Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

1. Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing False Prophecy Past, Present and Future

2. Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing • Matthew 7 • 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

3. Topics • Define Prophet • Past • Present • Future • What can we do?

4. Meaning of ‘Prophesy’ • Hebrew • Naba (naw-baw) • A primitive root; to prophesy, that is, speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse): - prophesy (-ing) make self a prophet. • Greek • prophēteuo (prof-ate-yoo'-o) • to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office: - prophesy.

5. Meaning of Prophecy • Two characteristics of Prophecy • Foretell Events • Speak by Inspiration • False Prophet Claims to have these characteristics

6. Past • Hananiah • Barjesus • The Two Prophets

7. Hananiah • Jeremiah 28 • 1 And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, 2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD’S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon: 4 And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. 5 Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD,

8. Hananiah (cont.) • 6 Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD’S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place. 7 Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people; 8 The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence. 9 The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him. 10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck, and brake it. 11 And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way. 12 Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,

9. Hananiah (cont.) • 13 Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron. 14 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also. 15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. 17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

10. Hananiah (cont.) • Prophecy that the people would be released from Babylon’s stronghold • Jeremiah then told by God the yoke would become worse, not better • Hananiah prophesied that Israel would be free within two years, but was killed for his false prophecy within two months!

11. Lessons for Us • We tend to want to believe good news over bad news • We must be careful that we don’t let this tendency cloud what the real truth is in Scriptures • We must endeavor to make our thoughts and actions are Scripturally-based, not listening to people or interpretations that we want to hear

12. Lessons for Us (cont.) • We must be careful in our interactions with others that we don’t tell them what they want to hear to gain favor or popularity.

13. Barjesus • Acts 13 • 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. 6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

14. Barjesus (cont.) • 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

15. Lessons for Us • Beware of subtilty or craftiness • Serpent • Be filled with the things of the Spirit to detect these things

16. The Two Prophets • 1 Kings 13 • The one prophet listens to the false prophet, not God • Note that in this case there is not mention of punishment of the false prophet but rather the man who LISTENED to the false prophet

17. Lessons for Us • Proverbs 17 • 4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. • We must always listen to God’s words over man’s.

18. Present • False Prophecy in our Lifetime • Rapture • Doomsday • Christ’s Return

19. Jehovah’s Witnesses

20. Jehovah’s Witnesses Doomsday Dilemma • Since its founding in the 1870s, the Jehovah's Witnesses, a Christian offshoot, had prophesied the end of the world in 1914 (pictured: Jehovah's Witness children hand out religious literature in an undated photo). • Though doomsday didn't arrive in 1914, ever since then, the religion's followers have been predicting that the world will end "shortly," according to the 1997 book Apocalypse Delayed: The Story of Jehovah's Witnesses. • Published May 20, 2011

21. Planetary Alignments

22. Planetary Alignments: Doomsday Omens? • The moon and Venus join together in a conjunction over the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse in Florida on February 27, 2009. • Such planetary alignments have inspired many doomsday forecasts, particularly around the May 5, 2000, conjunction, when Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn lined up with the sun and the moon. • Author Richard Noone predicted ice would overtake the world as a result of the alignment. And "psychic archaeologist" Jeffrey Goodman asserted in his 1977 book We Are the Earthquake Generation that "quakes and volcanoes [will be] set off around the world and a rift [will] open up as the Earth splits in several places to relieve the stress produced by the shift," New Scientist reported.

23. Pat Robertson

24. Robertson’s Rapture • Decades before Harold Camping's May 21, 2011, prediction, TV evangelist Pat Robertson (pictured in 2000) had preached that, sometime in the 1980s, Jesus would return to Earth. • Robertson's rapture forecast was based on writings in the Bible, specifically I Thessalonians, which states: "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air," according to The Atlantic. • Under this doomsday scenario, unbelievers and Satan will be trapped in a lake of fire, where they will be tormented day and night forever, the Atlantic said. Fire will also destroy Earth and replace it with a new heaven and Earth, where believers—or the redeemed—will live, the story goes. • Published May 20, 2011

25. Y2K

26. Y2K Judgment Day The Head family displays survival supplies meant to carry the family through the supposed millennium apocalypse caused by the Y2K computer bug. A 1984 computer-trade column first warned of the end of the world occurring on January 1, 2000, the Wall Street Journal reported. A bug caused by a calculation error would cripple computers and other machines and lead to mass chaos, the column said. The column described how to purchase an anti-Y2K amulet and lifesaving Y2K-repair tools, the Journal reported. Evangelicals also recommended that their followers stockpile food and prepare for the worst, according to the Washington Post. Such leaders as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson hinted that the turn of the millennium would bring the rapture, as described in the Bible's Book of Revelation, the Post reported. Published May 20, 2011

27. Hale-Boppalypse?

28. Hale-Boppalypse? • Pictured over Stonehenge, the extremely bright comet Hale-Bopp, which was discovered in 1995, and sparked tragedy when it last buzzed Earth in 1997. • Thirty-nine people, part of a religious group called Heaven's Gate, committed suicide in California when the comet was at its closest. The group believed that a UFO riding the comet's wake would rescue them from a doomed Earth. • The followers thought that Lucifer controlled the Earth and that humans "were about to perish in apocalyptic flames," according to the book Apocalypses. • Published May 20, 2011

29. Lessons for Us • There are many signs that have been given us • We must understand WHAT is going to happen first and foremost • We must look to the Bible to see how world events may be playing a part in God’s plan • We must prepare for the day whenever it may be

30. Future • Next Year • Ongoing False Prophecy

31. Harold Camping

32. Biblical Texts[show] Key Terms• Second Coming• May 2011 Prediction• Seven Seals• Tribulation[show]• Son of Perdition 2011 end times prediction From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Harold Camping • The 2011 end times prediction made by American Christian radio host Harold Camping stated that the Rapture and Judgment Day would take place on May 21, 2011, and that the end of the world would take place five months later on October 21, 2011. The Rapture, in a specific tradition of premillennial theology, is the taking up into heaven of God's elect people. Camping, president of the Family Radio Christian network, claimed the Bible as his source and said May 21 would be the date of the Rapture and the day of judgment "beyond the shadow of a doubt".Camping suggested that it would occur at 6 p.m. local time, with the rapture sweeping the globe time zone by time zone, while some of his supporters claimed that around 200 million people (approximately 3% of the world's population) would be 'raptured‘. The 2011 end times prediction made by American Christian radio host Harold Camping stated that the Rapture and Judgment Day would take place on May 21, 2011,123 and that the end of the world would take place five months later on October 21, 2011.4 The Rapture, in a specific tradition of premillennial theology, is the taking up into heaven of God's elect people. Camping, president of the Family Radio Christian network, claimed the Bible as his source and said May 21 would be the date of the Rapture and the day of judgment "beyond the shadow of a doubt".5 Camping suggested that it would occur at 6 p.m. local time, with the rapture sweeping the globe time zone by time zone,67 while some of his supporters claimed that around 200 million people (approximately 3% of the world's population) would be 'raptured'.8 The vast majority of Christian groups, including Protestant and Catholic believers, did not accept Camping's predictions;9 some explicitly rejected them,10111213 citing Bible passages including those stating "about that day or hour no one knows". An interview with a group of church leaders noted that all of them had scheduled church services as usual for Sunday, May 22.14 Camping had previously predicted that the Rapture would occur in September 1994. Following the failure of the prediction, media attention shifted to the response from Camping and his followers. On Sunday, May 22, Camping emerged briefly from his home, saying "Give me a day, no interviews today ... I've got to live with it, I've got to think it out."15 He said he would make a public statement on Monday, May 23.1617 On May 23, Camping stated that May 21 had been a "spiritual" day of judgment, and that the physical Rapture would occur on October 21, 2011, simultaneously with the destruction of the universe by God.18

33. Biblical Texts[show] Key Terms• Second Coming• May 2011 Prediction• Seven Seals• Tribulation[show]• Son of Perdition 2011 end times prediction From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Harold Camping (cont.) • The vast majority of Christian groups, including Protestant and Catholic believers, did not accept Camping's predictions; some explicitly rejected them, citing Bible passages including those stating "about that day or hour no one knows". An interview with a group of church leaders noted that all of them had scheduled church services as usual for Sunday, May 22. Camping had previously predicted that the Rapture would occur in September 1994. The 2011 end times prediction made by American Christian radio host Harold Camping stated that the Rapture and Judgment Day would take place on May 21, 2011,123 and that the end of the world would take place five months later on October 21, 2011.4 The Rapture, in a specific tradition of premillennial theology, is the taking up into heaven of God's elect people. Camping, president of the Family Radio Christian network, claimed the Bible as his source and said May 21 would be the date of the Rapture and the day of judgment "beyond the shadow of a doubt".5 Camping suggested that it would occur at 6 p.m. local time, with the rapture sweeping the globe time zone by time zone,67 while some of his supporters claimed that around 200 million people (approximately 3% of the world's population) would be 'raptured'.8 The vast majority of Christian groups, including Protestant and Catholic believers, did not accept Camping's predictions;9 some explicitly rejected them,10111213 citing Bible passages including those stating "about that day or hour no one knows". An interview with a group of church leaders noted that all of them had scheduled church services as usual for Sunday, May 22.14 Camping had previously predicted that the Rapture would occur in September 1994. Following the failure of the prediction, media attention shifted to the response from Camping and his followers. On Sunday, May 22, Camping emerged briefly from his home, saying "Give me a day, no interviews today ... I've got to live with it, I've got to think it out."15 He said he would make a public statement on Monday, May 23.1617 On May 23, Camping stated that May 21 had been a "spiritual" day of judgment, and that the physical Rapture would occur on October 21, 2011, simultaneously with the destruction of the universe by God.18

34. Biblical Texts[show] Key Terms• Second Coming• May 2011 Prediction• Seven Seals• Tribulation[show]• Son of Perdition 2011 end times prediction From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Harold Camping (cont.) • Following the failure of the prediction, media attention shifted to the response from Camping and his followers. On Sunday, May 22, Camping emerged briefly from his home, saying "Give me a day, no interviews today ... I've got to live with it, I've got to think it out.“ He said he would make a public statement on Monday, May 23. On May 23, Camping stated that May 21 had been a "spiritual" day of judgment, and that the physical Rapture would occur on October 21, 2011, simultaneously with the destruction of the universe by God. The 2011 end times prediction made by American Christian radio host Harold Camping stated that the Rapture and Judgment Day would take place on May 21, 2011,123 and that the end of the world would take place five months later on October 21, 2011.4 The Rapture, in a specific tradition of premillennial theology, is the taking up into heaven of God's elect people. Camping, president of the Family Radio Christian network, claimed the Bible as his source and said May 21 would be the date of the Rapture and the day of judgment "beyond the shadow of a doubt".5 Camping suggested that it would occur at 6 p.m. local time, with the rapture sweeping the globe time zone by time zone,67 while some of his supporters claimed that around 200 million people (approximately 3% of the world's population) would be 'raptured'.8 The vast majority of Christian groups, including Protestant and Catholic believers, did not accept Camping's predictions;9 some explicitly rejected them,10111213 citing Bible passages including those stating "about that day or hour no one knows". An interview with a group of church leaders noted that all of them had scheduled church services as usual for Sunday, May 22.14 Camping had previously predicted that the Rapture would occur in September 1994. Following the failure of the prediction, media attention shifted to the response from Camping and his followers. On Sunday, May 22, Camping emerged briefly from his home, saying "Give me a day, no interviews today ... I've got to live with it, I've got to think it out."15 He said he would make a public statement on Monday, May 23.1617 On May 23, Camping stated that May 21 had been a "spiritual" day of judgment, and that the physical Rapture would occur on October 21, 2011, simultaneously with the destruction of the universe by God.18

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39. Ongoing/Future Deceivers and False Prophets • 1 John 4:1-6 • 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

40. Ongoing Deceivers and False Prophets • 2 John • 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

41. A.D. 70 • Matthew 24 • 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) • 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

42. Lessons for Us • We must always be on our guard • There are constant dangers of those that claim to have God’s word. • ‘False’ religions may try to pull true believers away from God’s teachings with promises of an easier life.

43. Punishment of the False Prophet • Rev. 19:19-21 • And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

44. Conclusions: What can we do? • Study the Bible for Ourselves regarding prophecies • Bro. Thomas/Roberts works on Revelations Eureka • Look for signs in current events (not to predict the day but to see it could be soon) • Today may be our last day anyway

45. What can we do? • Don’t become a false prophet! • Watch for subtilty • Don’t add anything: • Mark 13 • 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

46. What can we do? • Bro. John Thomas • The Lord “who hath the key of David, hath opened, and no man can shut”; He hath set before the Gentiles “an open door, and no man can close it”, so long as the scriptures are in the hands of the people. The false prophet may dangle keys at his girdle, and affect the power of the Son of God; but so long as “the law and the testimony” are accessible “whosoever is athirst may come; and whosoever will may take the water of life freely”.

47. What can we do? • The scriptures contain the keys. Popes, priests, clergy, and ministers may suppress, torture, and garble the truth, and throw hindrances in the way; but the man who discards their authority, and thinks for himself, may, by the enlightening efficacy of the living word, become “wise unto salvation by the faith which is in Jesus Christ”. Let the people then help themselves, if they would that God should aid them.

48. What can we do? • Be not deceived, then, by the siren-voices of the peace-prophets. Ere long, the last and most terrible of wars will break out. The Beast and the False Prophet will be plagued, and the Lord will come as a thief in the night. Let this conviction work out its intended results. The blessing is not simply to him that watcheth; but to him that “watcheth and keepeth his garments”. Simply to believe that the Lord is near, and to be able to discern the signs of the times, will not entitle a man to the blessing. He must “buy gold tried in the fire; and

49. What can we do? • white raiment, that he may be clothed, and that the shame of his nakedness do not appear; and anoint his eyes with eye-salve, that he may see”. In other words, he must believe “the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ”; follow the example of the Samaritans and the baptized into the name of Jesus Christ; and thenceforth perfect his faith by his works, as Abraham did. He will then be a lamp, well oiled and trimmed, and fit to shine forth as a glorious light at the marriage of the Lamb. • Thomas, Dr. John, M.D., Elpis Israel, (Birmingham, Great Britain: The Christadelphian) 1990.

50. The Future Age • No more wolf in sheep’s clothing • Isa 11:6 • The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.