And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
To turn away the ears from the truth means to refuse to hear and endure sound and healthy teaching, and to be turned unto fables means to accept falsehoods and invented teachings in its place, the truth refused being the pure word of God and plain Bible truth. People turn because they follow their own desires and itching ears, heaping up pleasing teachers who tell them what they want to hear rather than faithful teaching that rebukes sin and demands obedience, loving smooth and comforting preaching that quiets conscience instead of cutting sanctifying truth. The fables embraced are fanciful human theories and sophistries without foundation in God's word, including denial of Christ and His atonement, rejection of God's law, honoring the first day instead of the seventh-day Sabbath, infidel science and philosophy, and spiritualism with its immortality of the soul and communication of the dead. That foretold turning has fully come in the present age and last days, when many depart from the faith and flood the world with pleasing errors, fulfilled in fallen churches that will not endure present truth and in the masses who reject solemn warning truth. In that time ministers must preach the word alone as God's power unto salvation rather than human wisdom and speculation, and safety is found only in searching the Scriptures, receiving God's word as written, and keeping close to Jesus to discern fallacy.
Context and Wording
The verse belongs to a solemn charge given before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. That charge is to preach the word, to be urgent in season and out of season, to reprove, rebuke and exhort with all patience and doctrine, and to watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, and make full proof of ministry. The reason for the charge is that a time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine but will follow their own desires and lusts, heap up teachers with itching ears to suit themselves, turn away from the truth, and be turned to fables. It outlines the work of every minister sent to hold forth the word of life and to preach the gospel as the power of God unto salvation rather than philosophy and vain deceit or science falsely so called, a work that can be done only through Christ's promise to be with His disciples always, even to the end. The work of opening the Scriptures to others is most solemn and requires men of prayer, with pastoral reproof and exhortation with all longsuffering and doctrine to show wherein there is deficiency. That labor must be without partiality for merely the prophecies and argumentative portions of Scripture but must give the greatest and most important lessons given by Jesus Christ Himself, because the minister will meet human prejudices and undisciplined, unsubdued hearts that bar his way and must labor humbly with the mind of Christ for souls purchased by His blood.
To turn away the ears from the truth means to refuse to hear, bear, or endure sound and healthy teaching. To be turned unto fables means to accept in its place falsehoods, false stories, foolish theories, and invented teachings that depart from Scripture and suit desire. Those who will not accept the truth turn away from it and turn instead to fables, seeking and heaping up teachers who suit their own desires and tell them what they want to hear rather than enduring sound doctrine. The warning therefore calls for watchfulness and faithfulness to the truth proclaimed from Scripture, and shows why ministers must faithfully teach sound doctrine and correct error.
The truth turned from is the pure word of God, plain Bible truth and present truth. Hearers remain responsible to receive, hear, and obey its instruction and warning rather than close their ears, to respect biblical reproof and instruction, to study Scripture, and to receive God's messages rather than educate themselves in doubt and unbelief. That hearers may refuse sound teaching does not excuse those charged with proclaiming the word from giving warning.
Why Ears Turn Away
People turn away because they follow their own desires, lusts and itching ears, heaping up pleasing and flattering teachers who suit them and tell them what they want to hear. They refuse faithful teaching that rebukes sin, condemns pleasure-loving conduct, demands self-denial and obedience, interferes with worldly prosperity and the sinful world-loving heart, and exposes the need to keep God's law. Christlike preaching of practical piety and true godliness stands in marked contrast to their lives and characters, so a dish of fables served from the pulpit suits taste better than being fed with the sincere milk of the word that would make them grow. They favor doctrines that make fewer demands and quiet awakened consciences, rejecting truth when it requires sacrifice or separation from the world, while their moral perceptions are blunted as they cling to custom and tradition. For many the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is too heavy a cross to lift and attachments to the world are strong, so to come out and be separate is terrible to them and they try to make themselves and others believe that fables are truth, dishonoring God by transgressing His holy law.
They love smooth, popular and comforting preaching that accommodates carnal members, quiets awakened consciences, makes religion honored by the world, and soothes fears about Babylon and its errors instead of the cutting, sanctifying truths for the last days. Pure biblical truth would expose hypocrisy and drive hypocrites and sinners out, so smooth doctrines are taught and readily received to keep carnal, wealthy members, while ministers avoid preaching Jesus and the Bible's cutting truths. When hearers awakened by warnings about Babylon ask whether the warning is true, their former teachers offer false teaching and smooth assurances to quiet their fears and consciences rather than answering their demand for truth from God's word. At this very time the world is flooded with pleasing fables while God's people love to have smooth things spoken to them and sin and iniquity are not abhorred, making faithful warnings and reproofs and close, straight dealing more needed than ever to press back the incoming darkness. Resisting this darkness requires determined effort and the close work of the Holy Spirit, for stupidity must be shaken off and lethargy aroused or it will prove destruction, with preachers and people in danger of being found on the side of the powers of darkness and no neutral position but a decided stand for the right or with the wrong.
The turning is spread by ministers and teachers who preach human opinions instead of God's word, soften and alter the message to suit prejudice, twist Scripture's meaning, misrepresent truth, cover plain facts with plausible sophistry, and present eloquent fables from the pulpit. They warn hearers against the message God sends through other messengers, and even twist Scripture's true meaning to deceive others and keep them from accepting the truth. Presenting ideas contrary to the light given by the Holy Spirit reflects a mind perverted and governed by another spirit. Faultfinding, distrust and accusation can turn people away from the truth and lead them to choose fables, as when those who rejected reproof spread slander and led others to withdraw support from those whose work they had acknowledged was blessed by God.
People turn from craving novelty, excitement, curiosity and sensational religion, hungering for something new, strange and startling and drifting on feeling without clinging to settled pillars. They are always ready to see and hear some new and strange thing instead of the great and sanctifying truths for the last days, failing to find solid rock bottom and tossed here and there by changing winds of doctrine into confusion and uncertainty. Satan provides plenty of popular religious excitement to inflame curiosity, divert the mind and suit every appetite, and under that guise leads vacillating, unwary, excitable, weak and yielding ones off the path of truth, in a fluctuating revival enthusiasm that looks like the true Spirit but is delusive, multiplies converts for a time, then leaves them stranded and divides and weakens the minority who believe unpopular truth. Getting above God's word because following its teachings and repeating the same simple story is too humbling, they try to get something new and great and study how to please men and make words exact to their ear, with prayer and talk directed to man instead of to God until God's Spirit leaves them. This rejection can follow pride in knowledge and trust in human wisdom when people do not humbly seek God or search the Scriptures for further light, and puffed up with self-sufficiency they think themselves safe though no one in self-sufficiency can pass safely through this peril of the last days. Pleasure-loving sleepers crave something new to attract the mind and something startling, relishing fables while not wanting truth that would arouse them and disturb self-complacency, encased as though nothing can penetrate their armor of self-deception and stolid indifference, so that only God working upon hearts and consecrated Bible work in homes can arouse them to inquire with earnestness what is truth.
What the Fables Are
Fables are new and fanciful doctrines, human suppositions and speculative theories without foundation in God's word, romance and fanciful interpretations, beautiful scientific sophistries and pleasing deceptive theories dressed in man's wisdom, heresy disguised in the language of truth, and new sects and isms that wrest Scripture from its connection to make falsehood look true. They feed craving for sensational religion and novelty instead of sound doctrine, so that those deceived prefer them to the nourishment of Scripture and become so steeped in false impressions they cannot be set right. They distract from Scripture and fanaticism must be discarded to teach the words of Christ and the Bible, keeping teaching grounded in sacred truth rather than erroneous theories.
Fables include denying Christ's preexistence, divinity, and miraculous incarnation, denying creation and the fall, denying the atonement, explaining away important truths, rejecting the continuing authority of God's law, and teaching human maxims, customs, opinions and commandments as doctrine. Denying Christ's incarnation and divinity leads to other fables of Satan's invention, weakens spiritual discernment, and leaves people open to spiritualism and claims that the dead communicate with the living. Before and during Christ's first advent religious teachers mixed strange ideas with portions of truth while appearing to worship God, and the same condition exists in the last days when those departing from the faith mingle human opinions with belief. Those who proclaim the binding claims of God's law should expect such people to oppose truth, preserve sinful traditions, find excuses for rejecting what is true, bear false witness and misrepresent them.
Fables include making void God's law, especially honoring the first day of the week instead of the seventh-day Sabbath God blessed and sanctified, rejecting the fourth commandment that identifies Him as Creator of heaven and earth, teaching that Sunday is the Sabbath though long age hoary with age does not make it truth, and compromising the Sabbath message and the distinction between Adventist faith and first-day observance. Professed Christians turn because truth condemns sinful desires and practices, so rather than hear faithful rebuke they choose flattering teachers who approve what they want to do and offer human opinions and pleasing fables instead of God's word. False shepherds when questioned about the seventh-day Sabbath divert people from biblical truth, evade conclusions truth demands, and lead their flock into error and death, rejecting plain commandments for infidel fables. Long acceptance of error does not make it true, and the response is to preach the Bible with patience and love, seeking to convince rather than condemn or inflame prejudice.
Fables include infidel teachings, science falsely so called and scientific fables, philosophy and vain deceit, theories and human reasonings opposed to Christ's testimony, superstition, marvelous tales, legends and jests used to keep people under superstitious control, papal claims about acknowledging the supremacy of the pope, adoring saints, and making gifts to monks as sufficient to secure heaven, speculations about God that keep people from saving knowledge, and the claim that the Bible cannot be depended upon and needs changing. Infidel teachings lead students away from the word of the Lord and make them lose desire to study it and taste for Scripture. Theories, philosophies and human reasoning become idle fables when set against the testimony of Christ and His followers, whose words awakened people and weakened old superstitions. Truth and error cannot be united, for theories that misinterpret God's Word undermine established truth and hold minds captive by appealing to taste, including scientific fables, and only conversion brings true unity.
Fables include spiritualism, theosophy and related deceptions that deny the Bible as foundation, claim the dead communicate with the living, present apparent healings and miracles, counterfeit truth to appear good, hail humanity as God, teach the natural immortality of the soul, and interpret Scripture to suit the unrenewed heart while denying Christ under a Christian guise. Turning from truth leaves people open to Satan's strong delusion and deception, whose errors gain power because they counterfeit truth. The fable that the human soul is immortal supports spiritualism though falsely presented as Bible truth, while God's word properly understood and applied guards against it. In the last days Satan persuades people that calamities come because Sunday is not honored, and fallen angels appearing as the dead reinforce false beliefs, while those honoring God's law are protected and those rejecting truth are hardened against it.
Fables include the pleasing spiritualistic ideas in Living Temple and similar theories that make sin appear sanctified, mingle pretentious superior beliefs with truth, draw medical missionary workers from the foundation pillars of faith, and threaten the foundation of faith so that watchmen must warn against them. Workers who accepted them and leaders who failed to recognize and warn against their danger fulfill the warning that people will turn from truth to pleasing fables. Such plausible ideas are to be put aside, for accepting them threatens the foundation of faith.
Fables include cultivating appetite for storybooks, light reading, fiction, myths, fairy tales and fictitious stories that give no strength to mind or solidity to character, intoxicate like strong drink, destroy taste for Scripture and solid reading, and foster desire for the unreal. Earnest study of God's Word instead makes people wise unto salvation, and more Bible reading with less story reading and less recommending and publishing of books that are fables is called for. Leaving the word of life for fiction trades knowledge of God for rubbish and trifling reading that gives no knowledge of God, perverts God-given powers, leaves the mind unclear on eternal interests, adulterates faith, places a person on Satan's ground inviting assault, and leaves them unready for what is coming and without experience for immortal life unless there is repentance. Myths and fictitious stories mislead children, give false views of life, and feeding on fiction rather than truth means failing to take in and apply spiritual truths encountered.
Time of Fulfillment
The foretold time has fully come in the present age and last days, an age of error and daydreaming and great apostasy with declining spirituality. Many have departed from the faith, refusing to endure sound doctrine and turning from truth to fables that suit their own desires and lusts, heaping to themselves teachers with itching ears who tell them what they want to hear. The world is flooded with pleasing fables and bewitching errors, with romance and fanciful interpretations without foundation in the written Word and with human traditions replacing Scripture. In these last days satanic agencies work miracles and every conceivable deception to carry the impression that they are Christ, requiring belief to be sensible and discerning whether workings are of the seducing party or united with Christ and His angels, refusing to be ensnared and holding to belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only hope for the sinful race. The same company that resists the will of God and the warnings of the Spirit stumbles and falls and is broken and snared and taken, and the charge therefore falls on ministers to stay within It is written, to preach the Word faithfully with sanctified common sense and full consecration, and to remain true to truth.
The prophecy is fulfilled in the fallen churches just now, which will not endure present Bible truth but after their own lusts heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and run for teachers to oppose the truth with endless theories. The masses turn away their ears from hearing the most solemn warnings proclaimed as by holy angels flying in the midst of heaven, especially the fearful judgments denounced against the worship of the beast and his image, though every reasoning person should diligently study the prophecies to learn what the mark of the beast is and how to avoid receiving it. They do not want Bible truth because it interferes with the desires of the sinful, world-loving heart, and Satan supplies the fables and deceptions they love, a condition like Noah's time when the majority followed their own desires and opposed the saving warning, which will exist before Christ's second coming. The perils of the last days are illustrated by intemperance such as tobacco use even by ministers who smoke and disregard temperance, and by teaching that Christ's coming is spiritual or far off to allow self-indulgence, with the closing call to turn from human institutions to the true Sabbath. Those who have the truth for these last days must have the light and the oil which God alone can give, bear the Word of the Lord to the fallen churches and flash Bible light before the people because many precious souls are in the churches and the judge standeth before the door, pressing in whether times be favorable or adverse, making an opening where none exists, sowing beside all waters, watching in all things, enduring afflictions, doing the work of an evangelist, and making full proof of ministry.
The prophecy was fulfilled in the trying experience over the medical missionary work at Battle Creek, where a once-honored man refused God's counsel, was influenced by seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and led others to honor a finite man and his methods and plans. There fables were brought in and taught as truth while sound doctrine was not endured, and strength lay not in keeping silent and allowing this but in watching in all things, enduring afflictions, doing the work of an evangelist, reproving error, standing strongly linked with God's appointed messengers, and letting God's Word go forth as a lamp that burneth. In future test and trial souls will give up the foundation of the faith for fables when those claiming to stand as believing present truth, while of the synagogue of Satan, bring in sentiments that falsify the truth and mingle pretentious, superior beliefs and spiritualistic deceptions with the truth through erroneous suppositions by Satan's plan. A prominent class will be overcome by the seducing spirits of satanic agencies through specious temptations, so the churches must see their danger, stand out from all such pretentious claims brought in as truth for this time, watch and pray lest they enter into temptation, and put every human capability under the Holy Spirit into exercise to strive as overcomers.
Results of Turning
Those who turn become hard and unfeeling, so filled and steeped with false impressions that they resist correction and cannot be set right. Preferring strange, false and fanciful doctrines unsupported by God's Word to the teaching of God's Word and the nourishment found in Scripture, they come to believe the doctrine offered is more profitable than the food in God's Word. Following their own desires and seeking teachers who tell them what they want to hear, when reproved they take offense and cling to error instead of acknowledging it. When truth is presented they respond with impatience and anger, finding the word displeasing and wanting amusement for feeling. Once error is accepted it becomes much harder to persuade them to examine evidence fairly, as seen in instances in America where efforts could not persuade listeners of strange doctrines to return to truth, and where neglecting timely personal effort gives Satan an opening to occupy inquiring minds with captivating falsehoods.
Turning from God's plain precepts, commandments and plain Word to pleasing fables prepares people to accept Satan's lying wonders, including apparent healings and miracles, as coming from God. Those who turn become vulnerable to strong delusions and come under his influence through deceptive errors made attractive by Satan that counterfeit truth and appear true. These are false theories dressed in attractive garb that are in reality deadly error put into minds by satanic agencies, with Satan concealing his identity as he did by speaking through the serpent in Eden, and his hypnotic influence resting upon those who make that turn. This is Satan's last-day work of flooding the world with pleasing fables, the same field into which he led Adam and Eve, to keep men from obtaining the knowledge of God which is salvation, in an age of great light where much that is called light opens the way for Satan's wisdom and arts. The path of error lies close to the path of truth and is hardly distinguishable from the path that leads to holiness and heaven at first, so what appears true needs careful consideration with much prayer, and only the mind enlightened by the Holy Spirit can discern the divergence from the right way at the start before the two ways are seen to be widely separated. Even people who have received much light may be ensnared and lead others astray, blinding the mind, chilling spiritual life, undermining Christ's foundation, and starving the soul with poison instead of nourishment, while faith in God's word, studied prayerfully and applied in practice, guards against this deception.
Trusting fables chosen after rejecting God's expressed will for other voices and guides brings infinite loss in the day of God. Turning from truth to fables, deception, delusion and infidelity means opposing truth and righteousness and following the great deceiver instead of Christ the Lamb of God, from stubbornness and unwillingness to change wrong for right, sowing seed whose harvest they will not care to reap, and unless the power holding them under its spell is broken they will be eternally lost. Yielding to Satan's devices, sometimes after ministers or church members persuade them with deceptive arguments, they turn away, oppose Christ, and reject eternal life, so that those who persist in disloyalty to God will hear the judgment Depart and be consumed in trial without obedience. They reject the warning of pardon and salvation and choose falsehood instead, and once probation closes those who have received and refused that light cannot then be justified and will receive no later call to accept salvation. In the last days many reject truth for fables, while the fables shield them from Satan's attacks and he works to deceive and hinder those who seek and obey truth, and those who turn back to truth face contempt, hatred and persecution.
The turning diverts minds from present truth and the knowledge needed to stand in the day of the Lord, as when those convicted and interested in truth turn their ears from truth to fables when false statements and theories are brought in by an opposing minister. Those who proclaim the binding claims of God's law and present truth especially needed in their time should expect opposition, for truth is no more desired by the majority in one age than another, and such people will oppose the truth, bear false witness and misrepresent them. Their false accusations and insults against Christ's faithful followers are offenses against Christ himself, committed against him in the person of his saints. Human hearts tempted and deceived to turn to human maxims, customs and commandments over the Bible cause difficulties for faithful burden-bearers, so that even when servants follow conscientiously the path of righteousness their work will at times seem to fail, meeting the same experience as Jesus Christ who was unkindly judged by those who ought to have discerned His divine wisdom. Those ensnared by delusion turn from hearing truth and believe a lie, and refusing the light of Christ and choosing another leader brings them under deception so their actions side with Barabbas and reject Christ.
Faithful Response Required
When the turning comes, ministers are to preach the Word alone as the power of God unto salvation, not philosophy and vain deceit, not science falsely so called, not wisdom drawn from worldly authors, not phrenology, not human speculation, not worldly news and empty material, not ponderous history. They are to stay within It is written, dwell upon the Word, bring truth home to the heart, teach Christ and Him crucified with plain Bible arguments, and give spiritual instruction and sound doctrine. Discourses are to be short and forcible, grasping great points, keeping human stories and finite imperfection out, handling truth well with the best preaching, and presenting pure doctrine against fables even under opposition. This urgency belongs to the solemn charge to preach the Word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine, watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist and make full proof of ministry, because thousands preach fables that poison morals and blight hope, and because truth must still be presented clearly when God's law is made void even though opposers resist its progress.
The charge belongs to all who claim to know the truth, who are to be lights in the world diffusing sacred truth everywhere, weaving God's Word into all speech, losing no opportunity for teaching, and letting light penetrate the darkness of erroneous theories. They are to take the commission to the disciples as their own, press into fallen churches with light and oil to flash convincing Bible light into minds of ministers, physicians, teachers and others knowing little of present truth, sow beside all waters, make openings where none exist, warn cities and churches, and receive assigned places in harvest fields rather than remaining held at Battle Creek. The sure word of prophecy is to be given as a light shining in a dark place to those who have listened only to fables from men claiming to understand God's Word, warning them to prepare for the coming judgment so all who will take heed may contrast truth with fables. Ministers of the Word have an important work to keep the remnant from being turned by sophistries encouraging unbelief and skepticism, for without earnest effort to make clear the evidences of truth believers become ready dupes of Satan while opposers use falsehood to make the messages of no effect, yet humble seeking of wisdom brings results.
Truth is to be presented wisely without seeking discussion or rushing unpopular points, dwelling first on truths held in common to gain confidence and then advancing slowly as people can be brought along, line upon line here a little and there a little. Preaching the Word, Christ and Him crucified, with plain Bible arguments is the weapon of warfare and practical argument against every phase of error, letting truth shine in sharp contrast with error rather than engaging in controversy, because agents of Satan cover clear points and plain facts with skillfully arranged deceptive theories made plausible to those who have not investigated for themselves. Great allowance is to be made for those taught only traditions and fables as Bible truth through interpretations of ministers and church members, who are surprised by truth as a new strange revelation and inclined to think its bringers are infidels, and who cannot bear all truth in its most striking character at the outset. Since pleasing fables lie on the surface and attract minds busy with life who read as they run and take many things for granted, truth must be given in an easy plain pointed style backed by a few strong proofs rather than overwhelming evidence, with assertions going farther than long labored arguments, keeping a reserve of proof and not wearying minds with minute particulars or unimportant points so vital points stand clear and distinct.
Those ensnared are to be shown their danger and how grievous their course is toward Jesus Christ with pity, tenderness, calm earnestness and proper labor, with no word of censure, blame, condemnation or ridicule, since ridiculing error will not open blind eyes nor attract to truth but patient considerate work may recover some from Satan's power. Precious truth must be presented in its native force and subtle errors unveiled that are leading the world captive and preparing souls for strong delusions, addressing rejecters with love and pity while truth is presented calmly and earnestly. Believers must not give attention to those departed from the faith who come into congregations to divert attention from God's work with reproaches, and to turn aside is to stop to argue with or try to convert such opposers. Instead they are to remain inspired by the Spirit of Jesus Christ so He is heard speaking through them, trusting angels to put words in their lips that reach hearts, so sensible minds in the congregation understand theirs is the higher standard.
Suffering often softens hard unfeeling minds that will not bear healthy teaching but leave truth for false ideas under teachers pleasing itching ears, so that in sanitariums when cases are wisely managed by converted physicians and workers acting as evangelists under the Holy Spirit's guidance sufferers can be turned back from false ideas to truth. Truth buried for years beneath worldly influences and pleasing fables may likewise take root and bear fruit when sorrow or affliction softens the heart.
Safety is found only in eating and digesting the precious Word, studying Scripture as able to make the student wise unto salvation, learning the It is written and how to use God's Word, receiving it as written and interpreting it correctly. Hearers must respect biblical reproof and instruction rather than educating themselves in doubt and unbelief, search like the Bereans as for hid treasure with prayerful diligence and consecration, know reasons for faith, and hold the great important truths for this time as an anchor against strong delusion. This requires keeping close to Jesus for wisdom to discern fallacies, girding on the armor and lifting the banner of Bible truth, controlling appetite and passion by health reform and Christian temperance from a Bible standpoint since intemperance such as tobacco-using, even by ministers smoking almost constantly, violates the Creator's laws and opens the soul to Satan's assaults and manifestations of his power, educating children at home as foundational unneglectable work for character, and not wasting time listening to false shepherds.
Related Scripture Truths
The turning foretold stands with the third angel's message, its clear and distinct principles and great pillars of faith, and with the first principles of the doctrine of Christ and high and noble principles that must not be left for romance and fanciful interpretations without foundation in God's Word. It is the refusal to hear God's most solemn warnings proclaimed as by holy angels flying in the midst of heaven, especially the fearful judgments denounced against worship of the beast and his image, which require every reasoning person to study prophecy diligently to learn what the mark of the beast is and how to avoid receiving it. It belongs to the call to prepare a people to stand in the day of the Lord and for the coming judgment, when Satan's wonder-working power will draw many from truth to fables with pleasing deceptive theories that replace the truths of God's Word and control and mislead. Religious belief matters because truth received in love sanctifies the receiver, while false theories and another gospel draw away from God's Word and are fatal to the soul.
Placing solemn sacred truth on a level with fables is itself turning to fables, an invention of the enemy to belittle the faith, and truth must not be united with error nor inferior, frivolous, unsound trifles put in the same chapter with sacred truth. Such trifles include the thought that young inexperienced teachers can in a few months train still less experienced youth to go out and establish church schools, the proposition to lay aside at once all accustomed books and teach all studies from the Bible, and the theories that mosquitoes and other insects preying upon people and insects preying upon trees and plants must not be destroyed. Advocating those ideas makes influence of little value, brings too sudden a change for students and teachers, and leads to unprofitable questioning and condemnation that hinders bearers of weighty unpopular truths whose acceptance is of great importance. Turning to the right or to the left away from present truth and known duty puts fables in place of truth, while keeping straight in regard to God's commandments and lifting the cross leads the few through the strait gate and narrow way to life, and refusing the cross after knowledge of duty with the majority leads to destruction and loss of heaven. Giving heed to fables also means being led into strange paths by deluding false messages, such as the Babylonian message, that put even earnest well-meaning souls under the enemy's deception in darkness of error to walk in sparks of their own kindling until they see great light.
Faithfulness to the solemn charge to preach the Word belongs with the promise that the crown of righteousness will be given by the Lord the righteous Judge at that day, not to Paul only whose departure was at hand and who was ready to be offered, but to all who love His appearing. That charge is given before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, to preach the Word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine, and to watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist and make full proof of ministry. Ministers who teach falsehoods instead of truth lead people away and face severe judgment, for truth requires a reformation of life and separating from its love brings ruin. Those who have seen the light but reject the truth will discover that no minister can answer for their sins or save them.
To turn away the ears from the truth means to refuse to hear and endure sound and healthy teaching, and to be turned unto fables means to accept falsehoods and invented teachings in its place, the truth refused being the pure word of God and plain Bible truth.
People turn because they follow their own desires and itching ears, heaping up pleasing teachers who tell them what they want to hear rather than faithful teaching that rebukes sin and demands obedience, loving smooth and comforting preaching that quiets conscience instead of cutting sanctifying truth.
The fables embraced are fanciful human theories and sophistries without foundation in God's word, including denial of Christ and His atonement, rejection of God's law, honoring the first day instead of the seventh-day Sabbath, infidel science and philosophy, and spiritualism with its immortality of the soul and communication of the dead.
That foretold turning has fully come in the present age and last days, when many depart from the faith and flood the world with pleasing errors, fulfilled in fallen churches that will not endure present truth and in the masses who reject solemn warning truth.
In that time ministers must preach the word alone as God's power unto salvation rather than human wisdom and speculation, and safety is found only in searching the Scriptures, receiving God's word as written, and keeping close to Jesus to discern fallacy.
Context and Wording
The verse belongs to a solemn charge given before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. That charge is to preach the word, to be urgent in season and out of season, to reprove, rebuke and exhort with all patience and doctrine, and to watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, and make full proof of ministry. The reason for the charge is that a time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine but will follow their own desires and lusts, heap up teachers with itching ears to suit themselves, turn away from the truth, and be turned to fables. It outlines the work of every minister sent to hold forth the word of life and to preach the gospel as the power of God unto salvation rather than philosophy and vain deceit or science falsely so called, a work that can be done only through Christ's promise to be with His disciples always, even to the end. The work of opening the Scriptures to others is most solemn and requires men of prayer, with pastoral reproof and exhortation with all longsuffering and doctrine to show wherein there is deficiency. That labor must be without partiality for merely the prophecies and argumentative portions of Scripture but must give the greatest and most important lessons given by Jesus Christ Himself, because the minister will meet human prejudices and undisciplined, unsubdued hearts that bar his way and must labor humbly with the mind of Christ for souls purchased by His blood.
To turn away the ears from the truth means to refuse to hear, bear, or endure sound and healthy teaching. To be turned unto fables means to accept in its place falsehoods, false stories, foolish theories, and invented teachings that depart from Scripture and suit desire. Those who will not accept the truth turn away from it and turn instead to fables, seeking and heaping up teachers who suit their own desires and tell them what they want to hear rather than enduring sound doctrine. The warning therefore calls for watchfulness and faithfulness to the truth proclaimed from Scripture, and shows why ministers must faithfully teach sound doctrine and correct error.
The truth turned from is the pure word of God, plain Bible truth and present truth. Hearers remain responsible to receive, hear, and obey its instruction and warning rather than close their ears, to respect biblical reproof and instruction, to study Scripture, and to receive God's messages rather than educate themselves in doubt and unbelief. That hearers may refuse sound teaching does not excuse those charged with proclaiming the word from giving warning.
Why Ears Turn Away
People turn away because they follow their own desires, lusts and itching ears, heaping up pleasing and flattering teachers who suit them and tell them what they want to hear. They refuse faithful teaching that rebukes sin, condemns pleasure-loving conduct, demands self-denial and obedience, interferes with worldly prosperity and the sinful world-loving heart, and exposes the need to keep God's law. Christlike preaching of practical piety and true godliness stands in marked contrast to their lives and characters, so a dish of fables served from the pulpit suits taste better than being fed with the sincere milk of the word that would make them grow. They favor doctrines that make fewer demands and quiet awakened consciences, rejecting truth when it requires sacrifice or separation from the world, while their moral perceptions are blunted as they cling to custom and tradition. For many the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is too heavy a cross to lift and attachments to the world are strong, so to come out and be separate is terrible to them and they try to make themselves and others believe that fables are truth, dishonoring God by transgressing His holy law.
They love smooth, popular and comforting preaching that accommodates carnal members, quiets awakened consciences, makes religion honored by the world, and soothes fears about Babylon and its errors instead of the cutting, sanctifying truths for the last days. Pure biblical truth would expose hypocrisy and drive hypocrites and sinners out, so smooth doctrines are taught and readily received to keep carnal, wealthy members, while ministers avoid preaching Jesus and the Bible's cutting truths. When hearers awakened by warnings about Babylon ask whether the warning is true, their former teachers offer false teaching and smooth assurances to quiet their fears and consciences rather than answering their demand for truth from God's word. At this very time the world is flooded with pleasing fables while God's people love to have smooth things spoken to them and sin and iniquity are not abhorred, making faithful warnings and reproofs and close, straight dealing more needed than ever to press back the incoming darkness. Resisting this darkness requires determined effort and the close work of the Holy Spirit, for stupidity must be shaken off and lethargy aroused or it will prove destruction, with preachers and people in danger of being found on the side of the powers of darkness and no neutral position but a decided stand for the right or with the wrong.
The turning is spread by ministers and teachers who preach human opinions instead of God's word, soften and alter the message to suit prejudice, twist Scripture's meaning, misrepresent truth, cover plain facts with plausible sophistry, and present eloquent fables from the pulpit. They warn hearers against the message God sends through other messengers, and even twist Scripture's true meaning to deceive others and keep them from accepting the truth. Presenting ideas contrary to the light given by the Holy Spirit reflects a mind perverted and governed by another spirit. Faultfinding, distrust and accusation can turn people away from the truth and lead them to choose fables, as when those who rejected reproof spread slander and led others to withdraw support from those whose work they had acknowledged was blessed by God.
People turn from craving novelty, excitement, curiosity and sensational religion, hungering for something new, strange and startling and drifting on feeling without clinging to settled pillars. They are always ready to see and hear some new and strange thing instead of the great and sanctifying truths for the last days, failing to find solid rock bottom and tossed here and there by changing winds of doctrine into confusion and uncertainty. Satan provides plenty of popular religious excitement to inflame curiosity, divert the mind and suit every appetite, and under that guise leads vacillating, unwary, excitable, weak and yielding ones off the path of truth, in a fluctuating revival enthusiasm that looks like the true Spirit but is delusive, multiplies converts for a time, then leaves them stranded and divides and weakens the minority who believe unpopular truth. Getting above God's word because following its teachings and repeating the same simple story is too humbling, they try to get something new and great and study how to please men and make words exact to their ear, with prayer and talk directed to man instead of to God until God's Spirit leaves them. This rejection can follow pride in knowledge and trust in human wisdom when people do not humbly seek God or search the Scriptures for further light, and puffed up with self-sufficiency they think themselves safe though no one in self-sufficiency can pass safely through this peril of the last days. Pleasure-loving sleepers crave something new to attract the mind and something startling, relishing fables while not wanting truth that would arouse them and disturb self-complacency, encased as though nothing can penetrate their armor of self-deception and stolid indifference, so that only God working upon hearts and consecrated Bible work in homes can arouse them to inquire with earnestness what is truth.
What the Fables Are
Fables are new and fanciful doctrines, human suppositions and speculative theories without foundation in God's word, romance and fanciful interpretations, beautiful scientific sophistries and pleasing deceptive theories dressed in man's wisdom, heresy disguised in the language of truth, and new sects and isms that wrest Scripture from its connection to make falsehood look true. They feed craving for sensational religion and novelty instead of sound doctrine, so that those deceived prefer them to the nourishment of Scripture and become so steeped in false impressions they cannot be set right. They distract from Scripture and fanaticism must be discarded to teach the words of Christ and the Bible, keeping teaching grounded in sacred truth rather than erroneous theories.
Fables include denying Christ's preexistence, divinity, and miraculous incarnation, denying creation and the fall, denying the atonement, explaining away important truths, rejecting the continuing authority of God's law, and teaching human maxims, customs, opinions and commandments as doctrine. Denying Christ's incarnation and divinity leads to other fables of Satan's invention, weakens spiritual discernment, and leaves people open to spiritualism and claims that the dead communicate with the living. Before and during Christ's first advent religious teachers mixed strange ideas with portions of truth while appearing to worship God, and the same condition exists in the last days when those departing from the faith mingle human opinions with belief. Those who proclaim the binding claims of God's law should expect such people to oppose truth, preserve sinful traditions, find excuses for rejecting what is true, bear false witness and misrepresent them.
Fables include making void God's law, especially honoring the first day of the week instead of the seventh-day Sabbath God blessed and sanctified, rejecting the fourth commandment that identifies Him as Creator of heaven and earth, teaching that Sunday is the Sabbath though long age hoary with age does not make it truth, and compromising the Sabbath message and the distinction between Adventist faith and first-day observance. Professed Christians turn because truth condemns sinful desires and practices, so rather than hear faithful rebuke they choose flattering teachers who approve what they want to do and offer human opinions and pleasing fables instead of God's word. False shepherds when questioned about the seventh-day Sabbath divert people from biblical truth, evade conclusions truth demands, and lead their flock into error and death, rejecting plain commandments for infidel fables. Long acceptance of error does not make it true, and the response is to preach the Bible with patience and love, seeking to convince rather than condemn or inflame prejudice.
Fables include infidel teachings, science falsely so called and scientific fables, philosophy and vain deceit, theories and human reasonings opposed to Christ's testimony, superstition, marvelous tales, legends and jests used to keep people under superstitious control, papal claims about acknowledging the supremacy of the pope, adoring saints, and making gifts to monks as sufficient to secure heaven, speculations about God that keep people from saving knowledge, and the claim that the Bible cannot be depended upon and needs changing. Infidel teachings lead students away from the word of the Lord and make them lose desire to study it and taste for Scripture. Theories, philosophies and human reasoning become idle fables when set against the testimony of Christ and His followers, whose words awakened people and weakened old superstitions. Truth and error cannot be united, for theories that misinterpret God's Word undermine established truth and hold minds captive by appealing to taste, including scientific fables, and only conversion brings true unity.
Fables include spiritualism, theosophy and related deceptions that deny the Bible as foundation, claim the dead communicate with the living, present apparent healings and miracles, counterfeit truth to appear good, hail humanity as God, teach the natural immortality of the soul, and interpret Scripture to suit the unrenewed heart while denying Christ under a Christian guise. Turning from truth leaves people open to Satan's strong delusion and deception, whose errors gain power because they counterfeit truth. The fable that the human soul is immortal supports spiritualism though falsely presented as Bible truth, while God's word properly understood and applied guards against it. In the last days Satan persuades people that calamities come because Sunday is not honored, and fallen angels appearing as the dead reinforce false beliefs, while those honoring God's law are protected and those rejecting truth are hardened against it.
Fables include the pleasing spiritualistic ideas in Living Temple and similar theories that make sin appear sanctified, mingle pretentious superior beliefs with truth, draw medical missionary workers from the foundation pillars of faith, and threaten the foundation of faith so that watchmen must warn against them. Workers who accepted them and leaders who failed to recognize and warn against their danger fulfill the warning that people will turn from truth to pleasing fables. Such plausible ideas are to be put aside, for accepting them threatens the foundation of faith.
Fables include cultivating appetite for storybooks, light reading, fiction, myths, fairy tales and fictitious stories that give no strength to mind or solidity to character, intoxicate like strong drink, destroy taste for Scripture and solid reading, and foster desire for the unreal. Earnest study of God's Word instead makes people wise unto salvation, and more Bible reading with less story reading and less recommending and publishing of books that are fables is called for. Leaving the word of life for fiction trades knowledge of God for rubbish and trifling reading that gives no knowledge of God, perverts God-given powers, leaves the mind unclear on eternal interests, adulterates faith, places a person on Satan's ground inviting assault, and leaves them unready for what is coming and without experience for immortal life unless there is repentance. Myths and fictitious stories mislead children, give false views of life, and feeding on fiction rather than truth means failing to take in and apply spiritual truths encountered.
Time of Fulfillment
The foretold time has fully come in the present age and last days, an age of error and daydreaming and great apostasy with declining spirituality. Many have departed from the faith, refusing to endure sound doctrine and turning from truth to fables that suit their own desires and lusts, heaping to themselves teachers with itching ears who tell them what they want to hear. The world is flooded with pleasing fables and bewitching errors, with romance and fanciful interpretations without foundation in the written Word and with human traditions replacing Scripture. In these last days satanic agencies work miracles and every conceivable deception to carry the impression that they are Christ, requiring belief to be sensible and discerning whether workings are of the seducing party or united with Christ and His angels, refusing to be ensnared and holding to belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only hope for the sinful race. The same company that resists the will of God and the warnings of the Spirit stumbles and falls and is broken and snared and taken, and the charge therefore falls on ministers to stay within It is written, to preach the Word faithfully with sanctified common sense and full consecration, and to remain true to truth.
The prophecy is fulfilled in the fallen churches just now, which will not endure present Bible truth but after their own lusts heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and run for teachers to oppose the truth with endless theories. The masses turn away their ears from hearing the most solemn warnings proclaimed as by holy angels flying in the midst of heaven, especially the fearful judgments denounced against the worship of the beast and his image, though every reasoning person should diligently study the prophecies to learn what the mark of the beast is and how to avoid receiving it. They do not want Bible truth because it interferes with the desires of the sinful, world-loving heart, and Satan supplies the fables and deceptions they love, a condition like Noah's time when the majority followed their own desires and opposed the saving warning, which will exist before Christ's second coming. The perils of the last days are illustrated by intemperance such as tobacco use even by ministers who smoke and disregard temperance, and by teaching that Christ's coming is spiritual or far off to allow self-indulgence, with the closing call to turn from human institutions to the true Sabbath. Those who have the truth for these last days must have the light and the oil which God alone can give, bear the Word of the Lord to the fallen churches and flash Bible light before the people because many precious souls are in the churches and the judge standeth before the door, pressing in whether times be favorable or adverse, making an opening where none exists, sowing beside all waters, watching in all things, enduring afflictions, doing the work of an evangelist, and making full proof of ministry.
The prophecy was fulfilled in the trying experience over the medical missionary work at Battle Creek, where a once-honored man refused God's counsel, was influenced by seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and led others to honor a finite man and his methods and plans. There fables were brought in and taught as truth while sound doctrine was not endured, and strength lay not in keeping silent and allowing this but in watching in all things, enduring afflictions, doing the work of an evangelist, reproving error, standing strongly linked with God's appointed messengers, and letting God's Word go forth as a lamp that burneth. In future test and trial souls will give up the foundation of the faith for fables when those claiming to stand as believing present truth, while of the synagogue of Satan, bring in sentiments that falsify the truth and mingle pretentious, superior beliefs and spiritualistic deceptions with the truth through erroneous suppositions by Satan's plan. A prominent class will be overcome by the seducing spirits of satanic agencies through specious temptations, so the churches must see their danger, stand out from all such pretentious claims brought in as truth for this time, watch and pray lest they enter into temptation, and put every human capability under the Holy Spirit into exercise to strive as overcomers.
Results of Turning
Those who turn become hard and unfeeling, so filled and steeped with false impressions that they resist correction and cannot be set right. Preferring strange, false and fanciful doctrines unsupported by God's Word to the teaching of God's Word and the nourishment found in Scripture, they come to believe the doctrine offered is more profitable than the food in God's Word. Following their own desires and seeking teachers who tell them what they want to hear, when reproved they take offense and cling to error instead of acknowledging it. When truth is presented they respond with impatience and anger, finding the word displeasing and wanting amusement for feeling. Once error is accepted it becomes much harder to persuade them to examine evidence fairly, as seen in instances in America where efforts could not persuade listeners of strange doctrines to return to truth, and where neglecting timely personal effort gives Satan an opening to occupy inquiring minds with captivating falsehoods.
Turning from God's plain precepts, commandments and plain Word to pleasing fables prepares people to accept Satan's lying wonders, including apparent healings and miracles, as coming from God. Those who turn become vulnerable to strong delusions and come under his influence through deceptive errors made attractive by Satan that counterfeit truth and appear true. These are false theories dressed in attractive garb that are in reality deadly error put into minds by satanic agencies, with Satan concealing his identity as he did by speaking through the serpent in Eden, and his hypnotic influence resting upon those who make that turn. This is Satan's last-day work of flooding the world with pleasing fables, the same field into which he led Adam and Eve, to keep men from obtaining the knowledge of God which is salvation, in an age of great light where much that is called light opens the way for Satan's wisdom and arts. The path of error lies close to the path of truth and is hardly distinguishable from the path that leads to holiness and heaven at first, so what appears true needs careful consideration with much prayer, and only the mind enlightened by the Holy Spirit can discern the divergence from the right way at the start before the two ways are seen to be widely separated. Even people who have received much light may be ensnared and lead others astray, blinding the mind, chilling spiritual life, undermining Christ's foundation, and starving the soul with poison instead of nourishment, while faith in God's word, studied prayerfully and applied in practice, guards against this deception.
Trusting fables chosen after rejecting God's expressed will for other voices and guides brings infinite loss in the day of God. Turning from truth to fables, deception, delusion and infidelity means opposing truth and righteousness and following the great deceiver instead of Christ the Lamb of God, from stubbornness and unwillingness to change wrong for right, sowing seed whose harvest they will not care to reap, and unless the power holding them under its spell is broken they will be eternally lost. Yielding to Satan's devices, sometimes after ministers or church members persuade them with deceptive arguments, they turn away, oppose Christ, and reject eternal life, so that those who persist in disloyalty to God will hear the judgment Depart and be consumed in trial without obedience. They reject the warning of pardon and salvation and choose falsehood instead, and once probation closes those who have received and refused that light cannot then be justified and will receive no later call to accept salvation. In the last days many reject truth for fables, while the fables shield them from Satan's attacks and he works to deceive and hinder those who seek and obey truth, and those who turn back to truth face contempt, hatred and persecution.
The turning diverts minds from present truth and the knowledge needed to stand in the day of the Lord, as when those convicted and interested in truth turn their ears from truth to fables when false statements and theories are brought in by an opposing minister. Those who proclaim the binding claims of God's law and present truth especially needed in their time should expect opposition, for truth is no more desired by the majority in one age than another, and such people will oppose the truth, bear false witness and misrepresent them. Their false accusations and insults against Christ's faithful followers are offenses against Christ himself, committed against him in the person of his saints. Human hearts tempted and deceived to turn to human maxims, customs and commandments over the Bible cause difficulties for faithful burden-bearers, so that even when servants follow conscientiously the path of righteousness their work will at times seem to fail, meeting the same experience as Jesus Christ who was unkindly judged by those who ought to have discerned His divine wisdom. Those ensnared by delusion turn from hearing truth and believe a lie, and refusing the light of Christ and choosing another leader brings them under deception so their actions side with Barabbas and reject Christ.
Faithful Response Required
When the turning comes, ministers are to preach the Word alone as the power of God unto salvation, not philosophy and vain deceit, not science falsely so called, not wisdom drawn from worldly authors, not phrenology, not human speculation, not worldly news and empty material, not ponderous history. They are to stay within It is written, dwell upon the Word, bring truth home to the heart, teach Christ and Him crucified with plain Bible arguments, and give spiritual instruction and sound doctrine. Discourses are to be short and forcible, grasping great points, keeping human stories and finite imperfection out, handling truth well with the best preaching, and presenting pure doctrine against fables even under opposition. This urgency belongs to the solemn charge to preach the Word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine, watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist and make full proof of ministry, because thousands preach fables that poison morals and blight hope, and because truth must still be presented clearly when God's law is made void even though opposers resist its progress.
The charge belongs to all who claim to know the truth, who are to be lights in the world diffusing sacred truth everywhere, weaving God's Word into all speech, losing no opportunity for teaching, and letting light penetrate the darkness of erroneous theories. They are to take the commission to the disciples as their own, press into fallen churches with light and oil to flash convincing Bible light into minds of ministers, physicians, teachers and others knowing little of present truth, sow beside all waters, make openings where none exist, warn cities and churches, and receive assigned places in harvest fields rather than remaining held at Battle Creek. The sure word of prophecy is to be given as a light shining in a dark place to those who have listened only to fables from men claiming to understand God's Word, warning them to prepare for the coming judgment so all who will take heed may contrast truth with fables. Ministers of the Word have an important work to keep the remnant from being turned by sophistries encouraging unbelief and skepticism, for without earnest effort to make clear the evidences of truth believers become ready dupes of Satan while opposers use falsehood to make the messages of no effect, yet humble seeking of wisdom brings results.
Truth is to be presented wisely without seeking discussion or rushing unpopular points, dwelling first on truths held in common to gain confidence and then advancing slowly as people can be brought along, line upon line here a little and there a little. Preaching the Word, Christ and Him crucified, with plain Bible arguments is the weapon of warfare and practical argument against every phase of error, letting truth shine in sharp contrast with error rather than engaging in controversy, because agents of Satan cover clear points and plain facts with skillfully arranged deceptive theories made plausible to those who have not investigated for themselves. Great allowance is to be made for those taught only traditions and fables as Bible truth through interpretations of ministers and church members, who are surprised by truth as a new strange revelation and inclined to think its bringers are infidels, and who cannot bear all truth in its most striking character at the outset. Since pleasing fables lie on the surface and attract minds busy with life who read as they run and take many things for granted, truth must be given in an easy plain pointed style backed by a few strong proofs rather than overwhelming evidence, with assertions going farther than long labored arguments, keeping a reserve of proof and not wearying minds with minute particulars or unimportant points so vital points stand clear and distinct.
Those ensnared are to be shown their danger and how grievous their course is toward Jesus Christ with pity, tenderness, calm earnestness and proper labor, with no word of censure, blame, condemnation or ridicule, since ridiculing error will not open blind eyes nor attract to truth but patient considerate work may recover some from Satan's power. Precious truth must be presented in its native force and subtle errors unveiled that are leading the world captive and preparing souls for strong delusions, addressing rejecters with love and pity while truth is presented calmly and earnestly. Believers must not give attention to those departed from the faith who come into congregations to divert attention from God's work with reproaches, and to turn aside is to stop to argue with or try to convert such opposers. Instead they are to remain inspired by the Spirit of Jesus Christ so He is heard speaking through them, trusting angels to put words in their lips that reach hearts, so sensible minds in the congregation understand theirs is the higher standard.
Suffering often softens hard unfeeling minds that will not bear healthy teaching but leave truth for false ideas under teachers pleasing itching ears, so that in sanitariums when cases are wisely managed by converted physicians and workers acting as evangelists under the Holy Spirit's guidance sufferers can be turned back from false ideas to truth. Truth buried for years beneath worldly influences and pleasing fables may likewise take root and bear fruit when sorrow or affliction softens the heart.
Safety is found only in eating and digesting the precious Word, studying Scripture as able to make the student wise unto salvation, learning the It is written and how to use God's Word, receiving it as written and interpreting it correctly. Hearers must respect biblical reproof and instruction rather than educating themselves in doubt and unbelief, search like the Bereans as for hid treasure with prayerful diligence and consecration, know reasons for faith, and hold the great important truths for this time as an anchor against strong delusion. This requires keeping close to Jesus for wisdom to discern fallacies, girding on the armor and lifting the banner of Bible truth, controlling appetite and passion by health reform and Christian temperance from a Bible standpoint since intemperance such as tobacco-using, even by ministers smoking almost constantly, violates the Creator's laws and opens the soul to Satan's assaults and manifestations of his power, educating children at home as foundational unneglectable work for character, and not wasting time listening to false shepherds.
Related Scripture Truths
The turning foretold stands with the third angel's message, its clear and distinct principles and great pillars of faith, and with the first principles of the doctrine of Christ and high and noble principles that must not be left for romance and fanciful interpretations without foundation in God's Word. It is the refusal to hear God's most solemn warnings proclaimed as by holy angels flying in the midst of heaven, especially the fearful judgments denounced against worship of the beast and his image, which require every reasoning person to study prophecy diligently to learn what the mark of the beast is and how to avoid receiving it. It belongs to the call to prepare a people to stand in the day of the Lord and for the coming judgment, when Satan's wonder-working power will draw many from truth to fables with pleasing deceptive theories that replace the truths of God's Word and control and mislead. Religious belief matters because truth received in love sanctifies the receiver, while false theories and another gospel draw away from God's Word and are fatal to the soul.
Placing solemn sacred truth on a level with fables is itself turning to fables, an invention of the enemy to belittle the faith, and truth must not be united with error nor inferior, frivolous, unsound trifles put in the same chapter with sacred truth. Such trifles include the thought that young inexperienced teachers can in a few months train still less experienced youth to go out and establish church schools, the proposition to lay aside at once all accustomed books and teach all studies from the Bible, and the theories that mosquitoes and other insects preying upon people and insects preying upon trees and plants must not be destroyed. Advocating those ideas makes influence of little value, brings too sudden a change for students and teachers, and leads to unprofitable questioning and condemnation that hinders bearers of weighty unpopular truths whose acceptance is of great importance. Turning to the right or to the left away from present truth and known duty puts fables in place of truth, while keeping straight in regard to God's commandments and lifting the cross leads the few through the strait gate and narrow way to life, and refusing the cross after knowledge of duty with the majority leads to destruction and loss of heaven. Giving heed to fables also means being led into strange paths by deluding false messages, such as the Babylonian message, that put even earnest well-meaning souls under the enemy's deception in darkness of error to walk in sparks of their own kindling until they see great light.
Faithfulness to the solemn charge to preach the Word belongs with the promise that the crown of righteousness will be given by the Lord the righteous Judge at that day, not to Paul only whose departure was at hand and who was ready to be offered, but to all who love His appearing. That charge is given before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, to preach the Word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine, and to watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist and make full proof of ministry. Ministers who teach falsehoods instead of truth lead people away and face severe judgment, for truth requires a reformation of life and separating from its love brings ruin. Those who have seen the light but reject the truth will discover that no minister can answer for their sins or save them.