The lesson introduces the concepts of orthodoxy (truth/God’s kingdom) and heresy (falsehood/Satan’s kingdom) which have existed throughout history. It emphasizes using God’s Word as the true standard for discerning truth, rather than worldly standards. To discern truth, one must listen carefully, then check teachings against Scripture like the Bereans did. Heresy originated when Satan rebelled against God in the spiritual realm out of pride, and this spiritual war then manifested physically. In every era, God establishes an orthodox truth group while Satan misleads through heretical offshoots appearing true. During the exodus and Jesus’ time, various heretical groups emerged despite originally following God’s truth. Jesus came to re-establish orthodoxy, but warned a figurative “night” of confusion would follow. This prophesied spiritual darkness has persisted as heresies distort Scripture. In the end times, God will again reveal orthodoxy at Mount Zion, calling people out of Babylon. The main thrust is recognizing the perpetual orthodoxy/heresy conflict and being prepared to discern and follow the true end-times orthodoxy.

 

Study Guide SCJ Bible Study

Intro to Intermediate: Orthodoxy and Heresy

Today’s topic is going to be interesting, stemming from one of the answers on the test. Many of us probably had questions about what this means.

We’re going to discuss an important subject today, but before we delve into it, let’s open in prayer to prepare our hearts to receive this word. It’s important to understand that these words are not meant to tickle our ears or make us feel good, but to inform us of what we need to do.

As we begin the Intermediate period, there are a few quick things to note. Please strive to finish your test with a passing score of 90%. Many of you came close, and based on the grading of several tests, it’s evident that remembering references is challenging.

I understand the difficulty, as I’ve been there too, but please continue to work hard to get those references in your heart and mind. You can do it. Write them multiple times and quiz yourself frequently, and you’ll eventually grasp them. Once you do, they’ll stay with you.

Whenever you find yourself in a situation where someone asks about Jesus, you can confidently say, “Well, you know what’s really cool about Jesus? Let me take you to Isaiah 61:1. I want to show you something pretty cool. Then, let’s go together to Luke 4:16-21 and see how those words came to be.”

The person will likely be intrigued, and you’ll be grateful to God for allowing that verse to come to mind. This is why we take the test—so that the word is truly within us.

Orthodoxy and Heresy

Today, we’re discussing the concepts of orthodoxy and heresy. It’s important to note that the term “orthodoxy” does not appear in the Bible, but it is a commonly used colloquial term that represents truth. The ongoing debate revolves around determining who holds the true orthodoxy.

In this lesson, we will delve into the details of discerning orthodoxy and explore the inadequate standards of discernment. Orthodoxy, in essence, signifies the true group or the truth itself.  On the other hand, heresy refers to the false group or lies.

These definitions will serve as the foundation for our discussion today. From the test, we are already familiar with these concepts.

Orthodoxy = God, God’s kingdom of 12 Tribes

Cult = Devil, Devil’s kingdom of Babylon

Orthodoxy represents God, who is the source of truth, and God’s kingdom. We will examine God’s kingdom in each era and how it applies today. Conversely, cult or heresy represents the opposite: the devil and the devil’s kingdom of Babylon. This kingdom also changed throughout the eras, and we will explore that as well.

God’s kingdom and God represent the truth, while Satan’s kingdom and Satan represent lies. 

It is a simple concept, but we will come to understand that the world’s standard is insufficient, lacking specificity, and easily misused. Instead, we should view orthodoxy and heresy from God’s perspective.

Our hope is to understand the biblical meanings of orthodoxy and heresy. By “understanding biblically,” we mean that we will be examining the scriptures, as they provide a detailed description of what is true and what is false.

We will delve into these matters today to ensure that we are always prepared, especially during this critical time.

1.- Standard of Truth

In order to determine whether something is true or false, we must have a standard to compare it against, just like a scale is used to determine if an object is heavy or light by comparing it to another object. Similarly, to determine if something is right or wrong, it must be compared to the law. When a person is judged against the law, they are found to be either in compliance or in violation of it.This concept is illustrated in the book of Daniel, where King Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar, was judged against God’s standard and found wanting, resulting in a judgment that did not end well for him. Therefore, if we want to determine true orthodoxy and truth, not in the way it is commonly used in the world but rather in the sense of what is actually true, we need to understand the standard by which it is measured.

To understand this standard, let’s first examine what it is not.

The World’s Standard

ONE – Themselves (Thoughts, Heart, Gut)

The world’s most prolific standard of truth that they profess is themselves, their thoughts, their heart, and their gut. Who here has received or given the advice, “Trust your heart”? Most of you are raising your hand, saying, “I heard it, but I never gave that advice.” Some of you are saying that, but some of us have said, “Oh, it’s okay, trust your heart, or trust your gut, or do it yourself. You don’t need a standard, you don’t need a God, right?”

That’s what they often say. But as those who know the word, what’s the counter to this? Why should we not trust our heart? First, what verse talks about this really well and in good detail? Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and is beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

So actually, the heart is a terrible standard. Even in normal life situations, our heart tends to lie to us. So we shouldn’t be following our heart, right? Here’s an example: 

You’re 17 again, and your high school crush walks by. You’re just like, “All right, it’s fluttering.” And then your friends are saying, “That person’s not good for you.” But your heart’s just like, “But he or she is so cute.” And then you find out later on, “Oh, yeah, they were right. Yeah, that person wasn’t so good.”

Right? Sometimes that happens even now. Your heart lies to us; it should not be our standard. But the world professes it as one of these standards, right? You’re listening to a self-help book or something like that, and they’re saying, “Trust in your heart, trust in your gut,” but it’s really bad advice spiritually. So instead, replace what’s in the heart with God’s word, and follow his word as the main standard.

TWO – Mainstream (Popular)

The world often determines what is true based on what is mainstream or popular, relying on the consensus of many people. The scientific method and peer review are important examples of this approach, although they are not meant to be criticized. In the scientific method, a scientist proposes a hypothesis, such as how gravity works, and designs a test to determine its validity. If the results support the hypothesis, the scientist brings it up for peer review, where other peers replicate the experiment to see if they can obtain similar results. As more and more people confirm the findings, the theory gains credibility and moves closer to being accepted as truth, although scientists are cautious about using the term “truth” and prefer to say that the theory has been substantiated by many people.

This scientific method has been applied spiritually to the Bible for around 2000 years, with people studying and interpreting it in a similar manner. One person may say something about the Bible, and another person may agree or disagree, leading to a diverse range of opinions. Eventually, a mainstream of popular opinions emerges that most people hold. This phenomenon is not limited to the Bible but applies to various aspects of life, such as political parties, religious groups, and cultural preferences.

People often find comfort and safety in aligning with the majority, while those who hold beliefs shared by only a few are considered strange or weird. This tendency extends to cultural aspects like clothing, food, movies, and music, where the world’s standards are largely determined by what is most popular or widely accepted.

THREE – Size (Community)

The size of a group is not a reliable standard for determining truth. Some people might believe that a large group must be true, while others might think that a small group is more likely to be true. Some individuals might even be suspicious of large groups, preferring to follow their own beliefs. Others might prefer smaller communities. However, using size as a standard for truth is not ideal because opinions on the ideal size vary from person to person. Moreover, the size of a group can change over time, making it an unreliable measure of truth.

FOUR – Money / Power / Influence

In today’s world, people often rely on various factors to make judgments and determine the validity of information. Money, power, and influence are among the most significant factors that people tend to use as a basis for their beliefs and decisions.

When a country is perceived as more powerful, people may automatically assume that their actions and beliefs are justified or correct. Similarly, when an individual has amassed substantial wealth, others might believe that their success is a result of making the right choices and that they have earned their fortune through merit.

Influence also plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion. When a person with a large following on social media shares information, many people tend to accept it as true without questioning its accuracy. This blind trust in influential figures can lead to the spread of misinformation and the acceptance of false narratives.

While money, power, and influence are not the only factors that people rely on to make judgments, they are undoubtedly among the most powerful. These factors can hold significant sway over public opinion and decision-making processes in the modern world. Unfortunately, once these beliefs take hold, they can be challenging to undo, as people become entrenched in their views and resistant to change.

FIVE – Traditions (Culture)

Traditions are extremely powerful. They define culture, and once they set in, they become deeply ingrained and difficult to undo. Traditions shape how people think, act, and operate.

When you look at different countries, you’ll find that they have distinct traditions, which influence how they perceive and approach similar topics. This is why it can be challenging for many countries to work together effectively – they don’t see things the same way. However, this diversity of traditions also contributes to the richness of cultural experiences. When you visit a different country, you can enjoy different foods, clothing, music, and be immersed in a culture that views the world differently from your own, which can be a very rewarding experience.

But when it comes to matters of the Word, these differences in traditions can lead people astray or prevent them from seeing important truths. We’ve seen examples of those who held fast to their traditions and denied Christ because of those traditions. So when we speak of traditions in a spiritual context, this is what we mean.

It’s crucial to understand this well. Traditions can be powerful, both in the cultural and spiritual realms. While they can enrich our experiences, they can also blind us to the truth if we’re not careful.

 

Reminder:

To review what the world often uses as a standard, not saying that these things are right or wrong, what is commonly used is people’s own thoughts, hearts, and gut feelings, what is popular and mainstream, what is popularly accepted, whether it is big, small, or somewhere in between, money, influence, power, and traditions. 

However, when viewed through a spiritual lens, these things are not a good standard because they vary greatly and people’s minds change rapidly.

One moment you’re hungry, the next you’re thirsty, then you’re full, tired, awake, and so on. Many things happen that change opinions and minds, making them very fickle. However, a true standard should be immutable and unchangeable. The standard that we need to use as our definition of truth is the Word.

Our standard is, always has been, and always should be the Word of God. 

These verses, John 1:1 and John 17:17, are well-known and we should be able to recite them both. 

The true standard is God’s Word. One of the saddest things that happens in our world is that people find fault in God’s Word because they don’t fully understand it. 

They try to find things they think are faults to discredit it, so they don’t have to feel bad for not understanding or believing it. This has even happened in theological seminaries and theological operations, where people will say that a prophet said something wrong, not realizing that the prophet was speaking figuratively, not referring to a historical event, but to a prophetic event using figurative language.

Even understanding the parables can determine whether someone will understand God’s Word in the proper way, but we should not lean on our own understanding or thoughts, as that can lead us astray. Let’s read that passage.

If we desire health for our flesh and strength in our bones, it is better to trust in the Lord, acknowledge Him, and not rely on our own understanding, ways, or wisdom. We should put those things down and accept the true standard of truth.

The next question that arises is, “Instructor Nate, I understand the importance of the Word, but many places teach the Word. How can I discern the truth?”

2.- How to Discern

It’s crucial to understand this topic well, as it enables us to operate in the way that God desires. We began the class with this subject for this very reason. In 1 John 4:1, there is a phrase that we often use, which is “test the spirits.” This means that we must discern between the two types of spirits: holy spirits and evil spirits. As there are two kinds of spirits, it is essential to distinguish between them.

Our responsibility is to identify which spirits are holy and speaking the truth, and which spirits are evil. Therefore, we need to be individuals who consistently test the spirits to determine their nature and the veracity of their messages.

Testing Spirits

Dear friends, what course of action should we take? It is crucial not to believe every spirit blindly, but instead, we must test the spirits to determine whether they truly originate from God.

The reason for this is that numerous false prophets have emerged and spread throughout the world. So, what does this imply about evil spirits? Whom do they employ?

False prophets. They manipulate people. Indeed, people are their instruments.

Therefore, it is essential for us to develop the ability to discern these matters by discerning individuals. However, it is not the person themselves that we should focus on. In reality, what we should be seeking lies within.

It is inside. So, how can we accomplish this? How can we put the spirits to the test?

What are the two essential steps we must take?

Firstly, we must attentively listen with our ears.

Thus, it is necessary for us to examine the words that someone is speaking. The initial step is to hear.

ONE – Hear

Let’s focus on this passage for a moment, as it contains some crucial points.

It is something that we all must do. Job 34:3 states, “For the ear tests words, just like the tongue tastes food.” Therefore, we must first test the words that we are taking in.

Testing the spirits means examining the words that a spirit is speaking. We cannot see spirits with our physical eyes, but we can hear them. So, when we listen to someone, we should be listening for the spirit within them based on what they say.

This is what the passage is conveying. So, how do we properly do this? Verse 4 tells us to discern for ourselves.

Some of us may be wondering about the location of Mount Zion. They keep mentioning this place, so surely it must exist.

They keep talking about it, but why haven’t they told us yet? Well, what does every person need to do here?

Proverbs 16 tells us that it is not a person who guides your steps, but it is the Lord. Right?

So, every individual needs to be able to determine and discern for themselves where that place is. However, to do that, you need the tools. This class is designed to first provide the tools of discernment.

Then, a person will be able to find that place. But first, tools and preparation are necessary so that we can discern together what is right and determine together what is good. So, the first step is to hear.

But it doesn’t end there; they must also check. You must check.

TWO – Check with the Word

It’s important to be discerning when listening to teachings, even if they sound good on the surface. For example, the idea of “once saved, always saved” may seem appealing, but it doesn’t align with the full counsel of Scripture.

The Bible presents a more nuanced picture. Deuteronomy 28 speaks of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Jesus himself said that those who stand firm until the end will be saved, and that we must make every effort to enter through the narrow door (Matthew 24).

The parable of the two bowls in the large house (2 Timothy 2:20-21) illustrates this further. There are noble and ignoble vessels, and one must cleanse themselves from the latter to be used for noble purposes.

Those who are well-versed in the Word can discern when a teaching, though it may sound figurative or pleasant, does not align with biblical truth. As the Bereans did, we must carefully examine the Scriptures to see if what is being taught is accurate (Acts 17:11).

The key is to maintain a spirit of discernment, recognizing that just because something sounds good, it does not necessarily represent the full truth. The fulfillment of God’s promises and the warnings of His prophets must be taken seriously. By being vigilant and grounded in the Word, we can avoid being led astray by false hopes or teachings that do not stand up to scriptural scrutiny.

Are you still participating in the seminar with Instructors Nate and Joe? Or have you become more comfortable with the material?

Please continue to cross-reference the scriptures. Review the verses discussed in class, and explore even more related passages. 

Make studying the word a regular practice and habit. Don’t simply rely on my explanations; verify the information by examining the scriptures yourself.

This is the way to discern the truth.

3.- Origin of Heresy

Spiritual World

Falsehood is not a new phenomenon, but when we examine it through a particular lens, it becomes much more understandable. Many false prophets have gone out into the world, as John warned.

Let’s first explore the origin of heresy. A concise definition of heresy is that it starts in one place but ends up in a different place. 

Where did everything begin in the very beginning? Before Adam, where did it all start?

It all began with God. God is the origin of all things, the beginning of everything. Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-4, and Hebrews 3:4 affirm that God is the builder of all. We know that God’s first creations were the angels, as described in Psalm 103:20-22. These angels were tasked with praising and obeying God, which they did out of their own volition.

Angels were also given the ability to choose, the most important ability of anything God creates. Some spirits, however, decided they no longer wanted to follow God, but rather their own desires, pride, and beauty. 

Before this desire arose, there was only holiness and goodness. God is the very definition and standard of good, as mentioned in Luke 18:18-19. Anything considered truly good must be in proximity to God, with Jesus being as close to that goodness as possible.

Prior to the fall, there was only good; evil did not exist. God had no reason to contemplate such a thing, as He did not create it. However, one of the highly ranked angels decided he wanted to be like God.

Let’s turn to the passages I’m referring to – Ezekiel 28:11-19 and Isaiah 14:12-15.

Initially, there was only one being in the spiritual realm. But then, there became two. And where there are two, war arises. 

People fight against one another. And the saddest form of war is when two brothers turn against each other – a civil war, where those meant to be united instead go to war against each other. Unfortunately, this is what began to happen in the spiritual realm as well.

Satan, who was not always Satan, rebelled. Some may say that God created evil and Satan, but that person does not truly understand the nature of good and evil. If one misunderstands the fundamental concepts of good and evil, their words should not be heeded.

In the beginning, there was only good. But due to Satan’s desires of pride and greed within his heart, he became corrupted. Pride and greed are the root of all sin. He began to desire to be like God, to be in charge. And so, the unity in the spiritual realm was shattered, and war erupted.

Let’s look more closely at the language used in Ezekiel 28. We’ll find some key terms that are important to understand and consider.

The text describes Satan as being “perfect in beauty” and “full of wisdom” – he was created good by God. But he “corrupted” himself through his own “evil desires.” It was not God who placed evil within him, but rather, it was found there due to Satan’s own choices.

This is a crucial distinction. God does not desire calamity for His people. When bad things happen, it is not because God willed it, but because of the consequences of sin and the work of the adversary, Satan.

The shift from unity to division, from one to two, is a significant theme. Where there is duality, there is conflict. The spiritual realm was fractured by Satan’s rebellion, his desire to be like God. This is a pivotal moment that has had profound implications.

You are anointed as a guardian Cherub, also known as an archangel. That was your previous identity. However, you corrupted yourself and your splendor due to your pride.

Pride formed in your heart. Iniquity, sin, or wickedness was found in you. And verse 16 is of utmost importance.

What did Satan do in verse 16? Through your widespread trade. Oh, how interesting.

Trade. What does trade mean? When someone is trading like a merchant, what are they doing?

They’re making a deal with somebody. Exchanging.

They’re making an exchange. What was Satan exchanging?

His evil design.

He was meeting with the angels. “Hey, what if, hear me out here, I know this is crazy, what if we became God?”

“Think we can do it together? Oh, no, Lucifer, that’s silly. You’re the light bearer. You’re a guardian angel. We should follow God.” “No, but check this out. If we all do this together, we might be able to do it. I don’t know, man. Right?”

So, okay, he’s not going to follow me. Let me go to this angel over here. “Yeah, I kind of, you know, I think that sounds like a good idea.”

Oh, no. And that’s how he was able to convince some demons to follow him. So demons are other angels who fell too.

And so Satan and the demons formed the first Heresy.

The first heresy. The first cult was actually started in the spiritual world, to state it very clearly.

That’s where it started. So if someone calls a place a cult, but doesn’t apply it to what happened in the beginning, then they don’t know what a cult actually means. And the term is empty.

Because it starts in the spiritual world. And we know that the things that happen in the spiritual world don’t just stay there.

What happens then? It goes into the physical world.

So we’ll talk about the physical world. And then we’ll look at how these happened in history.

Physical World

The war in the spiritual world makes its way into the physical world. That war descends into the physical realm. And you are here, in the midst of the Good and Evil War. You have a decision to make – do I seek the place where God is working, or the place where Satan is working? To discern this, you must deploy the skills of spiritual discernment that you have received.

God has always desired to create a holy people where He dwells. And when He creates that holy people, He is able to work through them to establish other holy people. For God’s desire, as it says in 1 Timothy 2:3-4, is for all to be saved. This has always been His desire.

To fulfill this, God establishes a place of truth in every era. He trains them in how they should live, what they should do, and how they should carry themselves, so that others can come and learn from them. This place where God is truly working becomes the true group, the orthodoxy – not a self-described term, but one given by God based on the role He has given them.

However, we know that Satan wants to pull as many people away from God as possible, just as he pulled angels away. So he too will establish a place and make it look like a place where God is, although it ultimately will not be. This forms a false group, where all that is taught is heresy – but it sounds true. This is how Satan becomes very lethal in his operations.

We will explore in more detail how this has played out in every era.

4.- Orthodoxy and Heresy in History

From Exodus to First Coming

Orthodoxy and Heresy in History refers to what has happened in each era concerning this particular and very important topic. 

We know that the law was given through Moses. Grace and peace came through Jesus Christ.

God came to Moses to fulfill the promises that He had made to Abraham in Genesis 15. Moses was leading the 12 tribes of physical Israel, and he had given them the law that God gave him to follow.

If one followed that law of God given through Moses and followed it faithfully, they were considered Orthodoxy, truth, the ones that God was truly working with. But they had to be obedient to that law, follow it and obey it, to be considered true Orthodoxy.

However, even from the time of Exodus 19 and Exodus 20, when the law was given to the people, something happened. The people had agreed to follow the law, but over time, their hearts began to grow cold. They began to worship other gods, and there were many periods of destruction after betrayal.

God would send people like Elijah, Samuel, or Samson to deliver the people from trouble. During the period of kings, many kings did not do right things. People’s hearts began to grow cold and further away from God, though they thought they were continuing to follow God appropriately.

After the time they spent enslaved in places like Babylon and Assyria, a branching began to happen. Satan began to slowly infiltrate, starting from the golden calf incident. This branching and offshoots led to many different groups who believed different things about the law of Moses and God at the time of the first coming.

This was not a good thing that this began to happen. Let’s turn to Matthew 22 to see some examples of those people who existed at that time.

Heresy

The people tried to trap Jesus with a tricky question: “Should we pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Of course, Jesus could not be trapped by such silly questions, but they still tried. They even tried to flatter him before asking the question, saying, “We know you are a man of truth and you teach God’s word faithfully.”

However, their hearts were not in the right place. They were trying to catch Jesus with their words.

The groups mentioned here are the Pharisees, the Herodians, and the Sadducees. 

Later on, the Zealots also emerged, and the scribes and teachers of the law formed the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of that time.

 These groups did not agree with each other; in fact, they fiercely disagreed. For example, the Sadducees said there is no resurrection, while the Pharisees believed in the resurrection.

So did Jesus come to confirm that the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, or any other group was right? No, he did not. By the time of Jesus’ first coming, the people of Israel had descended into a state of heresy. Each group claimed to be the true believers, and everyone else was considered heretical.

Jesus did not follow the traditions of the elders, which is why many accused him of being the heretic. As we read in Mark 7, this dilemma was a key issue during Jesus’ time.

Changed Fathers

Jesus was essentially telling them that their father had changed. It was no longer God or Abraham, but the devil, Satan. This was the reason they could not understand Him and His words. So Jesus had to come and establish something new.

He had to do this. When Jesus came, He said in John 14:16, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus was the true orthodoxy that people were supposed to find at His first coming. They were supposed to come out of the places that had descended into heresy because they could not agree with each other. They had twisted God’s word from something pure to man’s traditions, with hearts far from Him.

Isaiah 29:9-13, referenced in Mark 7, was talking about these people. That’s why Jesus said Isaiah was right when he testified about them and pointed them out, explaining why that was the case. Jesus spoke this testimony to the people, saying, “This is what I have seen and heard. You are the ones Isaiah was talking about.”

People were supposed to hear the words of Jesus and come out of the places that had descended into becoming like tombs. But Jesus knew that as He was testifying and calling many people to Him, especially through the disciples, He also warned us about what would take place in our time, that things would not be smooth sailing for the last 2,000 years without issue. Jesus knew this.

From First Coming to Second Coming (Today)

Jesus promised that something would come in the next chapter, John 9. 

What did he promise would come?

Night is coming

Jesus often incorporated prophetic elements into his teachings. For instance, when healing a man’s eyes, he stated that it was not due to any sin, but rather to reveal the glory of the Lord. And he declared, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

However, Jesus also warned that “night is coming when no one can work.” This raises the question: Has that prophesied “night” already come? What does “night” represent in this context?

How can we discern the meaning of this metaphor? The “night” refers to a time of not fully understanding the word of God. 

Some may disagree with this interpretation, asserting that they will pursue their own course of action. They may claim, “This is not right, we’re going to take this movement in a different direction.”

Yet, for 2,000 years, the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy has been fulfilled. As he foretold, the “night” began to set in shortly after his ascension. The disciples and apostles immediately had to contend with challenges, as evidenced by the letters written by Paul, Peter, and John addressing the struggles faced by the early believers.

Different Jesus

Apostle Paul’s words were a strong rebuke, comparing the Corinthians to Eve, who was easily deceived. He warned that they too were being easily deceived, not by people denying the existence of Jesus or claiming He was not the true Messiah. Rather, the deception came from those who were presenting a different version of Jesus – claiming He said or did something other than what is recorded in the Gospels.

The problem was not that Jesus was being rejected, but that people were creating their own version of Jesus, a different “Jesus.” This branching off into different gospels, different Jesuses, and different spirits had started almost immediately in the early church.

Paul’s sentiment echoes his words to the Galatians, who were doing the same thing as the Corinthian church. The implication is that today’s believers must be just as vigilant, as this tendency to distort the true nature of Christ has been happening for 2,000 years. It would be short-sighted to think we are immune to such deception.

Different Gospel

In his letter, Paul was lamenting the fact that the people were quickly accepting a different gospel, which was concerning. The speed at which Satan begins to work is quite remarkable. 

In Exodus 20, we are given the covenant, which we are instructed to keep. However, in Exodus 32, we see that Aaron immediately made a golden calf for the people. This demonstrates how quickly Satan starts to work on people, without any delay.

Paul was trying to protect the people from falling away from the truth that they had been receiving from him and the disciples. He wanted to ensure they remained faithful to the gospel they had initially accepted, rather than being swayed by the false teachings that were starting to emerge.

Distort Scripture

The reason why they are so effective, as we see in 2 Peter 3:16, is that they distort the Scriptures. They are not saying that God does not exist or that Jesus does not exist, and that we should not believe in them. Rather, they are saying that this is how you should believe, in the way that they have understood, which is different from what the disciples originally taught, even though 2000 years have passed.

The place where this good descent began is the Babylonian hood, and it is not just some nations, but all the nations. This is something we have to understand and be prepared for, and we should not be surprised by it, for it had already been promised.

The word has to be fulfilled as it has been prophesied, and even the bad things have to be fulfilled too, so that we can come out when salvation comes. 

Jesus promised in Matthew 13 that the farmer sows good seed in his field, but the enemy comes and sows weeds among the wheat, and then both are forced to grow together in the same field until the time of the harvest. This was promised, and it has to happen.

We should not be feeling bad, distraught, or scared about the things that have already been promised to happen, for they will happen. Instead, we should be looking forward to what God wants us to do today, now that we know these things have to happen.

Similar to the time of the first coming, there must be an established place where people must come. God is starting anew, building something fresh from the survivors of the old, which He has always done.

This has always been the process. As we’ve studied before, Revelation 14:1-3 states, “Now I see the land standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth, who had his name and his father’s name written on their foreheads.”

As Revelation is being fulfilled, God and Jesus have established this place, Mount Zion. This means that this place has not always existed. This is a key point.

Mount Zion appears at the second coming. It is not a place that can be guessed. I believe this is the place.

It is a place that appears and then must be revealed. This is how all prophecies work – there must be an appearance, and then a revealing or a revelation that the prophecy has been fulfilled.

What are some other examples that must be fulfilled? There must be a testimony of the seven stars. Who were these people? Where did they come from? What did they do? Who are they essentially? They must appear, and then the word about their appearance must go out to many people.

The same must happen with the beast with seven heads and 10 horns. The beast must appear, and then it must be revealed so that people can know that it has appeared, with its seven heads and 10 horns.

These are the betrayers and the destroyers. Those who help God and Jesus with the work of salvation are on the other side.

It cannot be guessed or reasoned by reading the Bible repeatedly. Revelation must be fulfilled and then revealed to many people. How is it revealed? From Mount Zion comes the new song that goes out into the world, sung only by the 144,000 who have been redeemed from the earth.

They bring out of Babylon a great multitude from many peoples, nations, languages, and kings, with the call, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins or receive any of her plagues.” Another way of saying this is “harvest,” as there must be a harvest from the field where both seeds were sown.

Where are we now? In Babylon. What must we do? Flee to Mount Zion. Suffering a little in our life of faith, so that the glory will be revealed within us when we reach the destination.

The place that God and Jesus have established will become the true orthodoxy at the end times, not a place that has always been around and argued about, but the place established for the end times. Let’s find that place.

The Bereans were of more noble character, listening intently to the words of Apostle Paul and checking the scriptures to see if what he said was true. Let’s be like the Bereans.

Memorization

Let’s Us Discern