Paul said in 1 Timothy 5:19-20, “Against an elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” You see the caution I previously mentioned in these two verses. Just as Jesus commanded us, when confronting sin, it is always best to have two or three with you to verify what was said. It is a protection for you and shows the accused that more than one person is concerned about what is happening. In this case, if the person confronted does not acknowledge their wrong, rebuke them openly.

But Paul then takes it a step further. In 1 and 2 Timothy, Paul named at least six people who had departed from the faith. I certainly urge caution if you feel you should call names, but sometimes people need to know who the wolf in sheep’s clothing is.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Jesus then added in verses 21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

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.”

I love the plain-spoken way the Message Bible translates Deuteronomy 18:21-22, “You may be wondering among yourselves, How can we tell the difference, whether it was God who spoke or not? Here’s how: If what the prophet spoke in God’s name doesn’t come to pass, then obviously God wasn’t behind it; the prophet made it up. Forget about him.” We must proceed cautiously, but with courage.

All the deception from false prophets dating back to the earliest days of the Bible is leading up to the greatest deception of all time, the Antichrist. As a result of Biblical illiteracy, people will fall for the lies of Satan, and many will falsely believe the Antichrist is Christ Himself. Both Daniel and John say he will sway people by using “great words” that will deceive the masses.

There is a lot of chaos and confusion in our world today. Even those who do not consider themselves a Christian, are looking for peace. Every day seems to be fraught with unsettling news of some sort. We want someone who can make sense of the mess. One day, a person who appears to have the answers will step into the world’s limelight. It is not a coincidence that the companion of the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation is an individual identified as the False Prophet.

We are made in God’s image. When God created Adam, God breathed a part of Himself into Adam. As a result, there is a hunger deep in the soul of humanity that reaches out to God. And when someone says they are speaking on behalf of God, if they can show signs and wonders, then people with no Biblical foundation can be easily deceived. Our only hope for spending eternity in heaven is through Jesus Christ, “Who is the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

Our life must be rooted in truth. As the old expression goes, “Sometimes the truth hurts,” but in the case of the Gospel, it is always meant for our good. God is warning us about things to come and how we can be prepared for the day when we stand in His presence. Don’t you want to be ready? I urge you, give your heart to Jesus. Listen only to true men and women of God. They want what is best for you.