Presents pamphlet #906
Yes, it was so in Jeremiah's day.
It's also so today.
Just replace the word priest
with Christian minister.
And replace the word peace with grace.
Please
continue to read all 10 parts of this series on False Prophets and Negligent
Healers
Pamphlets
#903 thru #912
Micah is going to show us what it is that the false prophets of today preach which cause our people to "err" and go astray from the Word of God.
You see, Jesus Christ not only warned about false preachers and teachers in these last days who would deceive the majority of Christians, but He expects us to know the difference between what they preach and what true men and women of God teach. Let us go to the Book of Mark and pick up the conversation between Jesus Christ and His disciples as He was walking out of the temple on the mount in Jerusalem.
His disciples pointed out the "stones" and "structure" of the temple.Mark 13:1
And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
The Greek word translated "Seest thou" is "blepo" which means to "Take Heed", as in understand and pay very, very close attention to! Christ used this word five times in Mark 13 to emphasize some very major points, the first one being to understand that "There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down (which actually means to disintegrate)." We have already seen and will learn again today that what Christ told them was not some new thing, for it was already written in the prophets, in the Book of Micah, that Jerusalem would be leveled and become a "heap", i.e. be turned to ruins. Micah 3:12 "Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.[2] And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Of course, the disciples wanted to know when this would happen and what would be the sign when all these things would be fulfilled!
Jesus Christ then told them that the Number #1 thing to "take heed" of and be very aware of in these last days would false teachers who teach deception![3] And as He sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,[4] Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
These are the MANY men (and women) preachers who claim to be His representatives and who acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ! That's right! They are the MANY Christian ministers of today who say "Lord, Lord" and "Praise the Lord"! The only problem is that they teach the traditions of men and they prophesy out of their own hearts instead of understanding and teaching the words and visions of the prophets! All they teach and do, therefore, they do in vain, all for naught! Matthew 15:9 "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." The worst part is that they deceive our people and cause them to go astray from the commandments of God because they are just too busy with church activities and the "business" of making people feel good to teach His Word (all of it) to His children.[5] And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heedlest any man deceive you:[6] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
The LORD has something to say to these false prophets who are crying (proclaiming) something other than what the prophets of God are warning shall happen.
Micah tells us what that something is they preach.
* See comments in the "Companion Bible", pg. 1255, regarding the idolatrous practice of "biting olives (symbols of peace)" and "crying peace" around the altars of Baal.Micah 3:5
Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite* with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.
We already know how the false prophets cause our people to err, right? It falls right under the category of the "sin of Samaria" where they simply teach and do every churchy thing under the sun (in the name of Christ of course) except educate our people in the Word of God, instructing them in His righteous ways and to do as He commands. They therefore leave Christians totally unprepared for the day of battle, i.e. the spiritual warfare of these last days.
In fact the false prophets today are just like the "blind" religious leaders in Christ's day who did not even know the correct answers to some very basic questions because they themselves were Biblically illiterate and Jesus told them to their faces that is exactly why they erred, i.e. because they did not know the scriptures. Matthew 22:29 "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."
Now we learn from Micah that the false teachers (of today) are proclaiming Peace (Shalom) which includes Prosperity and Safety, i.e. saying that "all is well". Here is the definition of "peace":
Many, many preachers teach that Christians do NOT have to worry about the tribulation of antichrist because they will be taken up in a "rapture" and therefore they are SAFE and SECURE and "All is well"! Not only is this any-moment "Rapture Theory" contrary to Paul's teaching in 2 Thes. 2 but the prophets declare and history foreshadows that the Assyrian, also known as the king of Babylon is coming to take our people captive and slay them with his sword of deception.Peace = íBìLÜ íGLÜ shaòloòm shaòloòm shaw-lome', shaw-lome' Strong's #7965
From H7999; safe, that is, (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, that is, health, prosperity, peace:— X do, familiar, X fare, favour, + friend, X greet, (good) health, (X perfect, such as be at) peace (-able, - ably), prosper (-ity, -ous), rest, safe (-ly), salute, welfare, (X all is, be) well, X wholly.
The watchmen and pastors of our people are supposed to be "preparing an hedge" about the people that they may be able to stand in that day. So here's a question as an example: "How much of the prophet Joel concerning these last days have you heard preached lately?"
The false teachers are also preaching a gospel of "Prosperity" along with peace and safety (rapture) and telling people that God will pour out financial blessings upon them IF they "sow seeds (checks) of faith" and become generous, willing, "givers" to their ministry. If you think about what they are saying, they are actually claiming you can "buy" blessings from God! That's right! You can purchase your miracle right there at their spiritual Brothel (not Bethel).Joel 2:1
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;[2] A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
They also PROMISE them God WILL heal them IF they just have faith (and call an 800 number). That of course lets the preachers off the hook if people are not healed because they can blame it on their lack of faith (and perhaps they weren't the generous and willing givers they ought to be)! These are all lies! Again, they do err not knowing the scriptures and they cause our people to have false hope and a sense of false security and they set them up for disappointment and discouragement whereby many begin to doubt God loves and cares for them!
Where do we hear about God's Will in all this Peace and Prosperity Preaching? Are Christians never to suffer for Christ? Would you say that the apostle Paul was a man of great faith? Indeed he was, and we have on record that he asked God to heal his flesh infirmity (probably his bad eyesight).
Let us see what God's answer was:
The apostle Paul asked the Lord three times to heal him and guess what? The answer was NO!2 Cor. 12:7
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.[8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And guess what? His Grace was not limited to Paul, and Paul knew it! You see, we have just become recipients of the "purpose" of His grace in the "no" Paul received, for our strength and knowledge in "seeing" God's purpose has just been increased. You might say that He let Paul not see (physically) so that we could (spiritually)! That is why we pray, "Nevertheless, thy will be done!" Of course we also learn that "man" cannot PROMISE you that God will physically heal you if you just have faith and so any man who does so is a LIAR for he takes away the will and the grace of God with his false promise![9] And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
What shall happen to the prophets who cause God's people to err? Micah tells us:
The day of darkness and gloominess spoken of by Joel shall overtake them and they shall end up standing naked (spiritually) and ashamed before Jesus Christ, wishing rather that the mountains and hills would fall upon them because they are so ashamed (Rev. 6:16 "And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb".)Micah 3:6
Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.
You see, though they claim to be Christian ministers, God did not send them, neither did He give them those lying "visions" like someone out there in TV land has arthritis in their left knee and God is healing them right now (call 1 800 GVUS-MNY)![7] Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.
Here is more of what our Father has to say to the preachers of our day through Ezekiel:
"In the day of the LORD" gives us the timeframe of when these foxes would preach! They do not prepare our people with the Word of God whereby they have on the Gospel Armor (Eph. 6) to be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil. Instead, they prepare our people to be slaughtered (spiritually) and our Father doesn't like it! Woe unto them!Ezekiel 13:4
O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.[5] Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
Again, they give false hope in the name of Christ through their LIES![6] They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
God says He didn't speak to them! You can either believe God or the liars! I am not saying that Christ never speaks to His servants, but it is written that He has already foretold us (in His Word) "all things" pertaining to what is to happen in this final generation. All we need to do is "take heed" and learn from His Word! Mark 13:23 "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."[7] Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?
When God is against you, you have got serious trouble![8] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.
By the way, the apostle Paul also told us of the darkness (lack of truth and light) concerning the "peace and safety" preaching in these last days and how they would not escape!
You who study God's Word and have the light of truth which comes from knowing Him, i.e. from knowing His Word, do not listen to those "dark clouds" who cast a shadow of darkness over our people with their lies and deceptions.1 Thes. 5:3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Paul will go on to say "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good", i.e. document from His Word what you hear men (or women) teach, including this man!1 Thes. 5:4
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.[5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Now let us return to the true prophet of God and "see" what he has to say!
Oh my goodness, that will never sell in this day and age! You are going to offend people if you declare unto them what God's says concerning their transgressions and sins. People want to be "soothsayered" and entertained and filled with emotion (good feelings) and hear about peace and safety and prosperity and the "power of God" working miracles in their lives! Well, they are going to see His power all right, for what they do in wallowing in the "sin of Samaria" makes Him angry and He is soon going to "come forth out of His place" and "tread the winepress" and put a stop to it, remember?Micah 3:8
But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
Now take heed!
The sad reality is that this applies to the MANY leaders of our people (the house of Jacob) who come in the name of Christ and deceive MANY! Jesus Christ foretold us that there would be MANY... so... either they are here in these last days or Christ is made a liar! Think about it! Mark 13:5-6 "And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: [6] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."Micah 3:9
Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.
The mountain of God, His temple, is to be built upon the solid foundation of the Rock, i.e. Jesus Christ, the Word of God! But the many lying (please note*) preachers, priests, ministers, etc., build up the house of God with man's traditions and perversion and iniquity which causes our people to err, which causes their spiritual death![10]They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.
*Note: We are not saying that there are not good Bible teaching pastors and preachers, etc., nor are we judging those who are not, for that is left to our Father. To that end, you have never heard nor read where this ministry has ever singled out or named any individual or church or religious organization. We simply teach God's Word line by line as it is written and let His Voice speak to whom it may concern.
For example, the following verse in the Word of God declares that many Christian (house of Jacob) priests and preachers are "in it for the money"! How do you tell who they are? Any person with a little common sense can discern that simply by listening to them for a little while and take heed to how they always seem to get around to discussing the "almighty" dollar!
"They lean upon the LORD", means they do it all in the name of Christ! (Thus they use His name in vain, for profit, not prophet!) And they claim that "Christ is with us" and therefore no "evil (such as the evil one) can come upon us" in tribulation for we shall be "raptured away"![11] The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
Do you think our Father is happy with the false prophets who cause our people to err? Furthermore, do you think He actually enjoys hearing the "songs" and "praises" from those "worship" services while injustice and iniquity prevail in house of God and thus extend to the governors and the halls of justice. If you do, then read Amos 5:23-24!
We read in the opening to today's study what Christ said in the New Testament would happen to the temple when He returns, i.e. that there would not be one stone left standing atop another. He is going to level it to the ground and "discover the foundations thereof"! Here it is from the Old Testament in the great book of the prophet Micah, whose name means "Who is like Yahveh?"
He also told us right up front why the LORD would come forth out of His place and tread upon the high places and level them. Is it not because of the "sin of Samaria"?[12]Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.
Micah 1:5
For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?[6] Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof.
Ah, but too many of our preachers look their own way for their own gain.
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