"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many." (Mt. 24:4)
And they won't just be in the churches. They will come from some of the most unsuspected places in a society. Perhaps these will be the most dangerous.
Some more recent translations use the word, "mislead," for, "deceive." It just does not carry the "punch." The word translated, "deceive," can mean "lead astray, mislead, cause to wander," but, "deceive," gets to the warning best. Our Lord uses the word at least four times in Matthew 24.
Deception in general is the plague which will be the undoing of many in the last days. One of the examples the dictionary uses to describe "deceit" is, "They deceived the enemy by disguising the destroyer as a freighter." This is a good revelation of deception. We may think it is bring us supply, but it is really bringing destruction.
"The elect," according to our Lord Jesus, will escape this. Why? Because, "the elect," are united, at one with, those who have come into the reality of, "Abide in Me, and I in you." I know no better way to walk a deception free life than to be full of the Words of God. No deceiver, including, The Deceiver, can overcome, "Me and My Words" (Mark 8:38).
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for this warning and the accompanying, "Me and My Words." Amen.
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* Preaching This Week in the Good Shepherd Church meeting, Sunday, July 29.
* Plans coming together for this Fall's Mission
* Article: "Obama's Spectacular Failure": www.jerberwash.blogspot.com
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
