If Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), how can we be sure we're not following someone who appears “biblical” but is ac

[bdavidc]

Firstly, for clarity, when John wrote "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book", he was referring to his book Revelation, but that can be understood for all the Revelation.

Secondly, what do you understand "add" to mean in this case?

Thirdly, I think people need to understand the purpose of The Bible, which is to lead people to belief and salvation, and it's sufficient for doing this, but it's an incomplete knowledge of Jesus, for John also states that if all the miracles worked by Jesus were to be narrated, the earth would not suffice to hold the books (Jn. 21:25), and obviously it's an incomplete knowledge of other characters as well. Even Jesus's discourses and parables are summarized by the Evangelists, and there is information that isn't mentioned in the scenes of the Gospels, and scenes that aren't mentioned at all. Additionally, one won't find all there is to know surrounding the creation of the angels, the creation of the universe, the creation and life of Adam And Eve, their descendants, the rebellion of Lucifer and other angels, the soul, Grace, the Holy Trinity, the four Kingdoms: Limbo, Purgatory, Heaven, and Hell...

The list goes on...

What I'm getting at is, there's a difference between man, on his own, adding to what is God's Work, and God Himself revealing truths, or repeating or clarifying truths already made known. There are people throughout history who God has used as His "pen" to do this. One of the more recent ones was Maria Valtorta.

God’s Word, the Bible, is the only truth that true Christians follow, and nothing needs to be added to it, period. The Bible says, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6). True believers trust what is written, not so-called new revelations from men or women. God finished His revelation through Jesus Christ and His apostles, and the Bible alone is the complete record of that. Anyone claiming extra truth outside of Scripture is deceiving themselves and others. As Galatians 1:8 warns, even if an angel from heaven preaches another gospel, let them be accursed. God's truth is final, complete, and sufficient. No visions, no private messages, no writings like the mystic Maria Valtorta’s or anyone else's are needed or accepted by those who truly follow Christ.

 

[Magdala]

God’s Word, the Bible, is the only truth that true Christians follow, and nothing needs to be added to it, period.

Again, what do you understand "add" to mean in this case? Because there's a difference between man, on his own, adding to what is God's Work, which is what John was referring to, and God Himself revealing truths, or repeating or clarifying truths already made known which isn't adding.

 

[gpresdo]

Can Someone Sound Biblical and Still Be a False Teacher?

2 Corinthians 11:14 warns us that “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” That means not everything that looks good, sounds spiritual, or uses Bible verses is truly from God. Some of the most dangerous deceptions come from people who seem sincere, quote Scripture, and even talk about Jesus—yet lead people away from the truth.

So here’s the question I want to open up for discussion:

If Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, how can we be sure we're not following someone who appears “biblical” but is actually a false teacher?

What do you personally look for when testing a teacher? How do you compare their words to Scripture? Are there red flags that immediately make you cautious?

Let’s use the Bible and discernment to sharpen each other on this important topic.

Absolutely, even scriptures warn us to watch for wolves..... in sheep's clothing. That Bible quote carries many details of our assignment as a Christian to be ..."watchful". Believe me it was never more truthful than in the modern era.

Scriptures also tells us that in the end times Satan will have and display powers all designed to...."be like the most High"...(referencing God...of course). Any serious student of the Bible can see those works even now in a lower level of application by Satan, who is currently being restricted by ...THE Comforter...The Holy Spirit...until He, The Holy Spirit be taken away. An illustration could be that of ...The New Age religion sect. defined by changing God's word here and there and is drawing many away from the written word of God...by believing and teaching the such of ...baptism not required....once saved always saved here on earth.....etc.

My conclusion is...Satan will never be able to totally miss lead a convicted Christian. (I am not including an occasional sin in that summary...because he accomplishes that, almost daily).

 

[bdavidc]

Again, what do you understand "add" to mean in this case? Because there's a difference between man, on his own, adding to what is God's Work, which is what John was referring to, and God Himself revealing truths, or repeating or clarifying truths already made known which isn't adding.

Again, if God did not say it in the Bible, it is adding to it. It does not matter what label you try to put on it. Proverbs 30:6 commands, "Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." God gave His full and final Word in the Scriptures (Hebrews 1:1-2, Jude 1:3). There is no extra revelation, no clarifications, no updates. If it is not written in the Bible, it is not from God, and adding to it brings judgment.

 

[Magdala]

Again, if God did not say it in the Bible, it is adding to it. It does not matter what label you try to put on it. Proverbs 30:6 commands, "Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." God gave His full and final Word in the Scriptures (Hebrews 1:1-2, Jude 1:3). There is no extra revelation, no clarifications, no updates. If it is not written in the Bible, it is not from God, and adding to it brings judgment.

Again, there's a difference between man, on his own, adding to what is God's Work, which is what is being referred to in Scripture, and God Himself revealing truths, or repeating or clarifying truths already made known which isn't adding. You can't forbid God, nor does God forbid Himself, from revealing, repeating, or speaking in general. You can't change that God has continued and will continue to speak to and through people, and He has already spoken through Maria Valtorta.

 

[Behold]

Follow, respect, and obey your clergy, e.g., bishops, presbyters (priests), deacons...
The Eucharist...
The CATHOLIC Church...

"The Cult of Mary", has produced more "crazy" false doctrine then any other man-man false religiious system.

"Baptismal Regeneration"
"Perpetual Virgin"
"Ascension of Mary"
"Holy Relics".
"Peter as the 1st Pope"

Just to name a few.

It's an established fact that there are many things that God has done that weren't "necessary", and yet He did them.

The only thing that is established, is that you've stated the same opinion 2x, and yet, you've not listed anything that God did that "wasn't necessary".

So, go ahead and post your list.

All you have to offer right now are unsubstantiated assertions. And, what I can offer you are my prayers.

Thank you for your prayer.
I need the prayer and you need the practice... however if you are going to Pray to Mary or to some Saint......then just go fishing instead and see what you catch.

So,/...As of yet, you have not not actually tried to explain why you are trying to Sell this Heretic Idol of yours to Real Christians.
Are you hearing voices that tell you to "go out into the world and try to sell this woman's writings".. "see if they will buy it" ?

Can't you find something to do that isn't trying to sell a heretics statements? @Magdala ?

 

[Magdala]

"The Cult of Mary", has produced more "crazy" false doctrine then any other man-man false religiious system.

"Baptismal Regeneration"
"Perpetual Virgin"
"Ascension of Mary"
"Holy Relics".
"Peter as the 1st Pope"

Just to name a few.

Satan wants people to believe that those are false doctrines because they are the Truth. Regarding the Blessed Virgin Mary, Satan hates Her because She brought the Redeemer into the world, and helped Him accomplish His mission which led to his defeat. She also is the only woman to be uncorrupted by Satan. He hates Her for many reasons. He wants people to downplay Who She is, what She's done and does, which is exactly what you do, because he knows what a powerful ally She can be for souls.

The Church founded by Jesus Christ and established by the Apostles was called the “Catholic Church” by the end of the first century– some 1400 years before anybody ever heard of a “Protestant”. We see this in the Letter to the Smyrnaeans by Ignatius of Antioch, which was already an established fact by the beginning of the second century:

"Follow your bishop, every one of you, as obediently as Jesus Christ followed the Father. Obey your clergy too as you would the apostles; give your deacons the same reverence that you would to a command of God. Make sure that no step affecting the Church is ever taken by anyone without the bishop’s sanction. The sole EUCHARIST you should consider valid is one that is celebrated by the bishop himself, or by some person authorized by him. Where the bishop is to be seen, there let all his people be; just as, wherever Jesus Christ is present, there is the CATHOLIC CHURCH (Letter to the Smyrneans 8:2 [A.D. 107]).

"In like manner let everyone respect the deacons as they would respect Jesus Christ, and just as they respect the bishop as a type of the Father, and the presbyters (priests) as the council of God and college of the apostles. Without these, it cannot be called a Church. I am confident that you accept this, for I have received the exemplar of your love and have it with me in the person of your bishop. His very demeanor is a great lesson and his meekness is his strength. I believe that even the godless do respect him"(Letter to the Trallians 3:1-2 [A. D. 110]).

Follow, respect, and obey your clergy, such as the bishops, presbyters (priests), deacons...
The Eucharist...
The Catholic Church...

The same Church that gave you The Bible...

The only thing that is established, is that you've stated the same opinion 2x, and yet, you've not listed anything that God did that "wasn't necessary".

So, go ahead and post your list.

Oh, I thought you already knew them, sorry. Well, for example:

God didn't need to create humans with free will, but He did.

God didn't need to become human by being conceived and born from a womb, but He did.

God didn't need to touch people in order to heal them, but He did.

I need the prayer and you need the practice...

Everyone needs to pray more.

As of yet, you have not not actually tried to explain why you are trying to Sell this Heretic Idol of yours to Real Christians.
Are you hearing voices that tell you to "go out into the world and try to sell this woman's writings".. "see if they will buy it" ?

You haven't said when you're going to start using the word "idol" correctly? And, Jesus said His Work through Maria Valtorta are for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. So, I share them and those with eyes to see and ears to hear will recognize His voice and listen to Him. That's how it's always been when it comes to God.

Can't you find something to do that isn't trying to sell a heretics statements? @Magdala ?

You haven't even shown that Maria Valtorta is a heretic. You're someone who just blurts out baseless assertions, not caring about what words mean, or using them properly. It's just mindless anti-Catholic polemics.

 

[doctrox]

From the OP:

If Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), how can we be sure we're not following someone who appears “biblical” but is ac​

This caught my attention, as 'disguising himself' is one of Satan's most frequent moves. But, it is not difficult for the believer to suss him out. The key is the blood, that is, the bloodwork of Jesus Christ (what he accomplished via the cross).

As some of you posted, the Holy Bible tells us to test the spirits because there are fakirs everywhere. And there is no other test outside of the blood of Christ that is effective. One devil may even throw another under the bus to fool you into believing you were successful in casting out a particular devil. Without the blood, it's all fun and games for those slippery intelligent beings.

A devil will never confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (i.e., that Jesus is the Christ, i.e., that the blood work of Jesus bought the victory), so that's how you'll know if it's of God or not. Oftentimes, the mere mention of the words "Jesus Christ" by a Spirit-filled believer is enough to manifest a devil and now it's game on as you, in Christ's authority, deal to that creature. In fact, there have been many instances where God has honored the power of the blood of Jesus, spoken by unbelievers, when they cried out in Jesus' name.

Here's the relevant passage (1 John 4):

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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. 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. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 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.

Not to worry if the spirit is of God or not. Better safe than sorry, so call out the spirit in the name of Jesus Christ and you will then know what you're dealing with. A spirit of God may even respond by doing a little jig for you or verbally "back up" your claim to the blood of Jesus. No harm done. If circumstances require a degree of "social decorum," then you can pray it silently, as it's the same diff in the spiritual realm. No trinkets, no recitals, no doubt!

There is one caveat: You must be a spirit-filled believer, which requires that you know your authority in Christ. YOU are not doing any thing here; the Holy Spirit does all the heavy lifting. The process of sanctification (see Angelina's signature and read what she has posted there) will move you from an unpracticed lukewarm "Christian" to a born-again Spirit-filled believer.

Try it the next time you are confronted by something "iffy." Whether it's "sleep paralysis" (aka the nightmar devil), or something posing as one of your lost relatives, give it a go - in the name of Jesus Christ. Do not be afraid (fear is another devil - 2 Tim. 1:7). Practice makes perfect. It's all about coming clean before the Lord (sanctification, fit for his service) and appropriating your authority in Christ.

Note also the angel of death that "passed over" the homes thaty had blood on their doorpost. Yes, Jesus is the Christ, the one "christ-ened of God; even the devils know that. Merely "knowing" that fact does nothing for you. Remember that the Israelites still had to APPLY the blood via hyssop to those doorposts to receive the benefit:

And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. (Exo. 12:22)

Can Someone Sound Biblical and Still Be a False Teacher?

The damsel with a spirit of divination is what comes to mind ( Acts 16:16). She said all the right things, but Paul cast a devil of divination from her nonetheless.