The"American Wisdom Series"
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Pamphlet #5118 KC2Peter4

"Surely Peter can't be talking about ministers! They can't be that bad!"

As we complete chapter 2 of 2nd Peter today, REMEMBER that the subject of this chapter as declared in verse 1 is false prophets and false teachers, the seducers of men, as well as the followers of their pernicious ways in verse 2.

We'll get to the scoffers in the next chapter.

However, as we read the next few verses you may say to yourself,
"Surely Peter can't be talking about ministers! They can't be that bad!"

Oh, but he is talking about preachers and ministers, and he will liken them even to Balaam in verse 15, a prophet of God who willingly went against the word of God and willingly taught error so as to receive big bucks.

Again, these false preachers and ministers are the seducers spoken of in verses 18 and 19.

There is also much similarity in context and phrase between this second chapter of Peter and the Book of Jude, some of which we will draw together in parallel.

Peter now continues to "stir up" in our minds things which we should already know about false preachers and their followers, that they will receive their punishment at judgment (vs. 9), especially [chiefly] those described in the next verse.

2 Pet. 2:10
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

Jude 1:8
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Presumptuous means "daring".

These dudes are arrogant and presumptuous and selfwilled and think nothing of teaching blasphemous doctrines.

That means that they know better!

It is true that those who teach false doctrines because they are deceived and follow the traditions of men and are just plain ignorant of the oracles of God, will be dealt with severely, for they have set themselves as teachers and should have "taken heed" and spoken the oracles of God only and so warned the people.

But "Woe" unto those who KNOW BETTER and teach falsely and lead God's children astray for self gain.

[11] Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
And don't argue with Satan or Satan's ministers.

Take heed to the example set forth by the archangel Michael.

Jude 1:9
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Peter continues:
2 Pet. 2:12
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
"Ditto", says Jude.
Jude 1:10
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.
They are like a bunch of wild animals who are born to be captured and killed, and perish they will.
2 Pet. 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
Again, these are those who have gone the way of religion, the way of Cain (see Companion note on Jude 11), seeking greedily after filthy lucre.

They feast [religiously] with you, but it's at the wrong wedding feast!

Jude 1:11
Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Korah, Balaam, and Cain all resisted the KNOWN WILL of God!

They all knew better!

[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;
They appear to be very religious but they are truly wolves in sheep's clothing.
2 Pet. 2:14
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
Though many are truly adulterous, this verse means that their eyes [minds] are full of "idolatry", their chief god being "filthy lucre" as documented by Peter in the next verse (15).

But first, who are these "unstable" souls [people] that are able to be captivated by these religious con-artists?

The word "unstable" is dipsuchos, Greek #1374, two-spitirted, i.e. vacillating (in opinion or purpose).

The reason they vacillate and are easily lead astray is that they are Biblically illiterate.

Hence they have no foundation, so they are like "a reed shaken with the wind".

Peter now exposes these false prophets and false teachers and tells us what their real motives for being in the ministry really are!

2 Pet. 2:15
Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
See, they have FORSAKEN the right way, which means they know better!

Read the story of Balaam in Numbers 22 & 23 how he "forsook" for money.

[16] But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
God used a dumb ass to speak to and correct the dumb ass!
[17] These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

Jude 1:12
... clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

They say they have the Living Water and the Fountain of Life, but their wells are dry and full of deception and lying divinations (remember Ezek. 13?).

They bring darkness upon the land and darkness shall be their fate.

Remember, we are talking about preachers and ministers.

2 Pet. 2:18
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
Yes, they are well dressed and speak great and marvelous things and entice people through EMOTIONALISM, i.e. desires of the flesh, like "to save it from pain and tribulation" with the promise of a quick escape in the Rapture Rocket.
[19] While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
They promise them FREEDOM from financial worries if they'll just send them money!

They promise them HEALING if they will just believe (and send them money).

Never once do they mention that Paul asked to be healed 3 times and the Lord said NO!

And they promise them liberty and entrance into the Kingdom of God while leading them to the entrance gate of hell itself.

Yes, as this scripture declares: "A man is a slave to whatever has mastered him".

If Satan's false teachers and false prophets have you following after the traditions of men, then you are his!

He is your master, instead of Jesus!

2 Pet. 2:20
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
Some preachers start out with the right motive but soon become corrupt and follow the way of Balaam after greed and money.

They spend half their airtime begging for money or selling books and trinkets.

The other half they spend on sermons about tithing.

No wonder the very first warning of Jesus Christ about our generation is: Matthew 24:4,5 "Take heed that no man deceive you.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."

Deceive just a few?
No! Many!

So watch out for con-artists!

To "the many" they don't appear as con-artists, do they?

They look like nice guys and gals!

Note: And by the way. If you have accepted Jesus and not been taught the oracles of God in this generation, then you will follow Satan when he appears, for you will believe he is Jesus.

2 Pet. 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
False prophets, those Balaams, and Cains, and Korahs of today, who know what God wants them to do and yet turn from the holy commandment, which is the Word of God, were far better off before they knew better.

God is not happy with anyone who turns from His commandments, but especially those who turn and preach other than the Oracles of God.

[22] But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
This is a quote from Proverbs 26:11.
Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
So take heed that no man deceives you!

Who wants to eat their puke?

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them {the ancient Israelites} for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

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