GOD WARNED

God warned that this would happen. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils..." (I Tim. 4:1).

Christ even told how Satan would deceive, "False christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before" (Matt. 24:24,25).

Why are people deceived? Why is it that Satan can sift them as wheat? The Bible answers this question also. "Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie" (11 Thess. 2:10-11 ).

Few people realize how active Satan is. A constant stream of new versions and updates of God's Word have effectively resulted in many people not reading it at all. After all, how can they know what it means if it changes as often as the tide and is interpreted by religious leaders to accommodate every whim and fancy of man.

Neglecting the Bible as their source of instruction, people then depend on feelings or emotions. True Christian experience certainly brings emotion but it must always be based on God's Word. Experience based on emotion is as the house built on a foundation of sand which is destined for destruction (Matt. 7:26,27). It will ignite and spread as wild fire, destroying all in its path.

Satan knows if he comes up with something altogether new it will be recognized as being false. Instead he introduces counterfeits.