Satan's Ministers as the Ministers of Righteousness. Read more...

• Ye are of Your Father the Devil, the Liar - We read about the basic nature of Satan, “he is a liar, and the father of it [the lie]”. In John 8:44, Lord Jesus addressed the religious leaders of His day as “Ye are of your father the devil”, though in the larger context, this verse is directed to all who are without a Savior. The Greek word for “worketh” in Eph 2:2 is similar to our English word “energy” and conveys the idea of “working in”, “operating”, or “energizing” the unsaved: “Wherein in time past ye [believers] walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [Satan], the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience [unsaved]” . “Worketh” is also employed in Php 2:13 with reference to the work of God in His children’s lives: “For it is God which worketh in you [saved] both to will and to do of his good pleasure”. Eph 2:2 reveals that all who are unsaved are under the spiritual domination of Satan, who is called “the prince of the power of the air”, also called “the prince of this world” in John 14:30: “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world [Satan] cometh, and hath nothing in me” , and “the god of this world” in 2 Cor 4:4 whose goal is to blind the minds of the unsaved to the Gospel: “In whom the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God [Jesus], should shine unto them”. Moreover, in John 8:23 Jesus pointed this out to the religious leaders of His day, “ye are of this world; I am not of this world”. 1 Cor 2:14 describes the unredeemed “natural man”, as the one that cannot receive “the things of the Spirit of God” because “they are spiritually discerned”. On the other hand, in 1 Cor 2:12 we read of the saved born-again believers, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God”, and are made able to “know the things of God”.

John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil [Satan], and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie [the lie], he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it [the lie].”

John 8:23 “And he [Jesus] said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.”

1 Cor 2:14 “But the natural man [unsaved] receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

1 Cor 2:12 “Now we [saved] have received, not the spirit of the world [of Satan], but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God”

• All Men are Liars - The usual dictionary definition of “truth” is “conforming to reality or actuality” and man can only make inaccurate guesses at what “reality” is with his limited knowledge. Now, man’s definition of lying is “deliberately making a false statement with the intention of deceiving someone”, which is really the opposite of honesty. However, according to God’s standard of Absolute Truth, and since the Bible is the Absolute Truth, then anything we say that is contrary to the Bible – the True Gospel – is a lie. Because we do not know the Absolute Truth about anything, that makes all men liars by nature: “The wicked [unsaved] are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies” (Psa 58:3). Even if a Bible teacher ignorantly teaches a wrong(or erroneous) doctrine, he is lying. For example, those who teach that human beings can somehow contribute to their salvation are lying – no matter how sincerely and fervently they believe they are teaching truth. Rom 3:4 also reiterates: “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged”. And God tells us that the fate of all unsaved liars is the “lake of fire”, as we read in Rev 21:7-8: “... all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”. Just as there are many counterfeit “gospels” all over the world, there are also many counterfeit “Christians” within every congregation who claim to be saved – usually because of some effort on their part – but have not become “born from above”. Many embrace Christianity because they were born into or grew up in a family or culture that was part of a denomination, sect or cult that claimed an affiliation with Christ and the Bible. However, we see in John 1:13 that true believers are those who are “born of God” and “not of blood” (or man’s special bloodline or genealogy), “nor of the will of the flesh” (man’s natural procreation or heredity), “nor of the will of man” (man’s freewill, or individual or governmental endeavors, or works). Thus, God does all the work of salvation, and man’s efforts play no role whatsoever. In actuality, the “laborers” in Luke 10:2: “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few”, are the ones whom God has redeemed and set apart to be His ambassadors (2 Cor 5:17-20). Sadly, there have always been those who masquerade as God’s servants, who are still in Satan’s kingdom and are his unwitting ambassadors. This phenomenon is even more pernicious in our day.

John 1:12-13 “But as many as received [as in recipients] him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

2 Cor 5:17-20 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us [born-again believers] the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

• Satan’s Ministers as the Ministers of Righteousness - In order to maintain his hold on mankind, Satan works feverishly at his main objective, which is that of deceiving mankind with false gospels to keep them from hearing the Truth. As we approach the Last Day when the Lord Jesus Christ will return, Satan will be actively deceiving many unsaved churchgoers who profess to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. He accomplishes that primarily by keeping people in bondage to various religions and false gospels and using his lying human “ministers of righteousness”, as we read in 2 Cor 11:13-15: “... false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ ...”. Although there have always been false brethren in God’s earthly, institutional churches, the proliferation of today’s [end of times] worldly false gospels tends to increase the percentage of false brethren, or nominal Christians, within the various congregations. This expands the worldly influence in the churches and accelerates the worldwide “falling away” from the True Gospel, or apostasy, that is so much in evidence at the present time: “... that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first ...” (2 The 2:3). The popularity of most false gospels can generally be attributed to their appeals to man’s pride and basic sensual desires for political freedom, economic security and good health. Although they are spiritually dead, some of these unsaved churchgoers seek to teach others their unbiblical ideas about spiritual matters; but it is a very dangerous thing to be an unsaved, self-proclaimed “teacher” of the Scriptures. In Jam 3:1 God indicates there will be a “greater condemnation” in Hell for those hypocrites who handle His Word carelessly: “My brethren, be not many masters [teachers], knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”

2 The 2:3-4 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he [Satan] as God sitteth in the temple of God [congregation], shewing himself that he is God.”

Isa 14:12-15 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God [believers]: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

2 Cor 11:13-15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

Gal 2:3-5 “But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”

Rev 19:20 “And the beast [Satan] was taken, and with him the false prophet [his ministers] that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

Satan Himself is Transformed into an Angel of Light. Read more...

• The Truth-God and His Word - God and His Word are Characterized by Truth. Absolute Truth is the very nature of God and His Word. The Lord Jesus Christ said that He is the Truth (John 14:6), that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13), and that God’s Word is Truth (John 17:17). In fact, the Bible is the Gospel of Christ, which is the Truth of God’s salvation program. Philosophers have struggled with the concept of “truth” for thousands of years, and in John 18:37-38 Pontius Pilate reflected man’s confusion about it when he said, “What is truth?”. If we try to go beyond God’s revelations about “God’s salvation program” – no matter how “logical” we try to be – we quickly get into “error” (or “falsehood”), which is the opposite of Truth. The only way we can come to Truth about any Biblical subject is by carefully comparing Scripture with Scripture. The main theme of the entire Bible is God’s salvation program – the Gospel – and “The Gospel” is synonymous with “The Truth”. One thing we can say with absolute certainty is that God created this universe and put His salvation plan into motion on this earth for His glory and honor, based on what God declares in His Word.

John 18:37-38 “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.”

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 14:17 “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

John 15:26 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:”

John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

• The Lie and The Liar-Satan and His Word - Satan and His Word are Characterized by Lie. Biblical notion is that all sin is based on deceit, or based on a lie. Deceit is the opposite of truth and is, therefore, the opposite of the Word of Truth, the Bible. Sin first reared its ugly head in the least likely of places – a perfect environment where two individuals who had been created perfectly by God and in His image existed in perfect fellowship with their Maker. Unfortunately, this idyllic situation was short-lived as their Creator presented them with a test, which they tragically failed, as “the serpent [Satan] beguiled Eve through his subtilty”, as we read in Gen 3:11-14. At the very onset we see how rapidly and to what extent sin manifested itself in the form of lies, and blaming others in verse Gen 3:13. The deceptiveness of sin affected every human being born after Adam and Eve as Rom 5:12 explains. Satan acquired control of this present universe by default, and became our spiritual father, owing to the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve. In John 8:44, Jesus declares “Ye are of your father the devil” and contrasts “the lie” with “the truth”. The most fundamental deception of sin denies the very existence of sin itself. 2 Cor 4:3-4 gives us more insight.

Gen 3:11-14 “And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 14And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.”

Rom 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”

John 8:42-45 “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44Ye are of your father the devil [Satan], and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie [or the lie], he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it [or the lie]. 45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.”

Eph 2:1-5 “And you [believers] hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [Satan], the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)”

Tit 3:3-6 “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”

2 Cor 11:3 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

2 Cor 2:11 “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

2 Cor 4:3-4 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

• False Gospels are Characterized by Error - We know from earlier studies that Old Testament Israel was an earthly representative of the Kingdom of God and served as a type, or figure, of the New Testament institutional churches and denominations that also were earthly representatives of the Kingdom of God during the Church Age. Thus, it is important to understand what happened to ancient Israel, in order to relate those events to how God is dealing with the churches of our day. For example, in the following Old Testament passage God warned Ancient Israel not to turn away from drinking the pure, life-giving water of the Truth of God and imbibing the spiritual wine and strong drink of the erroneous and deceptive doctrines of salvation based on the faulty reasoning of men, which leads to the fire of God’s eternal wrath. God says “woe” unto those who indulge in that kind of spiritual foolishness and drunkenness and uses Ancient Israel in Isa 5:20-22 as an example of what is happening in our day as Satan has been loosed to “deceive the nations” (as we read about in Rev 20:3). Just as the Old Testament Israelites were overcome by error and apostasy, so too were the New Testament churches; and there is now a great “falling away” from the True Gospel, as we read in 2 The 2:3-4. The word “woe” in the verses we just read from Isaiah 5 is a pronouncement of judgment, and later God brought about the destruction of Ephraim by the Assyrians. The Southern Kingdom of Judah suffered the same fate due to their apostasy and rebellion. “The lie” is contrasted with “the truth” in 2 The 2:9-12, which is speaking about God’s judgment on the institutional churches and denominations during the Great Tribulation period.

1 Cor 10:11 “Now all these things happened unto them [ancient Israel] for ensamples [types]: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

Isa 5:20-22 “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! 21Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 22Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink [deceptive doctrines]:”

2 The 2:3-4 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [the day of Christ] shall not come, except there come a falling away [apostasia:G646] first, and that man of sin [Satan] be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God [the institutional churches], showing himself that he is God.”

2 The 2:9-12 “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie [or the lie]: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

• Satan is a Counterfeit Christ - Sin was not simply confined to the human race, but occurred among the spirit beings as well either prior to, or simultaneously with, the fall of man. Satan’s rebellion with the sin of pride and subsequent defeat at the Cross is outlined in Isa 14:12-15. God allowed Satan to deceive Eve, and Adam, consenting, followed her example of eating the “forbidden fruit”. Satan’s cunning is never to be underestimated, as we see from 2 Cor 11:14-15. He comes with false gospels that are so close to the truth, he comes with Scripture in a wrong manner, uses the Bible in such a way as to cast doubt upon the very character of God, that even the elect could be deceived if it were possible (Matt 24:24). 1 Pet 5:8 alerts us to Lucifer’s tactics that have been honed by use throughout the history of the world: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”. However, Satan’s greatest deception is at work now in the end times. 2 Cor 11:14-15 warns about Satan’s deceptive show as an imitator of Christ. We read that he comes as “an angel [or messenger] of light” with his counterfeit “ministers of righteousness” and he sits in “the temple of God [the institutional churches], shewing himself that he is God” (2 The 2:3-4). Rev 12:7-10 predicts the Devil’s ultimate defeat (which in principle occurred at the Cross).

Gen 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Isa 14:12-15 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

Luke 10:18 “And he [Jesus] said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.”

2 Cor 11:13-15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

2 The 2:2-4 “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin [Satan] be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God [the institutional churches], shewing himself that he is God.”

Rev 12:7-10 “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

Lo, Here is Christ, or There; Believe it Not. Read more...

• Lo, Here is Christ, or There; Believe it Not… - The Lord Jesus makes an important point in Luke 17, verse 20: “… The kingdom of God cometh not with observation …”, it has to do with what is physically observable in each instance. In other words, one does not “see” Christ or the Kingdom of God with physical eyesight – even though people may say, “He is in our church”, or “Look what He is doing through that televangelist”, or “God spoke to me in a beautiful dream”. The Bible clearly insists in 2 Cor 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight”. In Matt 24, verses 24-25, the Savior warns for the third time in this chapter (see verses 4-5 and 11) about false Christs and their deceptive “signs and wonders”. Before we move on, I want to mention something about the two words rendered as “desert” (eremos:G2048) in “Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth” and “secret chambers” (tameion:G5009) in “behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not” found in Mat 23:26. The former is translated as “wilderness”, “desert”, “desolate”, and “solitary”. There are instances where this particular word is used in a positive sense; but in the majority of cases, it is referring to rebellion and/or testing (as in the case of Israelites’ sojourn in the wilderness for 40 years), or it is referring to the kingdom of Satan (as typified by the world at large) and the end-time apostate churches: “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate [eremos:G2048]: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Luke 13:35). The latter word, “secret chambers” tameion:G5009) in the other three verses (Mat 6:6, Luke 12:3 and 24), it is translated as – “closet” and “storehouse”. The context of these passages has to do with being preoccupied with outward appearances or physical needs instead of “seeking first the kingdom of God”: “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse [tameion:G5009] nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?” (Luke 12:24) . It highlights the contrast between the great crowds thronging Christ in John 6:26-66 and the publican in the Temple in Luke 18:13, who quietly cried out in anguish, “God be merciful to me [the] sinner”. The chief interest of the former group was only to get a free meal and then just as quickly abandoning Christ when He started speaking about obedience to His Word. The latter is an example of those to whom God gives “a broken and a contrite heart”, and draws them to Himself.

Mat 24:23, 26 “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not ... Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.”

Luke 17:20-24 “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 22And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 23And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. 24For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.”

John 6:26-30 “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?”

• Believe Not Every Spirit, but Try the Spirits whether They are of God - This brings us to a very practical question: How does one determine who is a “false prophet”? In both Mat 7:16 and 20 we learn that we “shall know them by their fruits”. Mat 7:17a and 18a add: “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit ... A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit ...”. Jam 3:12 further explains, “Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh”. Every human being produces some type of “fruit” with their lives that can be either good or evil. That fruit stems from their words, actions, and thoughts, as Pro 23:7 maintains: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he ...”. This principle is also evident in Luke 6:45. A “good man” is one who has become saved: “A good man [saved] out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good ...”. Sadly, there have always been those who masquerade as God’s servants, who are still in Satan’s kingdom and are his unwitting ambassadors. The popularity of most false gospels can generally be attributed to their appeals to man’s pride and basic sensual desires for political freedom, economic security and good health. Although they are spiritually dead, some of these unsaved churchgoers seek to teach others their unbiblical ideas about spiritual matters; but it is a very dangerous thing to be an unsaved, self-proclaimed “teacher” of the Scriptures. In Jam 3:1 God indicates there will be a “greater condemnation” in Hell for those hypocrites who handle His Word carelessly. But how can we really know? We must turn exclusively to the God’s Word – The Bible – the Christian’s sole authority. 1 John 4:1 informs all believers of their obligation to be on guard: “... believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God ...”. So, how does one “try [test] the spirits”? We must test what every so-called “prophet” says against the Bible, as we read in Acts 17:11 about the Bereans: “... they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”. I will leave you with a verse that encourages all of us to trust the only the Bible and look to it for divine truth. These citations encourage the child of God to depend on God’s Word by obeying it, and hence proving that it is indeed 100% reliable, 100%of the time! It is also extremely useful for distinguishing truth from error, as we just read in 1 John 4:1. It is such a wonderful blessing to recognize that God will not allow His children to wander into error for very long, but will lead them into truth as they “continue in my [Jesus] Word” (John 8:31). John 16:13-15 and John 10:1-5 should be a great encouragement to each true Christian, because these verses assure that it is the Christ himself and the Holy Spirit that guards them.

Luke 6:45 “A good man [saved] out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man [unsaved] out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

1 John 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.”

Matt 24:24 “For there shall arise false Christs (pseudochristos), and false prophets (pseudoprophetes), and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

Isa 8:20 “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word [The Bible], it is because there is no light in them.”

John 16:13-15 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

John 10:1-5 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”

There Shall Arise False Christs, And False Prophets. Read more...

• There shall arise False Christs, and False Prophets - To whom are you listening? Mat 7:15 cautions: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves”. This warning is especially serious as we are now living in the end times. In Mat 24:4 Jesus cautions, “Take heed that no man deceive you”, and then He informs us three times in the rest of the chapter that this period of time will be characterized by an intense amount of spiritual deception, as stated in Mat 24:24-25: “... there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect”. This deception is carried out by Satan and his “false prophets” and is described throughout the Bible. Mat 24 highlights this worldwide apostasy and the impact of this global deceit, in verses 4-5, 11, and 23-25: “... many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many”. 1 Pet 5:8 alerts us to Satan’s tactics that have been honed by use throughout the history of the world: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”. Satan comes as an “angel of light”, in other words, Satan comes trying to look like Christ, who is the true light of the world. Satan comes with false gospels. He tries to get as close to the truth as possible, but there are lies mixed with the truth. We see in the parable of the wheat and the tares, how Satan creeps in and sows tares among those who are in that physical body, the church. Likewise, he also employs those who masquerade as God’s servants, who have never experienced true salvation, whom God has not called, who are “transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ”. They are emissaries of Satan, “deceitful workers”, deceived into thinking they are working for God.

Mat 24:4-5 “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

Mat 24:23-25 “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25Behold, I have told you before.”

2 Cor 11:13-15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

2 Pet 2:1 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds) 9The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:”

• The Working of Satan with all Power and Signs and Lying Wonders - The Scripture makes clear that these are signs of a false gospel and a great delusion. God gave all supernatural healings, miracles, signs, wonders, and tongues to prove that those who were speaking for God in the Bible were truly from God (Hebrews 1:1-2; 2:3-4, 2 Cor 12:12, Acts 2:22). Also he taught invisible heavenly spiritual truths of God through these visible signs. When God finished writing the Bible He withdrew those supernatural manifestations. Those who claim to practice these alleged supernatural wonders are deluded. As we have seen, 1 Pet 5:8 highlights the Satan’s masterminding deceit as he is both a destroyer as well as a deceiver (John 8:44). It is helpful to note that Satan is busier than ever during our day as he is ruling in all apostate churches and denominations according to 2 The 2:34, “Who [Satan] opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God”. Satan was spiritually “bound” at the Cross and through out the New Testament “Church Age” [ typified by figurative “thousand years”] and is now released for a “little season” to deceive the nations – but his doom is sealed. Notice “the lie” is contrasted with “the truth” in 2 The 2:9-12 and that those who “perish” have not received “the love of the truth” – God and His Word are Characterized by Truth. What is even more frightening is that God “shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie”. 2 Tim 3:8 states “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith”. Jannes and Jambres [It appears that the names are of Egyptian origin, leading to speculation that they were the “magicians” spoken of in Exodus chapters 7-9], Elymas the sorcerer (in Acts 13:8) and Alexander the coppersmith (in 2 Tim 4:15), who resisted the truth of God along with a host of false prophets and teachers (named and unnamed) in both the Old and New Testaments. God’s judgments upon the Israelites with the “spirit of deep sleep” according to Isa 29:10 and the “spirit of slumber” in Rom 11:8 are parallel to the “strong delusion” in 2 The 2:11-12, which refers to God’s judgment upon the apostate institutional churches and denominations who do not have the authority of the God’s Word, the Bible. Eventually, all the unsaved will end up in the Lake of Fire, along with Satan and all his demons, according to Rev 20:10, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever”.

Acts 2:22 “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:”

2 Cor 12:12 “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”

Heb 2:3-4 “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

Matt 24:24 “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

2 The 2:3-4 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition [Satan]; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

2 The 2:8-12 “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Rev 19:20 “And the beast [Satan] was taken, and with him the false prophet [Satan’s ministers] that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

Days of Noah - But Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the LORD. Read more...

• But Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the LORD - By examining the two verses Rom 4:4: “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt” and Rom 11:6: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work”, one quickly realizes that “grace” and “works” with respect to salvation are incompatible. “Work” is labor, or effort, that usually earns some kind of compensation. You have a job, so you do your work and get paid for it. “Grace”, on the other hand, is not work. It is an undeserved gift, so you get something for doing nothing. Tit 2:11 informs us of the Divine purpose of the grace of God: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men…”. God’s grace first and foremost accomplishes salvation – to save sinners from eternal punishment in Hell for God’s honor and glory. Grace is God’s Divine Prerogative. Since God’s grace is an undeserved and unearned gift that is bestowed on whomever God so chooses, it is available to all kinds of people regardless of location, age, gender, race, social status, religion, or any other human classification. Since God uses the word “grace” to describe Noah in that he “found grace”, this indicates that Noah was a sinner as anyone else. In Genesis 9, we read about him falling into sin when he became a husbandman and drank of the fruit and got drunk. No one needs grace unless they are a sinner, unless they have transgressed the Law of God and need a Saviour. God bestowed upon him grace, which means that God gave him His Spirit (Eze 36:26-28). He gave him a new heart and a new soul. This is the identical way of salvation today, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”. The ark, represented God’s salvation program, according to 1 Pet 3:20-21.

Gen 6:5-9 “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 9These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”

Eph 2:5-8 “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

1 Pet 3:20-21 “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21The like figure [water = the Gospel] whereunto even baptism [the washing away of our sins] doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”

• Noah was a Just Man and Perfect in his Generations - When we see these kinds of descriptions of individuals in the Bible, we think that they were good, that they were morally good. Then we tend to think that if we could only be as good as them, then we, too, would find grace or we could also be accepted by God. Nothing can be farther from truth. As far as that man goes himself, he is just a sinner, like you or me or anybody. There are no exceptions, except for Christ who was the God/man. But every other human being who comes through the line of Adam is a sinner because the Bible also tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and Rom 3:10 (quoting Psa 14:2-3) declares, “There is none righteous, no, not one”. Job was a sinner and Moses was a sinner and Noah was a sinner and Daniel was a sinner. All have sinned. These were individuals who found grace (Salvation) in God’s sight. “Noah was a just Man and perfect in his generations”, this can be true of Noah only after “Salvation”. So Noah was a righteous man, a just man, because of the imputed righteousness of Christ. He was perfect because God had made him perfect, and he walked with God. Rom 3:20 makes it clear that, “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight ...”. As one studies God’s salvation program as delineated in the Bible, two aspects become very clear: We need the Lord Jesus Christ to bestow His Grace and pay for our sins by suffering death and destruction on our behalf, and we need Him to give us His righteousness. Heb 11:7 helps us to understand that Noah inherited the “righteousness which is by faith”. Notice the actions that God initiated: (1) God warned Noah – by faith Noah was moved to prepare an ark, which was a picture of the salvation of the Lord Jesus and also a picture of judgment to the world. (2) Noah (as a picture of all believers) inherited the righteousness which is by faith. When God uses the word faith in conjunction with salvation, He is speaking about the “faith of Christ” – the righteousness which is of God by faith (Php 3:9). In other words, Noah was saved by Grace and Justified by Faith of Christ. He was declared Righteous by Christ’s Righteousness being imputed to him by Faith. We also learn from 2 Pet 2:5 that Noah was not only a recipient of God’s righteousness, but also a preacher of that same righteousness : “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly”

Gen 6:8-9 “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 9These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”

Heb 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

Rom 4:4-8 “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

• Noah and Ark represents the Rest and Comfort God provided for His people in Christ - The word Noah Means “Rest”. Gen 5:29 also gives the meaning of name Noah as Comfort – the Comfort that brings Eternal Salvation. In Deu 5:14, God spells out the essence of the seventh-day Sabbath: “But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou”. The essence of the Old Testament Sabbath, which is a ceremonial law pointed to the fact that God rested on the seventh day from His labors. The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ on that first Sunday that ushered in a new era of worship, which God instituted by abolishing the previous era of Old Testament (Saturday) worship. Spiritually “rest” pointed to the fact that true believers are to rest in the salvation which God has provided through the Lord Jesus Christ and are not to depend on any human effort, or work, as Heb 4:10 reminds us: “For he that is entered into his rest [God’s rest], he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his”. Eph 2:8-9 underscores this vital principle: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”. Rom 11:6 further insists, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work”. The “rest” for our souls is something only God can give to us – we cannot attain it through any of our own efforts, as Heb 4:10-12 clearly states: “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest ...”. The Greek word for “labour” in verse 11 means not “work” but “to be diligent” with reference to feeding on the Word of God as is pointed out in verse 12. We learn from Gal 3:11: “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”

Gen 5:28-29 “And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: And he called his name Noah saying, This same [Noah] shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.”

Matt 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden [with the works of the law], and I [Lord Jesus] will give you rest [by fulfilling the demands of the law on the Cross for us]. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

1 Pet 3:20-21 “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21The like figure [water = the Gospel] whereunto even baptism [the washing away of our sins] doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”

Isa 30:18 “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him [rest in him].”

Days of Noah - God is Longsuffering to Us-ward

• God is Longsuffering to Us-ward, Not Willing that Any should Perish - How can it be then that the Holy God who destroyed the world of Noah’s day has not destroyed us? How can it be that the God who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah has not yet destroyed us? Why does God wait? Why not destroy this sin cursed earth along with the whole band of rebellious sinners that take great pleasure in their evil deeds? 2 Pet 3:9 gives the answer, God is “longsuffering to usward” because He is waiting for the last of His elect to become saved. He is not willing that “any” of His chosen people should perish. But He will put up with man and his scoffing and his sins until He draws that last sinner to Himself. God gives us the flood as the example of His longsuffering patience near the end of the world in 1 Pet 3:20. What was God waiting for in the days of Noah? He was waiting for the ark to be prepared, yes. But also as the ark was preparing this resulted in the salvation of Noah’s house hold. What is God waiting for today? He is waiting for the house of God to be completed. He is waiting for the last living stone to be inserted into the New Jerusalem. Turn back to 2 Pet 3:15; and we will see without question that the sun has risen today ONLY BECAUSE THE LAST OF GOD’S ELECT HAVE NOT BEEN SAVED “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation;”

2 Pet 3:3-7 “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

2 Pet 3:8-9 “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

1 Pet 3:20 “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.”

 2 Pet 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”

2 Pet 3:15-16 “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

• The Heavens and the Earth are Reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment and Perdition of Ungodly Men - The Judgement of God against Sin is Second Death, Eternal Damnation in Hell. The “water” and “fire” pictures the judgment of God. In Romans 1 verse 32 God makes the point that man knows he deserves to be damned because he commits such sins; nonetheless, he not only persists in his sin, he also delights in the fact that others do as well. Now, what is this reference to 120 years? This is a reference to the time that Noah would have to construct the ark, to bring the animals into the ark, to do everything that God wanted done, as far as that ark was concerned. There was 120-year window before the flood came. The reference to 120 had to be to the flood because God did not set man’s age at 120. They were living to hundreds of years before the flood.  Even after the flood, many people passed a date of 120. For example, Jacob, the father of Israel, became the last person in the Bible to live beyond 120 years. We know the importance of blood (which represents life), and how blood is intimately associated with atonement of the soul, “for it is the blood that maketh an atonement (H3722 kaphar) for the soul (Lev 17:11)”. God commanded Noah to build an altar upon which he offered burnt offerings of clean animals, which typified the Lord Jesus as He endured the spiritual fire of God’s eternal wrath in Hell. The same Hebrew word for “atonement” (H3722 kaphar) found in Lev 17:11 appears in Gen 6:14, where it is translated as the verb “pitch”: “Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch (H3722 kaphar)  it within and without with pitch”. The ark that was completely covered with “pitch”, or “atonement”, was a beautiful picture of the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only those eight people who were in the ark were saved from God’s judgment.

Rom 1:32  “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Gen 6:3,7,13-14  “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 7And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 13And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.” 

Gen 7:4,10 "4For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. 10And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth” 

2 Pet 3:5-7  “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 

2 Pet 3:10-12 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”

Days of Noah - The Wickedness of Man was Great in the Earth... Read more...

• The Wickedness of Man was Great in the Earth - The world before the flood was much like us today: they sinned daily against the Holy God of heaven. We read about God’s reaction to their sin in Genesis chapter 6 “it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart”. But consider this: our world today is populated by over 6 billion people (approaching 7 billion) compared to couple of millions population of the world of Noah’s day. By sheer numbers, the present generation of man is the most evil generation that has ever existed upon the earth. The sum of transgressions against God, in thought, word, and deed, in our day probably outweighs all the sins of mankind combined that have ever lived upon the face of the earth. Our evil generation is screaming unto the heavens (by their wickedness) to be destroyed. Rom 1:18-20 and 25 uncover the hideous fact that man fell into sin and rebelled against the very God Who had created man in His own likeness. Notice the emphasis that God is placing on “lies” and “changing the truth” in these verses as man attempts to promote his own ideas and lusts. Eph 4:18 underscores unsaved man’s spiritual depravity: “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart”. Though many today do not worship so-called “idols”, they are just as guilty for worshiping their own minds, or humanity, or education, or science, or fame or power, or money, or politics, or sports. In verse 26 of Rom 1, we learn that: “God gave them up unto vile affections” highlighting man’s evil inclination to delve into all manner of sexual perversion. In verse 27, God pinpoints the sin of homosexuality and lesbianism. In verses 29-31 God further lists 24 sins. Finally, in verse 32 God makes the point that man knows he deserves to be damned because he commits such sins; nonetheless, he not only persists in his sin, he also delights in the fact that others do as well.

Gen 6:5-6 “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.”

Rom 1:18-23 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”

Rom 1:24-17 “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”

Rom 1:28-31 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:”

• Unequally Yoked together with Unbelievers - In Gen 6:2, we learn: “That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose”. The “sons of God” is referring to believers, the ones who are associated with the line of the faithful, the line of those who have identification with God Himself. The “daughters of men” is referring to unbelievers, women who were of the world, outside of that godly line, who did not follow Jehovah. It is actually saying that there were mixed, unequally yoked marriages. The people of God who saw that the “daughters of men” were very fair — they were beautiful outwardly — and they got mixed up in a relationship with them. As the divine institution that God established, marriage mirrors the spiritual union of Christ and His eternal church. That relationship is based upon God’s love and forgiveness. Human marriage was intended to pattern this  union between Christ and His bride, which gives no excuse for divorce, “What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder”. The unequally-yoked marriages that were going on prior to the flood produced wickedness in the world to where the standard of God’s people was deteriorating until God warned Noah and gave instructions concerning the ark one hundred and twenty years prior to the flood and brought judgment. This is very similar to our day. Marriage in the present day is highly abused. The institution of marriage is broken and we have a very high divorce rate, couples living together and having children outside wedlock, same sex marriages, fornication and so on.

Gen 6:2-4 “That the sons of God [believers] saw the daughters of men [non-believers] that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 4There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And JEHOVAH said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”

2 Cor 6:14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”

Matt 19:4-6 “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

• Overcharged with the Cares of this Life - A very real and insidious problem of life on this sin-cursed earth is that we can became captivated by “... all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life ...”, according to 1 John 2:16-17. One hundred and twenty years prior to the flood, Noah was given instructions concerning the ark. Noah began to build the ark in obedience to God’s command, which was a warning to the people of the world of Noah’s day, yet they did not heed the warning. Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet 2:5). He was declaring the information that God had given him about the flood: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (Heb 11:7). God has determined that mankind (of Noah’s day) has 7 days yet to live; and God made a decree, “Yet 7 days” until He would destroy everything living off of the earth. What was man’s reaction to this decree? Did mankind weep and howl? Did they put sackcloth on and repent in dust and ashes? No! We read about man’s reaction to Noah’s 120 years of preaching in Luke 17. Mankind continued to live as if they would be upon this earth for ever. There they were, busy about their business. When God told him, “Yet seven days”, He gave him the exact year, month, and day when the flood would come, Noah would have shared this information with the people of the world of his day. But their response was “eating and drinking” and that is normal life: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Let us compare this with the response of the Ninevites. When Jonah went into the city and he cried, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overturned”, the word got around. And from the king on down, they sat in sackcloth and ashes and fasted”. They fasted, which means that they abstained from eating and drinking. It was even commanded by the king, “Let not man or beast eat nor drink”. Of course, God uses this as a picture of a good response to a very serious warning of an approaching judgment. We, today, do not have to do that literally or physically. We do not have to tear our garments and put ashes on our heads and abstain from food and drink. But spiritually, it points to a brokenness in our hearts and minds, there should be a reaction where this has precedence, this has top priority. It should be constantly in our minds about ourself, if we are not saved, or about our family or our friends or how we can share the Gospel, and this is the point. When Christ returns as “a thief in the night”, this world will likewise be engaged in the various activities of living – eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage, buying, selling, planting, building – in a physical sense as well as spiritually.

Luke 12:29-34 “And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Luke 17:26-27 “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.”

Luke 21:34 “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”