An Air of Deception

 5 min. read 

Part 8 in the Challenges series 

(Ephesians 2:2)

"wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:"

(Matthew 24:3-5, 11, 24-25)

"And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."

"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many."

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before." 

At this point in the study, a person might be asking why we would be interested in the fact that mystic teachings have entered mainline evangelical churches. The answer in short is that those teachings ultimately direct an unsaved person, that is seeking truth, away from the truth, as opposed to bringing them to it. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

If a person is presented with a mystical "experience", instead of a genuine conversion, he has a false hope of salvation. That individual is believing a false gospel through false doctrine; therefore he or she has only a false profession of faith.

That is the reason Paul warned Timothy (2 Timothy 4:3) that in the end time a religious people would not endure sound doctrine. The Greek word here translated endured in English is anechomai. Thayers definition is "to hold one's self erect and firm". I believe that this is the point Paul is trying to make in 2 Timothy 4:3. As the incursion into a body of believers by mystic teaching (or by any other means) occurs, those believers are moved away from a "firm" stand on sound, fundamental teachings from the word of God. 

 Paul was extremely familiar with these incursions. Remember, at this point in Paul's ministry, he had fought many battles and had kept the faith. He had to continually warn the churches he had planted about the false doctrine of the Gnostics, the Judaisers, and the legalizers. In Acts 20:29-31, Paul speaking to the Ephesian elders at Miletus had this to say. 

"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."

We see him speaking to the body of believers in Galatia concerning false teachers. In Galatians 1:6-9, Paul is not mincing his words. 

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

I believe it would profit those that are interested in exposing this false teaching in evangelical circles, to pivot away from the term Mysticism, and refer to it as mystic teaching. Mystic in the sense of it being either felt or experienced. Something that is "worked up" from within. That is the "essence" of mystical teaching and why it so appealing to the flesh. That is why we see those people mentioned in Matthew 24 being so easily deceived by the signs and wonders. They are programmed by the "mystical" to believe only that which they can see or feel. 

The main danger that is presented to a "church" that has adopted mystic teachings, is the fact that they are attempting to worship a mystical Christ. 

Attempting to present "another Jesus" as we will see Paul speaking of later. Mysticism, as it is being taught in any major Middle Eastern religion, within the confines of that body of adherents, presents no threat to sound Christian doctrine. The problem this presents to the professing church however, is that by mingling these teachings with, and trying to make them fit Bible doctrine -- you inevitably arrive once again in Babylon. That's why we see the book of the Revelation referring to this end time religion as Mystery Babylon. 

We see in the verses above from Matthew 24 that deception is a part of Satan's end time game plan. We see the word deceive being used by Jesus as he answered the Disciples question about the end of the world. This deception will be accomplished by false prophets and false Christs performing real miracles. 

Therein lies the furtile end time field. Through the preparation of the hearts and minds, through mystic teachings, the false prophets will deceive many. Jesus had spoken of the harvest fields being ripe with few laborers available. These same fields are now ready to be reaped by false prophets with a false Jesus. Paul warned those in Corinth in his second Epistle Chapter 11 by referring to, "another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel."

Ultimately, we see the prince of the power of the air working his plan of deceit masterfully, an air of deception...if you will.

We certainly see the worship of another Jesus emerging within Contemporary Christian Music. A mystical Christ. A Gnostic Christ. False Christs that Jesus himself said "shall arise".

One of the best series of documentaries available about the rise of Mystery Babylon is available on line. I will provide a link here. These videos are exceptionally researched and produced by Spencer Smith and his team. These videos are a must see for those interested in Bible prophecy concerning the end times. Check this ministry out and consider supporting them financially. Great channel!

Third Adam: Missionary Spencer Smith 

As we continue in this study, I will be providing links to more videos on this channel that I have found to be extremely enlightening about the false doctrine and the blurring of the lines between Middle Eastern Mysticism and sound Christian doctrine. We will also look at the vehicle that is driving this global end time deception. We certainly see the worship of another Jesus emerging within Contemporary Christian Music. 

Stay tuned. 

Let me close the same way the Apostle Paul does in his Epistle to the Romans. 

"To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen."  

My dear friend, if you have never received Christ as your Saviour, would you do so today? Pray this from your heart. 

Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died on the cross for my sins. I believe you were buried and rose again the third day. I ask you now to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart and save me. Amen