Introduction:
This is the second message on this theme. We have dealt with this subject regarding the world of both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Now we consider OUR WORLD TODAY. Our world is beset by the same problem that Peter dealt with in his day – that is: FALSE TEACHERS. These false teachers or prophets are abundant in our day and will be until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
A. The natural BRUTE BEAST of our day, FALSE TEACHERS, vv. 1, 12; Jude 10, “But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.”
1. They speak evil of that which they do not understand, 1 Timothy 1:7, “Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.”
2. They are SPOTS and BLEMISHES on society, the OPPOSITE of Jesus, 1 Peter 1:19, “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
3. They are deceivers, withered fruit, Jude 12, “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;”
a. These deceivers destroy the fellowship of the Lord’s churches, 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
b. Converting fellowship into scenes of revelry, 1 Corinthians 11:19-21, “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.”
B. The CHARACTER of these false teachers is compared to that of Jezebel, Revelation 2:28, “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.”
1. The church at Thyatira had TOLARATED this WOMAN who was HIGHLY GIFTED, PERSUASIVE, and ARTFUL to bring in heresy, 1 Kings 16:31, “And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.”
2. This woman who was GUILTY of idolatry and witchcraft, is a SYMBOL of the APOSTATE CHURCH, 2 Kings 9:22, “And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?”
C. These who are UNBELIEVERS are those who CANNOT CEASE from sin, v.14; 1 John 3:9-10, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”
1. They are cursed children, v. 14; note the comparison; 1 Peter 1:14, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:”
2. Having a heart exercised with covetous practices, 2 Peter 2:3, “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
D. These have FORSAKEN THE RIGHT WAY, v. 15; 1 Samuel 12:23, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:”
1. These went astray, Mark 12:24, “And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?”
2. They had followed cunning devises contrary to the truth, 2 Peter 1:16, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”