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The church is frequently blind sided by the enemy within, who will strongly draw attention to the enemy without. That which is within the flock is the most dangerous. Jesus warned of false prophets who would appear to be legitimate sheep, by using the wool of a dead sheep. Inwardly they are filled with anger, malice, hatred, revenge (ravening wolves) and every other satanic spirit which motivates them to deceive. Mt. 7:15 This too becomes a last day sign as the enemy within comes in the guise of a false Christ. How else could he deceive the saints. What is shocking, is the display of what is supposedly the power of the Lord, their demonstrated ability to work all manner of signs and wonders. Thereby deceiving those who are gullible with the possibility that even the very elect of the Lord would follow them. Mark 13:22
This is a last day phenomenon. How can we know? Jesus said; My sheep hear My voice. Listen to His voice (the Word), learn its very special sound and no other voice will be able to imitate His. Grow up, be a mature Christian. Discover the ìstrong meatî of the Word. Study to show yourself approved of God. Then by becoming intimately acquainted with the Word, there will be the necessary measure of strength and knowledge to be able to discern, that which is true and that which is false. Heb. 5:14 Likewise there is the gift of the Spirit called the discerning of spirits whereby the unclean spirit would be exposed because of its nature. 1 Cor. 12:10 The Spirit of the Lord exposed the sin of Ananias and Sapphira to the Apostle and executed immediate judgment. Acts 5:1-10
Peter spoke of the onslaught against the church and said that it would come in the form of false prophets and false teachers teaching what he called ìdamnable heresiesî disruptive, teachings which mislead. 2 Pet. 2:1 Paul spoke of false apostles, workers of deceit who would disguise themselves as angels of light. 2 Cor. 11:13-14 No marvel, for satan himself does not appear as a frightening figure but also transforms himself into an angel of light. That very fact is indicative of his deceptive appearance, not as what we might conceive of as a frightening satanic figure but as a pleasant eye pleasing being of light. And you always thought he was ugly, gross and weird in appearance. No, he is beautiful, attractive and very definitely appealing in his appearance. Because the Lord had made him to be a beautiful, outstandingly so, creature among the heavenly realms filled with the very epitome of all that is as beautiful as only the Lord can create, he became filled with pride, resulting in his rebellion and downfall. Eze. 28:17.