False Prophets

I have found that Paul and many other parts of the Bible are especially concerned with False prophets. It was a early prediction of the splintering of Christianity. It's as if Paul knew about the Protestant Reformation before it began. And it did not start with a false church, the danger and pitfall began from a false prophet, namely Martin Luther. Notice: Jesus even began this warning by saying, "Beware of false prophets" (Matt. 7:15) not beware of false churches. The emphasis was on the teachers, not the systems they represented. Matt 7:15-16 ""Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?"

Why was there such a great concern? Wouldn't people just know by nature when they were being decieved? Couldn't they just pick up the Bible and know? Looking at the world today obviously, no matter how smart the theologian it doesn't matter. We can be tricked and even having the Bible does not help. (Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach (to you) a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed!) They carry a 'gospel' too. In fact, to decieve Christians they go so far as to disguise themselves as real apostles : 2 corinthians 11:13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, who masquerade as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. Satan quoted scriptures in the temptation of Jesus, but twisted their meaning. 2 Peter 3:16 This is what he says in all his letters when he writes on the subject. There are some difficult things in his letters which ignorant and unstable people explain falsely, as they do with other passages of the Scriptures. So they bring on their own destruction. 2 Peter 1:20 Above all else, however, remember that none of us can explain by ourselves a prophecy in the Scriptures. Acts 8:30-31 Philip ran over and heard him reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. He asked him, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 The official replied, "How can I understand unless someone explains it to me?" And he invited Philip to climb up and sit in the carriage with him. The "Bible alone" theory was not believed by anyone in the early Church. It is new, having arisen only in the 1500s during the Protestant Reformation. The theory is a "tradition of men" that nullifies the Word of God, distorts the true role of the Bible, and undermines the authority of the Church Jesus established (Mark 7:1–8). The Protestant churches were established during the Reformation, which began in 1517. (Most of today’s Protestant churches are actually offshoots of the original Protestant offshoots.) matthew 24:11 Then many false prophets will appear and fool many people.

Now not all are trying to decieve, some really believe the false teachings they preach. They honestly seek and love God, but have fallen for lies. 1 Timothy 1:7 "They want to be teachers of God's law, but they do not understand their own words or the matter about which they speak with so much confidence."

So who then has the authority to interpret the scriptures for us? 1 Tim. 3:15 "But if I delay, this letter will let you know how we should conduct ourselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." The church of Christ that is the pillar and support of the Truth has that authority. Jesus promised to guide his Church into all truth (John 16:12–13). The Church has remained one, holy, catholic, and apostolic—not through man’s effort, but because God preserves the Church he established (Matt. 16:18, 28:20). 2 Tim 2:2 "And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well." So not everyone who picks up a bible has been entrusted to teach others, you need the authority of the Church. Malachi 2:7 "It is the duty of the priests to teach the true knowledge of God. People should go to them to learn my will becuase they are the messagers of the Lord Almighty" Back in the OT the preists were decendants of Levi and Aaron. The people gave 10% to the priests, verse 9. 11Even though the Law of Moses says that the priests must be descendants of Levi, those priests cannot make anyone perfect. So there needs to be a priest like Melchizedek, rather than one from the priestly family of Aaron. 12And when the rules for selecting a priest are changed, the Law must also be changed. 13The person we are talking about is our Lord, who came from a tribe that had never had anyone to serve as a priest at the altar. 14Everyone knows he came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never said that priests would come from that tribe. There was a holy nation of peoples and an ordained priesthood. The ordained were to teach! And not just by letter, but by face to face 2 John 1:12. And these teachings could come by letter or word of mouth 2 Thessalonians 2:15. Not everything was written so that their joy may be full and because all the books in the world could not contain all the Jesus said and did. John 21:25 "Now there are many other things that Jesus did. If they were all written down one by one, I suppose that the whole world could not hold the books that would be written." Do not fall for the traditions of men. Mark 7:7 It is no use for them to worship me, because they teach human rules as though they were my laws!'

Which man started your “tradition”?

1968-1970, Independent Charismatic Church, Former Denominational Pastors, all around the USA

1914, Assemblies of God, Former Evangelical Pastors, Hot Springs, Ar.

1908, Church of the Nazarene, Phineas F. Bresee, California

1907, Church of God (Pentecostal), Ambrose J. Tomlinson, Cleveland, Tn.

1901, Pentecostal Churches, Charles Parham & John Seymour, Topeka, Ka.

1879, Christian Science Church, Mary Baker Eddy, Los Angeles

1865, Salvation Army, William Booth, London

1830, Mormon Church, Joseph Smith, New York

1827, Church of Christ, Thomas & Alexander Campbell, Kentucky.

1800, United Brethren Church, Philip Otterbein & Martin Boehm, Maryland

1739, Methodist Episcopal Church, John & Charles Wesley, England

1600, Congregational Church, Robert Brown, England

1600, Baptist Church, John Smyth, England

1560, Presbyterian Church, John Knox, Scotland

1534, Anglican/Episcopal, Henry VIII, England

1524, Lutheran Church, Martin Luther, Germany

A.D. 33, Catholic Church, Jesus Christ, Jerusalem