CHAPTER V.

FALSE PROPHETS AND DECEIVERS.

UR Saviour speaks in the next place of false teachers

OUR

who should arise. He says: "And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many." The apostle Peter testifies of the same fact. He said that there would be many false teachers among the brethren, that many would follow their pernicious ways, and that the way of truth by reason of this would be evil spoken of.

Deceivers Among the First Christians.

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Already in the days of the apostles many deceivers arose. They were false prophets who were deceitful workers, while they pretended to be followers of Christ. Hymenæus and Philetus said that the resurrection had already taken place, and thus overthrew the faith of some. The mystery of iniquity had already begun to work in the days of Paul, and since that time it has developed so extensively that it has carried away nearly one fourth of the inhabitants of the earth.

Simon Magus lived in the days of the apostles. He was a deceiver, and led many away from the truth. Some of the Samaritans and others honored him almost as a god. They turned away from the true religion and worshiped images. They practiced many abominations and pernicious things."

The Nicolaitans are spoken of in Rev. 2:6, 15. It is stated that God hated their deeds. Historians are agreed 3 2 Cor. 11: 13. 42 Tim. 2:17, 18. 5 Eusebius's "Ecelesiastical History," book ii, chap. xiii.

1 Matt. 24: 11. 2 Peter 2: I, 2.

about their doctrine and practices. They held to a plurality of wives, regarded fornication and adultery as things indifferent, and permitted the eating of things offered to idols."

History speaks of many other false prophets and deceivers, who through the many centuries of the Christian era have deceived many people.

Deceivers in the Time of the Reformation.

During and after the Reformation many seductive teachers arose. Many called themselves prophets, and professed to be the messengers of God. In this way many creeds came into existence which contradicted both the word of God and each other.

The most renowned of these prophets were Jacob Böhmen, Nicholas Drabiz, Christopher Kotter, Christina Poniatowsky, Joachim Greulich, Anna Vetteria, Eva Maria Frölich, George Reichard, and several others. But none

of them caused any great rebellion, and time showed that their prophecies were not of God.

At this time many other fanatics arose who taught many things contrary to the word of God. Martin Sidelius taught that the Messiah promised by the prophets had never been on earth, and that he would never come, because the sins of the Jews had made them unworthy of a Saviour. rejected the entire New Testament."

He

Swedenborg was born 1688, and died 1772. He studied with great diligence at the university of Upsala. Charles XII, king of Sweden, appointed him assessor in the Royal Mining College. He was renowned for learning, not only in Sweden, but also in other countries. Swedenborg was the author of a long list of voluminous books.

Religious Encyclopedia, art. Nicolaitans.

7 Mosheim's "Ecclesiastical History," book iv, 17th cent., part ii, chap. i, par. 41-44.

He said that God, in the year 1743, revealed himself to him in the form of a man radiant with light. He ordered him to write that which was dictated to him. He declares that from that time the eyes of his inner man were opened, and he had visions of heaven, the world of spirits, and hell. He also said that he held personal and intimate communion with the spirits of the dead. In 1747 he resigned his office, and after this he used nearly all his time to write a great many theological works. They were all written in Latin.

His writings contained the revelations which he thought he had received, and through them he considered himself called to renew degenerate Christianity, and establish the Church of the New Jerusalem as the perfection of all church organization. He rejects in the strongest terms the ecclesiastical doctrine of the trinity. He teaches that God is only one person, and this one God-head is Christ. Redemption is nothing but a work against, and victory over, the spirits of hell, either in the condition of glorification or despair. There will be no resurrection of the body, but a spiritual form of the body will continue after death. 8

Deceivers and Fanatics in Later Years.

Johanna Southcott was born 1740.

She professed to

be the woman spoken of in Revelation 12. She declared that she would bear another Shiloh about midnight, Oct. 19, 1814, but she died Dec. 27, 1813, without having borne any Shiloh.

Many thousand people believed her prophecies and groundless doctrine, and they continued to believe them long after her death. They thought that she would rise from her slumber and come forth as the mother of Shiloh.'

8 Nordisk Conversations Lexicon, art. Swedenborg. 'Universal Knowledge, art. Southcott.

In

Ann Lee lived in the eighteenth century. She is renowned as the prophetess and leader of the Shakers. 1758 Ann Lee united with the Shakers. In 1770 she formed a church in England. She believed that she had divine revelations and visions, and became the spiritual mother of the sect. She called herself "The Word."

In 1774 the Shakers emigrated to America. They formed small colonies by the Hudson River in the State of New York. Marriage is not allowed among them. In their worship they use dancing and clapping of hands.

Ann Lee died in 1784. Her death was a surprise to many of her followers, who believed that she would live among them forever, but her successors, whom she appointed on her death-bed, were ready with a theory to explain it. They said that mother Ann could not die, and was not dead, and had not ceased to live among her people. She was still visible to eyes exalted by the gift of grace. She had only cast off the dress of her flesh, and was now clothed with a glory which concealed her from the world. So it would be with every one of the saints in turn. But the spirits of those who passed out of sight would remain near, and be in union with the visible body. of the believers. This explanation was generally received, and has become a vital part of the church creed. They also believe that Christ has come a second time in the form of mother Ann, and that the personal rule of God has been restored. 10

In the last century there have been many fanatics, false prophets, and deceivers. Most prominent among these are the Mormons and Spiritualists, who will be spoken of in another chapter.

10 Universal Knowledge, art. Shakers; Nordisk Conversations Lexicon, art. Shakers.

How False Prophets May Be Known.

"Ye shall know them by their fruits." Matt. 7: 16.

False Prophets have always led People away from God and his Word, and they generally Prophesy Peace and Safety.-"Lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?" "For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace." "We looked for peace, but no good came, and for a time of health, and behold trouble.

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They are Given to Covetousness, and deal Falsely.— For every one even from the least unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.' Woe be to the shepherds of Israel who do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with wool, ye kill them that are fed; but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away. Neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.'

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They are Given to Surfeiting and Drunkenness.-"His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to-morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

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11 Jer. 89, 11, 15.

12 Jer. 8: : 10.

13 Eze. 34 2-4.

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14 Isa. 56: 10-12; Matt. 24: 48-50.