Top danger at the end times – the temptation to false gospel

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Jesus Christ warned urgently in His sermon on the Mount of Olives about the temptation to false teachings that may look Christian but nevertheless lead to certain destruction. Heresies and false gospels are among the greatest dangers. The only thing that helps here is personal responsibility and constant checking against the written Word of God. There must be no alternatives or compromises to the truth.

Danger of seduction in top position

With the (inevitable) approach of the return of Jesus Christ, the dangers that Jesus Christ urgently warned us about in His sermon on the Mount of Olives are coming to a head. In the speech also known as the “end-time sermon,” Jesus Christ announced His return. The disciples present asked what the sign of His return was, Matthew 24:3:
“Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?“

Jesus Christ did not name the signs of the sun and moon, nor the occurring catastrophes, wars, rebellions and illnesses first in His answer, but rather the danger of seduction, Matthew 24:4:
“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.“

The danger of seduction is therefore very important. This is primarily linked to the temptations to a false gospel, teachings that look Christian but completely miss the message of salvation in the Word of God. The perfidious thing about these threatening temptations is that they are very difficult to recognize as such. Just as God’s great adversary, Satan, will not appear as a baring teeth, horned, red-black monster with a tail and trident, but as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14), so inconspicuous, almost temptingly promising salvation the temptations will also look like.

Seduction by the good-looking

Hardly anyone would be “seduced” into entering a designated “Satan’s Church” if it is openly posted above the entrance gate and therefore easy to recognize. Likewise, it is hardly possible for anyone seeking the salvation of Jesus Christ to be taken by the hand when a community that has fallen away from the gospel openly confesses that it does not represent the gospel, but only something that “looks similar.” Seduction only succeeds when the false teaching corresponds to people’s ideas, “itching ears” and desires and is described as Christian. A popular misleading promise not only sounds good, but you can actually feel it when you are close to God.

If a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice is the healing gospel, and the glass next to it, filled with strychnine, both glasses are also truthfully labeled, then the choice is very easy. Things become critical when a third glass is added, which is three quarters filled with orange juice and a quarter strychnine. The contents still look orange and therefore healthy. The label is also labeled “Salvation drink”. Look healthy, advertised as healthy, but certainly deadly.

This third glass is the big trap into which the majority of humanity will run straight, undaunted and even with a lot of enthusiasm. People will be so convinced of the deadly mix that they will want to persecute and silence those who point out this deadly danger.

But how is it possible to recognize this deadly mix of orange juice and strychnine? The orange of this mixture cannot be the same orange of the original, unmixed orange juice. Comparison is therefore the appropriate means of identifying deviations. Specifically, if the touted “doctrine of salvation” deviates from the Gospel in even a single place, this “new doctrine” must be rejected outright. This “only” requires reading, studying and taking the Gospel to heart.

Compare with the Gospel

A falsified gospel must necessarily show deviations from the original in some places. Otherwise it would be identical. Some deviations from the truth (gospel) are easy to recognize, such as the erroneous teaching about an immortal soul (Info). Other teachings, on the other hand, are difficult to recognize as misleading because they use individual statements from the Bible and, each time taken out of context, are reassembled to form a new, false picture.

Heresies that make extensive use of individual biblical statements sound plausible and therefore convincing. One of the most striking examples is the “love of God.” It is undeniable that God loves His creatures. However, the erroneous teaching creates such a love of God that does not allow sinners to be held accountable for their actions. The love of God (“orange juice”) does not allow condemnation of people (“strychnine”). A mix that turns out to be fatal at the “bitter” end.

But the truth looks completely different. Because in addition to God’s love (“orange juice”), the Gospel also emphasizes His immutable justice (“orange juice”). And in the context of justice, the law also plays an essential role and thus automatically the relevance of sin (Info).

God’s love is not so “infinite” that there would be no consequences for clinging to sin. Jesus Christ himself emphasized this in John 15:10:
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.“

Staying in love by keeping the commandments. This is definitely not the oft-told “unconditional love” for all eternity. For justice and law are the basis of the judgment that is sure to come. God and His law are inextricably linked (Info). With this handing, it is determined and justified which person has decided to “stay” and “not stay”.

You shall recognize them by their fruit

If an apologist’s promised words appear at first glance to be genuine gospel, the next glance could reveal such a counterfeit. Does the preacher act on his own words? Preach asceticism and humility, but drive a Lamborghini and pretend to be inspired by the Holy Spirit? A well-known image, especially in the evangelical (charismatic) “mega-churches” in the USA. Jesus Christ also had words of warning for such candidates. Matthew 7:15-21:
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 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.“

Avert temptation through personal responsibility

Check, check and if in doubt, check! The standard of all things is the Bible, the written word of God. Any teaching that deviates even in the slightest (content, context) can be noted as a warning example, but should be rejected for belief. Many false prophets and false Christs (self-proclaimed saviors of all stripes) have long appeared and more will follow. Jesus Christ warned against this deception and John called for a closer look at such teachings, 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.“

Unfortunately, for some time now the standard of all things, the Bible, has also been targeted by those who want to lead people away from the truth. In the course of ecumenism, which only works on the basis of false compromises, thousands (!) of changes have been made to the new Bible translations. A few Bible editions (Schlachter 2000, Luther 1912, Alte Elberfelder, King James Version 1611) still retained the original basic text of the New Testament (examples and more info).

Even for the Bible forgers, Jesus Christ had a warning message ready through John in the last verses of the Gospel:

Bible verses from King James Version