The adversary’s cunning is astonishing. In addition to the increasingly frontal attacks against the gospel, it is primarily those who cling to the written, unadulterated Word of God who are exposed to sophisticated, sometimes very subtle, temptations that come through the back door. An unmistakable signal to bind one’s feet even more firmly to the foundation of Jesus Christ and His message.
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The adversary’s methods of misleading people through false teachings are extremely sophisticated, even brilliant, unfortunately. One must always keep in mind that the wine of Babylon is anything but a blatantly false doctrine. If the pure gospel represents freshly squeezed, healthy, and life-sustaining orange juice, and this drinking glass is labeled accordingly, then the teachings of Babylon are certainly not the scarlet-purple-sulfur-yellow counterpart, filled in a glass labeled “Satan’s Teachings.”
That would be blatantly obvious, easily recognizable, and would have nothing to do with the deception that Jesus Christ warned us about several times in Matthew 24. Every person would be able to recognize the false teaching at a glance. Many might well choose this brew of their own free will, but deception would not have occurred.
The fatal thing about Babylon’s teachings is simply that they look like freshly squeezed, healthy, and life-sustaining orange juice, also described as “good news,” but contain the pure poison, albeit just a few drops, of the adversary’s false teaching. It looks inconspicuous, but is guaranteed to kill people.
The original must be known
It’s easy to understand that a forgery can only be recognized as a forgery if one has knowledge of the original. A counterfeit banknote, unless it’s made from watercolor-painted napkins, can only be reliably identified if one knows the criteria for a “counterfeit-proof” original. The same applies to the true gospel, the unadulterated written Word of God, and the many accounts that diverge from it.
Deceptions from the beginning of all things
Trials and tribulations are not a modern condition, but an evil phenomenon that began with original sin in the Garden of Eden. Even the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth could not change this. For humankind’s free will and free choice remained unchanged, as did its fallen nature. Therefore, Paul repeatedly encountered friction in the still very young churches, which needed a warning finger, Galatians 1:6-9
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.“
“Even if an angel from heaven” were to speak a different message from the proclaimed gospel, let him be accursed! Thus, especially today, numerous “enlightened” people proclaim to have received messages from heaven, even specifically from the angel Gabriel. At first glance, this seems like an extremely unusual alleged occurrence, but it still has an open ending. This is true until one takes note of what the message was supposed to have been. At this point, one doesn’t have to read or listen for long before the first deviations from the written Word of God become apparent.
“New Messages” from Messenger Gabriel
Things get interesting when, for example, this “message conveyed by Gabriel” claims to have explained in a “received vision” that certain passages in the Bible are actually forged. This included the passage in Matthew 28:19:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:“.
The Holy Spirit has absolutely no place in this context, so the claim goes. It is striking, at least, that the Holy Spirit, the true representative of Jesus Christ active in this world after His Ascension, is a particular thorn in the side of various purveyors of the wine of Babylon. The Holy Spirit is either completely ignored in such widespread theories or denied in this way.
The main problem for such agitators is likely that the papacy recently claimed to be Christ’s representative on earth (Info). The only question is which “Christ” (“Anointed One”) is actually meant (Info).
The textus receptus (Geneva 1598) shows the following content for Matthew 28:19:
“πορευθέντες οὖν μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος·“
One doesn’t need to study ancient Greek. It’s enough to consider the word “Πνεύματος” (“pneumatos”). This is the word for the Holy Spirit. It’s worth noting that the textus receptus is not the basis for the now ecumenically refined Bible versions, let alone the Latin Vulgate, but rather the massively contested majority text of the New Testament (Info). Therefore, anyone who claims that the angel Gabriel announced that this biblical passage was forged because the Holy Spirit may not even be mentioned is equating the author of the Gospel of Matthew with a liar.
Closer to the Quran than the Gospel
Furthermore, it was the angel Gabriel (Jibril) who dictated the Quran to the chosen prophet. In this scripture, Gabriel is considered the “Ruh Al-Qudus,” or “Holy Spirit,” who conveys the message to humanity. Thus, it states in Surah Baqarah, verse 97 (translation Abul Ala Maududi):
“Tell them: ‘Whoever is Gabriel’s enemy should understand that by Allah’s command, he has revealed the Quran to your heart, confirming what was revealed before and bringing guidance and glad tidings to the believers.”
and in this context in Surah Ash-Shu’ara verse 193 (26:193):
“which the true spirit has brought down“
The true ambitions of the stories about a “vision of Gabriel” are quite obvious when Gabriel himself speaks of the father and “his brother” Yeshua, who himself came “in the name of his father to earth” to bring good news.
In parallel, openly professed Satanists claim that Jesus Christ and Lucifer are brothers, with Jesus the younger one essentially bullying his “brother” and depriving Lucifer of his rightful place. They also distinguish between Lucifer and Satan. A prime example of this mythology is the comic series “Hazbin Hotel” (Info). In this fantasy story, too, (Arch)angel Gabriel has many brothers in heaven, including Lucifer (the Morning Star). The nature of these narrated “Gabriel visions” is truly blatantly obvious.
The visionary theses are merely an example of a poisonous drop in an otherwise healthy-looking orange juice. Even the intention of the interfaith ecumenism can be recognized. It is the wine of Babylon. Even here, Paul’s warning, “even if an angel from heaven preaches something other than the gospel,” stands out. One “only” needs to know the gospel, the original, to be able to identify such spiritual attacks as such.
Attacks on a specific target group
Such narratives appear almost purposeful when a relatively broad agreement with the gospel is evident, such as the correct identification of “Babylon” and the fatal effects of the papacy. Even the binding observance of the Ten Commandments, including, of course, the associated biblical Sabbath, are emphasized. However, only a minority of the (once) Reformed or Evangelical Lutheran congregations agree with this truth, based on the Word of God.
It is therefore obvious that such erroneous theses, in an environment of overwhelming agreement, perhaps even with the intention of gaining trust, target precisely those who know, support, and live biblical truth. Specifically, those who, according to Revelation 12:17, are the adversary’s particular target.
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.“
In connection with the “baptismal formula” according to Matthew 28:19, it is especially the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) that recommends “blessing” the candidates for baptism with an extremely strange-sounding formula (Info).
Well, things are coming to a head. Such “points of friction” must be expected. This means unswervingly holding on to the Scriptures as they are written and not deviating from them one millimeter or letting yourself be fooled. And don’t forget: Jesus Christ was betrayed by Judas, the son of Iscariot, with a kiss. And yes, put on the armor of God (Info).
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Matthew 10:16
Bible verses from King James Version (1611)
