PERVERSIONS OF DOCTRINE IN THE LAST DAYS.
JUST as sure as there were true prophets in olden times, there were also false ones. Such is the positive statement of the apostle Peter, who says: “The prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you.” 2 Peter 1:21; 2:1. Satan’s scheme for destroying souls is hinged on the perversion of truth; so wherever we find truth, in this world, we may expect to find falsehood; if there were no truth there could be no falsehood. Among the signs of Christ’s second advent, given by Himself, is this, “Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Then it follows that there will be true prophets in the last days, or there would be no false ones. Satan would have no use for that special mode of deception, or perversion of truth. The Lord also tells us of the extent of the pernicious influence of such work: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” This being given as the direct result of the teaching of false prophets, it discloses the fact that such work will have an extensive influence on believers, and will have the effect of causing them to backslide. Naturally this would be just what the adversary would most desire—the confusion, the discouragement, and the consequent backsliding of those who had been wont to receive light and courage through the spirit of prophecy. This prophecy is one of the gifts bestowed upon the church when Christ ascended to heaven, and one of its purposes was the “perfecting of the saints;” for how long?—“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” See Eph. 4:7-13. Now how long will it take the church to come to this state of unity and perfection if any of the gifts or means designed by the Master for such consummation be taken away before the object is accomplished? How long will it take to perfect the saints in the knowledge of Christ if some internal influence be continually causing many to grow so cold and weak as to be easily led astray by the enemy? We have referred to “internal” influence, because false prophecy, or perversion of prophecy, in order to gain great influence in the church must come in through those professing to be Christians. The closer they are connected with the membership of the church, and the more they have been trusted, the greater their influence when they begin to scatter doubt concerning any gift of the Spirit or other tenet of the faith. Hymnæus, Alexander, and Philetus are examples. 1 Tim. 1:18-20; 2 Tim. 2:16-18; 4:14-16. We have the prophetic testimony of Paul also, concerning this very church at Ephesus, where Timothy was when addressed as above. Paul had warned the elders of that church long before in these words: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, . . . 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.” Acts 20:28-30. And to Peter’s testimony before noted, should be added his statement of results: “And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you.” 2 Peter 2:2. We may also be assured that whatever the Lord designs to make specially prominent at any time will be counterfeited or specially opposed by the emissaries of the adversary; both in and out of the church—preferably within, if possible. It is so with the doctrines of the near advent of Christ, of the resurrection of the dead, of the mortality of man and immortality only through Christ, of the unconscious state of the dead, of the saints’ inheritance in the earth made new, of reformation concerning the Sabbath of the Lord “according to the commandment,” of the sanctuary in heaven, of the spirit of prophecy in the church in the last days, and of other points of “the faith which was once delivered to the saints,” and concerning which the Lord would have His people specially put in remembrance in the last days, as a final preparation for the judgment. The manifestation of the spirit of prophecy is an emphatic promise for the “last days.” The fulfilment of this prophecy began on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21), but the “last days” must include the last day of probation, when the Spirit will be withdrawn from unregenerate man, and prophecy will be of no further utility. Therefore it should not be a matter of surprise if we find it bitterly opposed and perverted as it becomes more prominent in the “latter rain,” which must accompany the closing work of the Gospel of salvation. G.