It's interesting that after yesterday's reading of being called to be "Watchman on the Wall" in today's reading of 2 Peter 2, we see the warning against false teachers. This is the warning against the false watchman...
Here's a few characteristics of false prophets:
"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." vs. 1
"And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you..." vs. 3
"But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities." vs. 10 (Ouch... that rings a bit too close to home right now...)
"But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption..." vs. 12
"Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children..." vs. 14
"These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever." vs. 17
"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." vs. 19
Listen to these final sobering words from this chapter....
"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." vs. 20-21
We need to be careful that we do not place ourselves in judgement of others... but the Bible is so clear... I am amazed as I read it, the parallels that I see in these passages to what we see happening in our world today... The Lord has given us the truths of His Word so that we will not be deceived by the false prophets of today's generation... Lord help us to have eyes to see!
Tomorrow's Reading: Ezekiel 36-37 and Ps. 126-128
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