Loyal or Disloyal
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Apostasies have occurred and the Lord has permitted matters of
this nature to develop in the past in order to show how easily His people
will be misled when they depend upon the words of men instead of
searching the Scriptures for themselves, as did the noble Bereans, to
see if these things are so. And the Lord has permitted things of this
kind to occur that warnings may be given that such things will take
place.
Rebellion and Apostasy
Rebellion and apostasy are in the very air we breathe. We shall be
affected by them unless we by faith hang our helpless souls upon Christ.
If men are so easily misled now, how will they stand when Satan shall
personate Christ, and work miracles? Who will be unmoved by his
misrepresentations then—professing to be Christ when it is only Satan
assuming the person of Christ, and apparently working the works of
Christ? What will hold God’s people from giving their allegiance to
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false christs? “Go not after them” (
Luke 17:23
).
The doctrines must be plainly understood. The men accepted to
preach the truth must be anchored; then their vessel will hold against
storm and tempest, because the anchor holds them firmly. The decep-
tions will increase, and we are to call rebellion by its right name. We
are to stand with the whole armor on. In this conflict we do not meet
men only, but principalities and powers. We wrestle not against flesh
and blood. Let
Ephesians 6:10-18
be read carefully and impressively
in our churches.
Those who apostatize are voicing the words of the dragon. We
have to meet the satanic agencies who went to make war with the
saints. “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war
with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God,
and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (
Revelation 12:17
). Those
who apostatize leave the true and faithful people of God, and fraternize
with those who represent Barabbas. “By their fruits ye shall know
them” (
Matthew 7:20
).
I write this because many in the church are represented to me as
seeing men like trees walking. They must have another and deeper
experience before they discern the snares spread to take them in the
net of the deceiver. There must be no halfway work done now. The