BUT, REALIZE THIS…
A WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING is an idiom of Biblical origin used to describe those playing a role contrary to their real character with whom contact is dangerous, particularly overly ambitious preachers/pastors, church leaders and false teachers.
These men and women are very good – very good – at appearing righteous, but inwardly, are driven by selfish ambitions. One reason they are so dangerous and deceptive is that they didn’t start off as wolves, and they don’t see themselves as wolves. But, over time, they sharpen their skills, thinking it is all “In the Name of Jesus”, and so they justify their selfish ambition and become ravenous WOLVES IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING.
The most insidious of these call themselves ‘pastor’, ‘teacher’ or ‘church leader’.
The phrase originates in a sermon by Jesus recorded in the Christian New Testament: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves (Gospel of Matthew 7:15, King James Version) The sermon then suggests that their true nature will be revealed by their actions (by their fruits shall ye know them, verse 16)
“But realize this, that
“in the last days difficult times will come. 2For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;” (2 Timothy 3:1-4)
Know this: THE LAST DAYS began in or around A,D, 1
1 Peter 1:20 “For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.”
Acts 2:16-17. “but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says, ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS.
Hebrews 1:1-2. “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, v2 in these last days has spoken to us [b]in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
Hebrews 9:26, “Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
2 Peter 3:3, “Know this, first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?”
WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT THESE FALSE TEACHERS AND PASTORS?
“Avoid such men as these. 6For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, v7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
“v8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. 9But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.
“v 10Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!
“v12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
“v14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
“v16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
How Should We Live in These Last Days?
Should we hunker down? Dig in? Hide away? Run to a mountain retreat with stockpile of food, water and weapons?
1 Peter 4:7-9 “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of [b]prayer. v8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. v10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. v11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. What should we expect in these Last Days?
1 Peter 4:12 “ Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled or the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
“v15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
“v17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God;”
The LAST DAYS began with the birth of Christ. The 5th Seal is being broken / has been broken. The final Seal before The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (The 6th Seal) will happen next, and only the revealing of the ‘man of perdition’, the Antichrist, is left to be done before that Seal is broken.
In order to ‘be saved’, you and I must “endure to the end” and we shall overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our Testimony! So, fear not! It is written in His Blood and by His Breath and cannot be amended. Now, let’s get this thing finished and be ready to meet Him in the air!
HE WHO ENDURES TO THE END AND OVERCOMES
Revelation 2:7. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.
Revelation 2:11. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.
Revelation 2:17. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.
Revelation 2:26. He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations;
Revelation 3:5. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Revelation 3:12. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
Revelation 3:21. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Revelation 21:7. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young