Don’t Let False Teachings Disturb You

Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar. – Romans 3:4

Understand that the false teachings and fake prophecies of man can actually rob you of your peace and lead to anxiety. As explained in the chapter “Beware the Wolves,” you are surrounded on all sides and as far as the eye can see by “wolves,” “vipers,” “false prophets,” “false teachers,” and modern-day “Pharisees” who are teaching and preaching contrary to the Word of God.1 As a result, there are many false teachings, fake gospels, and false prophecies of men, committees, and institutions. Some of these false teachings can lead you astray and to destruction2 while others can “disturb” and unsettle you (see 2Th 2:1–12; 2Ti 2:18). We will focus on only three false teachings here; they all relate to biblical end-times matters (eschatology) and are widely popular today:3

Radical Preterism (the “AD 70 Theory,” “Max King Doctrine,” etc.): This false teaching essentially says that all prophecy from the Book of Revelation has already been fulfilled and that Jesus already returned in AD 70. Consequently, there is nothing to look forward to. This false teaching destroys nearly all of the hope of a Christian.
Dispensational Premillennialism:4 This errant theological framework claims that we are still waiting for the kingdom of God to be established here on earth in the future as Jesus “rules from Jerusalem in a thousand-year (millennial) reign.” Instead, know that Jesus, your own Lord and King (1Ti 6:15; Rev 15:3; 17:14; 19:16), is right now, today, at this very instant, ruling and reigning large and in charge in His kingdom5 (Mat 22:44; 26:64; Mar 14:62; 16:19; Luk 22:69; Eph 1:20–22; Act 1:9; 7:55; Rom 8:34; Col 3:1; 1Pe 3:21–22; Heb 1:13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; Rev 1:5; 3:21; 19:15; Psa 110:1; cf. Mat 28:18; Col 1:15–16; 2:10, 15; Php 2:9–10; 1Ti 2:5; Heb 7:25), and all things are under His care and control, including you (Rom 8:28–39; cf. 2Ti 2:13). In fact, this is what much of this book has been trying to show you. Furthermore, when Jesus returns, it will not be to set up a new earthly kingdom—it will be Judgment Day and “the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power” (1Co 15:24).6 Moreover, we are to live our lives in constant readiness and expectation of Jesus’ return (Mat 24:36–25:13).
This Earth Will Just Be Renovated: This false teaching claims that this earth will just be “renovated” a bit and that it is our eternal home. This destroys much of the wonderful and beautiful symbolic portrayal of what heaven is like (Rev 21:10–22:5), and it completely distorts what the city of the “new Jerusalem” (Rev 3:12; 21:2; cf. Heb 11:16; 12:22), described in the Book of Revelation, represents (it is not a literal city here on earth in the future).7 The symbolism is describing heaven itself—which is where Christ is and where our eternal home is (Act 1:11; Joh 14:3). We must always remember that the “heavenly Jerusalem”8 is our eternal home and where our citizenship now lies (Php 3:20)—we are not “of this world”9 any longer (see Joh 15:19).

Brother or sister in Christ, “do not be deceived” (Jas 1:16; cf. Eph 5:6)—your King has already been victorious (Joh 19:30; cf. Gen 3:15), and He is ruling right now in heaven. Take comfort in that fact, and do not fall victim to the false teachings and schemes of men, committees, and institutions, which can steal your hope and rob you of your peace.

CHAPTER PRAYER

O Lord, thank You for the gift of today. Father, please help those who are reading this to understand that there is a spirit of error in the world, that there are doctrines of demons, and that they can, in fact, be tricked and deceived by the many false teachings and fake prophecies of man. Please give them the necessary energy, attention, and wisdom to examine the Scriptures daily for themselves instead of simply relying on whatever they hear repeated often and loudly. Please lead them into truth and keep them from the snares and traps of men and the devil. Please also help those who are teaching incorrectly about these matters in recognizing their mistakes. In the most holy name of Jesus, I offer this prayer. Amen.

1 → [Beware the Wolves]

2 Such as returning to Mosaic Law Sabbath-keeping, false teachings about baptism, thinking you are saved by saying a one-time so-called “sinner’s prayer” (which is nowhere to be found anywhere in the entire Bible), and so on. → [Beware the Wolves]

3 → [The Last Day], which presents biblically correct eschatology. Side note: I’ve found that whenever an end-times prophecy is widely popular, you can be 99.9% sure it is wrong and not in agreement with Scripture. The wolves that teach such things often prey on human emotion, “itching ears” (2Ti 4:3–4 KJV), and the fact that many Christians are naïve and gullible because they have not matured in the faith through their own diligent study of the Word. I’m sorry if that sounds harsh, but it is the truth. Additionally, false teachings seem to get resurrected from time to time and given a new name and a shiny coat of paint to deceive the naïve and unsuspecting (Ecc 1:9). I can only give a very brief summary of these false teachings due to space constraints. The point of this book is not to refute them but to make you aware that false teachings can affect you. The reader is strongly encouraged to do their own Bible study on these matters (Act 17:11).

4 → [Some Popular False Teachings] for more information on this group of fake prophecies.

5 → [The Kingdom of God]

6 This was explained here → [The Day of Judgment, The World in Awful Sleep].

7 → [All Things Made New]

8 The city is described as “heavenly,” denoting its spiritual (not physical) nature (Heb 12:22).

9 → [The Day of Judgment] for “of this world” verse references.

R. John Anderson

Author and photographer R. John Anderson has journeyed the world over to capture the natural beauty of God’s creation. Having traveled to many countries and continents in a span of over thirty years, he has seen the amazing artistry that can be found in all types of locations, from the glacial fjords of polar Greenland to the wild Serengeti plains in Tanzania to the rich rain forests of Costa Rica. Nature’s greatest natural beauty often lies in the harshest deserts, remotest wilderness, and sub-zero ice-covered regions.