INTRODUCTION

1. The problem of false teachers is centuries old

2. They abounded in ancient Israel Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 13

3. They will arise in the End Times 2 Timothy 4; 2 Thessalonians 2

 

THE CONTEXT OF THE WARNING ABOUT FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),

16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.

18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:15-22

1. In times of dire distress

2. Amidst great tribulation

3. Such times:

a) They cause fears to arise

b) This will make many vulnerable

c) Those who have little faith could be afflicted badly

 

THE WORDS OF WARNING ABOUT FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS

23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.

24 For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

25 See, I have told you beforehand.

26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.

27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. Matthew 24:23-28

1. False Christs

a) They will claim that they are specially anointed

b) They will claim that they have a special relationship with God

c) They will deceive people

2. False prophets

a) Many like to hear prophecies

b) They appear to be able to see the future

c) They will have people following them to their own peril

3. The challenging word from the Lord

“See, I have told you beforehand” Matthew 24:25

 

SATANIC POWER INVOLVED

1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by

letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the

son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is

already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and

destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception

among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12

that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

1. The revelation of the Man of sin

a) The son of perdition

b) He will oppose the Lord

c) He will exalt himself

d) He will claim worship

2. The power behind the Man of sin

a) The working of Satan

b) With all power, signs and lying wonders

c) And unrighteous deception

3. Strong delusion

a) When people will not receive the love of the truth

b) They can end up believing the lie

 

PERILOUS TIMES

1But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3

unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but

denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7

always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved

concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. 2 Timothy 3:1-9

1. The last days are perilous times

2. We must learn how to recognize false teachers

 

CONCLUSION

14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures,

which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly

equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:14-16

1. We must know the Scriptures better

2. We must seek to be complete and thoroughly equipped for life and ministry