Living in the Last Days
Matthew 24:1-14 NIV - Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.  “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

// Jesus said deception would be rampant in the final days of this age.

THE LAW OF FIRST MENTION! BIBLE COLLEGE.

“Watch out that no one deceives you” IMPORTANT>>That deception will culminate in PEOPLE BELEIVING the “Beast” (the Antichrist) and the “False Prophet.”

WHAT ARE THE FRUITS OF FALSE PROPHETS, AND HOW WILL WE RECOGNIZE THEM?

  1. FALSE PROPHETS: It’s not what they say, it’s what they DON’T say. (you can’t believe everything you hear you have to discern it)

• Their teaching will be totally out of balance. It will be good words, pleasant words, soothing words. They will NEVER, however, speak about what Jesus referred to as the “narrow way.”

Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV - The Narrow Way - “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult Is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

The narrow way is the path of (SAY THIS WITH ME) self-examination, truth, and discipleship.

  1. FALSE PROPHETS: Their doctrine is deceptive.

The narrow way is the path of self-examination, truth, and discipleship. CORRECTION,

Proverbs 14:12 NKJV - There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

John 8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

  1. FALSE PROPHETS: Their character is corrupt.

• They focus on proselytizing (stealing sheep). They especially want to pull them away from their God-called spiritual shepherds. • They always demand financial compensation. They take financial advantage of unstable souls. • Their lifestyle is not consistent with their teachings. Behind the scenes, they live a double-standard.

  1. FALSE PROPHETS: Their disciples are deceived. • Their disciples are enthusiastic but not spiritual. They have zeal but lack basic Bible foundation. • Their disciples focus only on power and not on the God of power. Jesus, though He moved in powerful miracles on earth, used each of them to bring glory and personal relationship to God. How do we prevent ourselves from being deceived by a false prophet or false spirit? “Self-examination”:
  2. Examine WHAT you are being taught to do. Does it line up with Scripture?
  3. Examine the MOTIVES behind what you do. Does it bring glory to God…or you?
  4. Examine the FOCUS of your spiritual walk. Does this teaching lead you into a deeper relationship with Christ Himself?