Sandra Jean (23 Apr 2012)
"Final authority must always be God's written Word"

For many years, I was enamored with New Age until I sought and found the truth...that was 40 years ago.  So anytime I read one of the 5 Doves posts that veers toward New Age, I become alarmed.  I believe this all has to do with preparing the world and apostate Christendom for their role during the tribulation period.  In fact, Scripture says apostasy will only get worse as Christ's return approaches.  So it's critical that you pray for discernment.
 
The crux of the spiritual battle is over the Word of God. The adversary's strategy is to discredit the Scriptures in every way and by every means possible.
 
Most Christians today are looking for the arrival of the Antichrist, but very few are looking for "the apostasy" that must come first.  The arrival of the Antichrist cannot occur until sufficient apostasy has happened in the world. The Antichrist, who is the ultimate of liars, cannot abide in a world where the truth of God's word is taught. This is why the Bible says that the apostasy will come first and then the Antichrist will be revealed.
 
Please consider the following scriptures regarding apostasy in the last days...which is here now.
  • "Let no one in any way deceive you, for it [Jesus' return] will not come unless the apostasy (departure from faith) comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction," (2 Thess. 2:3, NASB).
  • "Contend earnestly for the faith which was once handed down to the saints." (Jude 3)
  • "At that time [the latter days] many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another" (Matthew 24:10).
  • The apostle Paul told the Thessalonians that a great falling away would precede Christ's second coming (2 Thessalonians 2:3) and that the end times would be characterized by tribulation and hollow religious charlatans: "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be . . . holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these" (2 Timothy 3:1-2, 5).

    • We can see that the "falling away" (2 Thessalonians 2:3) or departure "from the faith" is not that there will be less people attending church, but that fewer of them will be able to distinguish between what is true and what is false. The greatest spiritual battle for the souls of men is taking place within the church not outside of it. The last days are clearly here when we see such personal and denominational apostasy at an all time high because of the infiltration of perverted and distorted gospels promoted by compromising preachers and pastors.
  • "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons." (l Tim 4:1-2)
  • "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires and will turn away their ears from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Tim 4:3-4)
  • The Apostle Paul speaks to the outwardly pleasing behavior of apostates and their teaching when he says, "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." (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

  • The Apostle Peter says, "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves" (2 Peter 2:1).
The crux of the spiritual battle is over the Word of God. The adversary's strategy is to discredit the Scriptures in every way and by every means possible. As we noted, it began in the Garden initially by the questioning of God's Word, followed immediately by the denial of its truth (Genesis:3:4-5). Those who do not recognize that they are in such a battle may have already been captured by the lies of the Adversary. The Apostle Paul wrote that we are not to be ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians: 2:11) and used military metaphors for more than a literary device; he underscored the reality of the spiritual warfare taking place and sets up the believer's defense:  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God . (Ephesians:6:13-17)

The final authority must always be God's written word. If it is not clearly in the Bible then the teaching must not be entertained even for a moment.

Note: Above sources credited to The Berean Call and John MacArthur.