
truly studying the Word of God and seeking to live close to
the Lord? Ah ha! There is the answer!
It is obvious that the
“false teachers” are peddling their
“damnable heresies” to people who
are not taking God’s Word seriously. When people do not attach any
real importance to the serious study of God’s Word, then Christianity
goes into a state of apostasy. Christian history clearly reveals that apostasy
has always come upon the churches during those times that the people who
claimed to be “Christians” were neglecting God’s Word.
That such is the situation under consideration in this context is clear,
because both Peter and Jude refer to “the last days” in their epistles, 2 Peter 3:3; Jude 17-18. Folks, we are living in a time
when God’s Word is being terribly neglected and a great state of apostasy
is prevalent among the churches, 2
Thessalonians 2:3. How serious are you about the study of
God’s Word? Think about it!
The “many”
that follow the “pernicious ways” of these “false teachers” are then those “professing Christians” who never learn much of anything
about God’s Word, because they never really get serious about studying
it. Folks, anyone can make a “profession” and unite with a church, but no one
can ever be truly saved unless they seriously embrace God’s Word and
allow it to permeate their soul and take control of their life. See Matthew 4:4 and Romans
10:17. I remind our readers that it is also God’s
Word that gives God’s people spiritual growth and stability, Acts 20:32; Ephesians 4:13-14; 1 Peter 2:2-3.
It is obvious that there are many
in the ranks of “Christianity” today who are totally devoid of any real spiritual stability. Listen
as Peter describes those who fall victim to the siren song of the “false
teachers.” “…beguiling unstable souls…,”
2:14, “…those …who live in error,” 2:28,
“…they that are unlearned and unstable…,”
3:16. In other words, it is “professing Christians” who never take God’s Word
or the things of God seriously who are being sucked in today by these “false teachers.”
It is a sad fact that the major
emphasis in the churches today is no longer on the Word of God. Rather,
the average church and preacher today are only concerned with the social
gospel, promotional programs, and entertainment. These are the things that
promote numerical growth, please the people, bring
in the money, and guarantee the preacher his job and salary. Therefore,
the average preacher today is never going to expose sin, preach hellfire
and brimstone and judgment to come, demand repentance, and call people back
to serious dedication to God and His Word. Just as long as the situation
remains like it is, many in the churches will continue to
fall for and follow the “pernicious ways” of the “false
teachers.” God have mercy on the “modern ministry.” It is, in general, a stinking
disgrace to the cause of Christ, Revelation
3:14-17.
Notice also the latter part of 2 Peter 2:2, “…by reason of whom the way of truth shall be
evil spoken of.” Sadly, what is stated here is that
these “false teachers” will succeed in perverting
God’s Word in the minds of “many,” to the extent that the
truth of the Word will come to be regarded as a lie, and the “damnable heresies” will come to be regarded as the truth. Compare Jude
4. God have mercy!
Such a situation should
not come as a surprise to God’s people. Peter said that the Apostle
Paul, “…in
all his epistles,” spoke of “these
things,” 2 Peter 3:15-16. And he did! In 1 Timothy 4:1-2 Paul wrote, “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 [demons], Speaking
lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;…”
Again, in 2 Timothy 4:1-4 the Apostle Paul wrote, “I charge thee therefore before
God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick [living]
and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; Preach the Word; be instant
in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering
and doctrine. 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; and they shall turn away their
ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
Is such a thing happening
today? You know it is!
Folks, since 1988 thousands
of “professing Christians,”
including many preachers, have turned their backs on the
Scripturally sound, logical, provable [1
Thessalonians 5:20-21], pre-millennial, truth of the Lord’s
return. And when they turned away from the truth of God’s Word, what
did they turn to? They went “whoring” [spiritually]
after the “damnable
heresies” of the Scripture perverting allegorists “false teachers.” During this time multitudes of
“professing Christians” have joined the ranks of the
apostates, bringing to pass exactly what both Paul and Peter predicted would
occur in “the
last days.” The “way of truth” has always been “evil spoken of” by Satan’s crowd.
But over this period of now 18 + years, more and more “professing Christians” have
allied themselves with the “false teachers” and “scoffers,” 2 Peter 2:1-2; 3:3-4. Today “the way of truth” has come to
be regarded as a lie by multitudes of “professing
Christians,” while at the same time they have come to accept
the “fables”
of the “false teachers” as “Bible truth.” Sic!
What a sad, confusing
day it is for the few today who really want to know the truth and are earnestly
seeking for it. Read 1
Corinthians 14:33. Do God’s people [those
truly saved] really have to wonder why the Lord Himself said
that the last state of “Christianity” [Laodicea]
during this present dispensation would make Him sick to His stomach? See
Revelation 3:15-16.
2 Peter 2:3-22 – 3:1-18
Who are these “false teachers”? How can God’s
people identify them? It is obvious that the Lord wanted His people to
recognize them, especially during these “last days,” and expose, rebuke, and avoid
them, Romans 16:17-18;
2 Timothy 3:1-5. Therefore the Lord inspired Peter to place
identifying “marks” throughout the rest of his epistle, whereby
true believers could identify these “false teachers.”
The “Marks” of False Teachers
1.
They
are motivated by greed. The bottom line with them is MONEY.
See 2:3 and
2:14-16. Compare Jude 11 and 1 Timothy 6:3-10.
2.
They
are hypocrites and hypocritical. The word “feigned” in 2:3 means, “pretending;
to pretend.” They “profess”
and “pretend”
to be dedicated Christians, and to love the Lord and His Word,
but in reality they are hypocritical frauds.
3.
They
are “sensual.” In 2:10 it is stated that they “walk after the flesh.” Compare Jude 4, Jude 8, Jude 19, and James
3:14-16. These wicked rascals just can’t keep their
hands (or their minds) off the ladies [and often off of other men or little
children], and certainly they can’t keep their minds off of anything
which is pleasing to their flesh. They live for the sensual pleasures of
the flesh!
4.
They
despise authority. The word translated as “government” in 2:10 literally means, “authority.”
Compare Jude 8. These jackals don’t want anyone
telling them what to do or how to live, nor questioning their “moral
integrity” by the light of God’s inspired Word.
5.
They
are spiritually “blind.” It is clearly stated in
2:12 that they do not “understand.” Compare Jude 10 and also 1
Corinthians 2:14, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, and Revelation
3:17.
6.
They
love to live “the good life.” In 2:13 the word “riot” and the words “sporting
themselves” literally mean, “to revel in luxurious, soft, delicate living.” Compare
Jude 12.
7.
They
are proud and arrogant. We are told in 2:18, “…they speak great swelling words of vanity…”
This indicates that they are proud, boastful, and swelled
up with their own self importance. Compare Jude 15-16 and 2
Timothy 3:1-5.
8.
They
present themselves as “champions of freedom.” In
2:19 we are told that they promise those they deceive “liberty,” even while they themselves are
the “servants
[slaves] of corruption.”
9.
They
have no real regard whatsoever for God’s Word. Even though
they loudly claim to “uphold the truth” and to believe in the
“Divine inspiration of the Word,” it is obvious that they do
not really regard the Word as having any authority over their lives. These
fellows feel perfectly free to take Scriptures out of context, explain other
Scriptures away, and ignore those that clearly contradict their teachings,
actions, or lifestyle. 2:20-21
plainly states that they “…turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”
10.
They have no conscience
of or remorse for “sin.” In 2:22 the Scripture makes it quite clear that these “false teachers” will ultimately turn back
to indulge themselves in the same [and even worse] wicked lifestyle that they were living in before the “professed”
to be saved.
11.
They do not accept
God’s Word as literal truth. Proof of this statement
is their “scoffing” [3:3-4]
at the literal, bodily return of Christ to rapture His people to glory,
and at the teaching that a literal flood once destroyed “the world that then was” [3:4-6],
and at the teaching of a literal “day
of judgment” [7 year Tribulation] for the “ungodly,” and at a literal one thousand year Millennial
reign of Christ upon this earth, 1:16; 3:8-10; 3:13-14; Revelation 20:1-6.
The “false teachers” Identified
Now that the “marks”
[Romans 16:17-18] of these “false teachers” have been set before our readers,
let’s see if we can identify them. Who is it in the ranks of “Christianity”
today that have these “marks” resting upon them like a mantle?
The people in the ranks
of “modern Christianity” who exhibit these “marks”
are, almost without exception, those who have turned their backs on the
Chiliast [Pre-millennial] “faith which was once delivered unto the saints” [Jude 3], and who have embraced the “damnable
heresies” of the Preterists,
Postmillennialists, Amillennialists, Historists, Dominionists, Kingdom
Now teachers, and others of their ilk and kind. Such people never
take the Word of God for what it literally and actually says and teaches,
except in those instances where it appears to support their “fables.” These people lift Scriptures out of context,
ignore the context, “wrest” [2 Peter 3:16] the Scriptures, ignore Scriptures which
obviously do not support their teachings, misapply those Scriptures that
they do use, and spread confusion, disillusionment, and deception among
the churches.
Of course, they always
present themselves as “champions” of “truth, love, and
toleration.” Why shouldn’t they? If they can convince people
that “Christian love” is shown by “tolerating those with whom you may not agree,”
then they can continue to sow their “damnable heresies” among the churches without
any effective opposition. It is past time for God’s people [true
believers] to return to basing “Christian love” on
love, honor, and respect for God and His Word, rather than on so-called
“toleration” of every “religious dog” that comes sneaking
in off the street. I suggest our readers carefully study John 14:23-24 and 1 Timothy 4:16 again and take these Scriptures to heart.
Those who have rejected
Chiliasm [Premillennialism] have rejected the truth held
by the Lord’s churches during the first three centuries of Christianity,
and any good Christian history will confirm this statement. I would remind
every reader that the truths held and taught by the Lord’s churches
were passed to them directly from the Lord Himself and the Apostles of our
Lord in the first century. Since Christian history plainly and specifically
records the fact that almost all of the churches held and taught Chiliasm [Premillennialism] during the first three centuries
of Christianity, then it ought to be obvious that it was “the faith” that was given to them by the Lord and
the Apostles, Jude
3. Then every departure from that position is a departure
from the truth of God’s Word. Those readers who don’t
like my making these statements may feel free to write and apologize to
me. Is that plain enough?
What Should God’s People Do?
What does God’s
Word command God’s people to do in regards to “false
teachers”?
“…mark them…and avoid them,” Romans
16:17.
“…not to company with fornicators,”
1 Corinthians 5:9.
“…with such a one, no not
to eat,” 1 Corinthians 5:11.
“…come out from among them...,” 2 Corinthians
6:14-18.
“…withdraw yourselves…,” 2 Thessalonians
3:6.
“…refuse profane and old wives fables…,”
1 Timothy 4:7.
“Them that sin rebuke before all…,”
1 Timothy 5:20.
“…from such withdraw thyself,” 1 Timothy
6:3-5.
“…flee these things…,” 1 Timothy
6:9-11.
“…from such turn away,” 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
“…rebuke them sharply…,” Titus
1:13-14.
“A man that is an heretic…reject,”
Titus 3:10-11.
These Scriptures are
too plain to be misunderstood. Why do God’s people allow these “false teachers” to infiltrate the churches
and steal “the
blessed hope” [Titus 2:11-13]
from God’s people? The “blessed
hope” is a promise that the Lord gave to “all them…that love His appearing,” 2 Timothy
4:8.
I say without apology to anyone
that all so-called “fellowship” with such Scripture perverting
“false teachers” should end. Those churches
and pastors who do hold to the premillennial faith [Jude
3] of our Christian forefathers should declare “non-fellowship”
for those churches and pastors who continue to give these “false
teachers” a platform from which to espouse their “doctrines of devils,” 1 Timothy 4:1-2. Quit inviting
these Scripture perverters to speak in your churches.
Quit using them in “Prophecy Conferences” and “Bible Conferences.”
They know nothing about “rightly dividing the Word of truth,” 2 Timothy
2:15. The spiritually dead cannot “enlighten”
anyone. Quit buying their books and subscribing to their “newsletters”
and supporting their “ministries.” Quit listening to and supporting
their radio and TV programs. God’s Word says very explicitly,
“Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will
receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty,” 2 Corinthians
6:14-18.
I am aware that some of our readers
will think that such is too “judgmental” and too radical. I
want to remind our readers that the last great apostasy [preceding Laodicea] among the churches took
place in the second and third centuries of Christianity. By the fourth
century “Pergamos Christianity” [Sic!] had become
so apostate that “them that hold the doctrine of Balaam” and
“them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes”
had gained positions of power and influence among the churches.
Subsequent Christian history reveals that the churches “toleration”
for such “false
teachers” plunged “Christianity” into the
Dark Ages for a thousand years, and brought horrible persecution, suffering,
and death upon millions of true believers and churches who refused
to submit to the Roman whore religion that arose out of such “toleration.”
Are you willing for that mistake to be repeated again?
I realize that what
I am advocating is not “popular.” But I am not seeking to be
popular, or to have the praise of men. I fully expect some to rail against
me, even some of God’s own people, for my stand. I certainly expect
to be rebuked, hated, lied about, and falsely accused by the “false teachers.” Some will write demanding
that their names be removed from my mailing list. Folks, suit yourself!
But I will stand on what I have written, and have no apology to make to
anyone for it.
Let those who truly
love the Lord prove their love by parting company
with the “false teachers” and their followers. True believers
don’t need the company of those who daily make the Lord out to be
a liar by denying His promises [John
14:1-3; 2 Peter 3:3-4], and who turn God’s Word into
a book of allegorical “fables.”
By God’s grace
I will stand for what I know to be true and right, Ephesians
6:13. Will you?
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should be addressed to: Last Call Gospel Ministry, Pastor F. M. Riley, 3900
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