The Selling Of The Christ (Final)

Ages and dispensations are no longer a factor in Bible study. We take the Old and New Testament, (figurative speaking) we dump both into the pot, then we add The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit and mix it all together.  Next we add a vestige of the Law and the Blood of Jesus.   Since the Law, (which required the blood of animals) and the Blood of Jesus does not mix, to congeal the mix we add a bit of paganism with a touch of Voodooism.  According to the teaching of Peter, what emerges is a polluted mess that is neither sustainable thru the Word of God nor common sense.   On one extreme we have people dancing with snakes and on the other extreme, we have the magical sideshows.  Somewhere in between, we have those who are clamoring for special worship days and claiming the blessing of Abraham.  We have trivialized the God of our salvation and he is presented to the world as an ineffective landlord.

(3.) That the wrath of God would certainly be poured out upon them. The design of this scripture is to illustrate and defend these points.

We know that according to the Word of God these false teachers will certainly be punished. A large part of the chapter is taken up in proving this point and especially in showing from the examples of others who had erred in a similar manner, that they will not escape destruction. In doing this, the apostle refers to the following facts and illustrations:

(1.) The case of the angels that sinned, and that were cast down to hell.  (2^nd Peter 2:4) If God brought such dreadful punishment on those who were once before his throne, wicked men can have no hope of escape.

(2.) The case of the wicked at the time of Noah, who were cut off by the flood. (2^nd Peter 2:5)

(3.) The case of Sodom and Gomorrah. (2^nd Peter 2:6)

(4.) The character of the persons referred to was such that they could have no hope of escape.

They were corrupt, sensual, presumptuous, and self-willed, and were even worse than the rebel angels had been, men that seemed to be made to be taken and destroyed. (2^nd Peter 2:10-12)

They were spotted and blemishes, sensual and adulterers, emulating the example of Balaam, who was rebuked by even a dumb ass for his iniquity.  (2^nd Peter 2:13-16)

They allured others to commit sins under the specious promise of liberty while they were themselves the slaves of debased appetites and gross and sensual (sexual) passions. (2^nd Peter 2:17-19) 

From the entire description in this chapter, it is clear that the persons referred to, though once professors of religion, had become eminently abandoned and corrupt.  Peter strongly indicated that a sexual perversion had invaded the church; his concern was that this perversion would continue to grow.  Once this sexual perversion manifested itself the focus of these infected messengers would change from fulfilling the ordinance of God to fulfilling their earthly ambition. It may not be easy to identify them with any particular denomination or class, but they existed then and they exist now. A few of the sects in the early Christian church bore a strong resemblance to this description, and there have been those in every age who have strongly resembled these persons. This chapter, therefore, possesses great value as containing important warnings against the arts of false teachers, and the danger of being seduced by them from the truth. 

The wrath of God presently is being stored up and reserved.   (Revelation 15:7)  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.  The watered down hijacked messages of modern Christianity does not reflect the wrath of God.  To speak of the wrath of God would be considered “hate speech”, and would not be conducive to a growing congregation.  Seven Golden vials full of the wrath of God are indicative of stored up wrath that is being withheld by the Grace that is made available through the Blood of Jesus.  Fire and brimstone message does not project the 'feel good' atmosphere that is prevalent in many churches, therefore,  it is more appropriate to speak of what God is doing for you or what he is going to do for you.   These are sellable points that are leading the church astray. 

Those who indoctrinate errors rarely do it openly. If they would at once boldly" deny the Lord that bought them," it would be easy to identify them, and the mass of professed Christians would be in no danger of embracing the errors. But when principles are laid down which lead to doubts on remote points are suggested which may involve the errors; or when a long train of reasoning is pursued which may secretly support the errors; there is much more probable that the mind will be corrupted and turn away from the truth.

In essence, there are numerous scams being played out over the internet.  The gantlet ranges from those with impressive titles and government positions, invoking the name of the father and promising huge sums of money.  There are those who promise an intercession with God in exchange for a small sum of money. These scams will not go away because of the profitability of such. There always seems to be a group of people who will believe whatever is dangling in front of them, if it will bring peace to their inner longing.  The doctrine of prosperity that teaches Christians are wealthy and sinners are poor fails miserably in the light of the Word of God and common sense. Yet, there is no limit to the number of struggling Christians who will defend these damnable heresies.

Damnable heresies "Heresies of destruction;" that is, heresies that will be followed by destruction. The Greek word which is rendered damnable is the same which in the close of the verse is rendered destruction. Heresy is a departure from the truth. In the early history of Christianity, the church established the basic teachings of the faith. Those basics can be found in the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed. Over the centuries, however, theologians and religious figures have proposed doctrines that contradict established Christian beliefs. To keep those beliefs pure, the church once singled out people who taught or believed in ideas that were considered a threat to Christianity. 

Persecution became widespread as popes authorized inquisitions. Those investigations often resulted in torture and execution of innocent victims. This was not a workable solution to the problem. Jesus addressed the problem as such.  (Matthew 13:30) Let both grow together until the harvest: and at the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.  John encapsulated the new concept as such, (1^st John 4:1) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:  because many false prophets are gone out into the world.   Often those who were in charge of the purges or persecutions were guilty of damnable heresies. 

The thing which false teachers attempt is divisions, alienations, or parties, in the church and these would be based on the erroneous doctrines which they would promulgate through the twisting, misapplying and misinterpretation of the scripture. What would be the particular doctrine, in this case, is immediately specified, that they "would deny the Lord that bought them." The idea then is that these false teachers would form sects or parties in the church, of a destructive or ruinous nature, founded on a denial of the Lord that bought them. They would draw attention to themselves by making false promises in the name of God, for the purpose of obtaining wealth and power. Such a formation of leaders would be ruinous to holiness, to good morals, and to the soul. 

The authors of these sects, holding the views which they did, and influenced by the motives which they would be, and practicing the morals which they would practice, as growing out their principles, would bring upon themselves swiftly and certain destruction. It is not possible now to determine to what particular class the apostle had the reference here, but it is generally supposed that it was in some form of the Gnostic belief. There were many early sects of so-called heretics to whom what he here says would be applicable.

Now, local preachers are seeking what the television evangelists have. They want the money, the fame, access to the stars, the television, the movies, the parties and elite celebrations. They want access to radio and television shows. They want mega churches and super conferences. They want secular and sacred mixtures to draw the masses with shaped and water down the message. They want a television or radio audience without even drawing their own communities to their churches. They have been seduced, but the bitter end is coming early for many of them.  They are falling like flies. They are getting caught with their pants down literally! They are being set up to fail and the Devil is laughing while he preserves his "queen" and keeps her spirit safe in the body of a cunning leader. While his family is tormented by internet rumors, while his spiritual children are tormented by divorce and immoral exposures, and while his church congregation is plagued with homosexual and lesbian spirits, he continues to lift himself up and use every avenue possible for a financial exchange.

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The Seven Church Ages of Revelation