“thy word is truth”
–John 17:17
CENTURIES-LONG STRUGGLE
In the struggle between good and evil, Satan has ever shaken his impotent fist at God. That rebellion has continued for centuries.
Nowhere is this conflict more noticeable than in the battle over God’s Word.
Over the years, Satan’s number one priority has been to raise up alternate authorities to the Bible: to give men something else to place their faith in other than the immutable rock which is the Bible.
- Hath God Said? The World’s Alternate Authorities to God’s Word
- The World Raises up Alternate Authorities to the Bible
- Personifying Evil: The Dragon’s Attack on God’s Word
Failing that, task number two has been the enemy’s constant war to corrupt the pure light which is God’s Word.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
—Psalm 119:105
It’s little wonder this would take place. After all, in His Word, God has revealed the game plan of the enemy before even Satan had figured it out.
So, what’s a devil to do?
Deceive men away from God’s Word by setting up alternate authorities which challenge the Bible. That has been taking place for centuries. It was one of the main points of contention between Jesus and the Pharisees almost 2000 years ago.
“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”
—Mark 7:13
Satan had set up tradition and oral history (both concocted by men) as rivals to God’s Word. Being that the devil is a tricky fellow, his minions don’t say “Hey, don’t look at the Bible.”
What they say is:
“Hey, let us help you understand God’s Word. It’s hard! And you’re so busy! Let us help. We only want to help you!”
Or:
“Look at our EXPLANATION of the Bible. It’s NEW and IMPROVED! It’s by EXPERTS! Who are you? You think you’re smarter than our EXPERTS?”
And so, they offered their many man-created traditions to “help make sense of it all.”
This approach worked so well in Israel during the Old Covenant that it’s been used almost from the beginning to deceive men away from the truth of the New Covenant.
“Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”
—Titus 1:14
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES
The struggle took place over the centuries. That struggle was always the purity of God’s Word vs Satan’s religious authorities. The corruption has always started at the top: with men who claimed authority to alter God’s Word.
For centuries, the Catholic Church simply forbade the Bible to the common folk. Instead of the Bible, Rome’s priests would instruct the people what the Bible actually said.
One other trick Satan used which proved effective: the Catholic Church began it’s own traditions which directly challenged the Word of God. As the years passed, these traditions became as important to many as God’s Word itself.
Which is the whole reason Satan loves tradition so.
The mass production of Bibles soon after 1450 enabled men to own their own copy of God’s Word. They could read for themselves what the Bible said. When this happened, Satan’s religious authorities sprung into action. Within 65 years of the mass production of Bibles, Roman Catholic priest, Martin Luther, kicked off the Protestant Reformation.
Billed as the “real Christianity” vs Rome’s obviously-corrupted version, the Protestant Reformation was one of many “controlled opposition” moves by Satan.
Every time protests arose to the corruptions in God’s Word, Satan was right there to split off another controlled opposition group to corral those unsuspecting people. That trick continues today with the proliferation of man-inspired ‘ministries’: “discernment ministries” and “deliverance ministries” and “TV ministries” and many others.
The Protestants essentially said the same thing to their adherents as Rome did: “God’s Word is HARD! It’s really tough to understand. Let us help you! We only want to help!”
And so another flood of “experts” and “learned men” were unleashed. This time they were PROTESTANT experts.
Then “commentaries” by these “learned men” became popular. Instead of reading the Bible, people could read what other men told them God’s Word really said. Eventually, church Bible studies, led by a properly-authorized and man-certified religious authority, also became popular. And then, “study Bibles” which contained the thoughts of various learned “experts” were promoted.
In essence, all were based upon the premise that men cannot know God’s Word without the help of other men (especially men approved by Satan’s corrupted church structure). Since so many were not real converts and lacked the Holy Spirit, these also usurped one of the more important roles of God’s Spirit.
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
—John 16:13
About 100-110 years ago, the Pentecostal Movement took off in America. Now, instead of consulting the Bible, men could show up on Sundays and other men could utter new revelations which rivaled God’s Word.
These new words were immediate. These new words were audible. And almost universally, these new words (in some way) challenged God’s Word.
THE STRUGGLE TODAY
Today, the battle continues.
Many corrupted versions (‘translations’) of God’s Word circulate, all of them being given their authority by men. The arguments for these corrupted versions haven’t changed much.
“Hey, God’s Word is so HARD TO UNDERSTAND. Let us help you! Try this! It’s easier to read. We only want to help you!”
Some naturally resist the obvious mutilation and corruption these new “translations” of the Bible offer; instead, they have placed their faith in the King James Version of 400 years ago. But the King James Version is also a product of men. It too has mistakes (though not nearly as many as the newer, obviously-corrupt versions).
So what’s the solution?
Encased in flesh, in a fallen world, surrounded by Satan and his agents: what’s the answer? Is there any hope?
“And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
—Luke 18:27
Leave behind the so-called experts, the learned men, the traditions, the offers of “help” by men and the world’s exalted “men of God.”
A complete reliance upon the Holy Spirit to be the teacher instead of men.
“He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”
—John 16:14
Of course one cannot rely on the Holy Spirit if one is really not a Christian.
Jesus warned of these times and the many deceptions which they would contain.
“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”
—Matthew 24:4
Finally, there is no substitute for an honest desire to learn God’s Word.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
—2 Timothy 2:15
It’s all a part of effective end times preparation.
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
THE GOSPEL
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: ETPR/xedos4, Danillo Rizutti, FreeDigitalPhotos.net/ETPR
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-15. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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