Im
I am not referring to the Celtic. I am referring to genuine Christian’s, who go through the bible and genuinely believe they know the date. I’ve seen some on this site over the the years. No ill intent or selfish motivation, they believed it with all their hearts.
I agree with your message that we need to ready and when he comes, he will take those from the entire globe. “So you yourselves know perfectly the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2. 😊
"Take heed that no man deceive you"
There is no reference to "cults" in the Bible and the definition of a cult in the dictionary is very vague to the point that it could refer to the early church. What the Bible does talk about is deception and false prophets.
"Many genuine christians have said the same thing"
No. They haven't.
Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many...11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
First you need to realize that all that deception was a fulfillment of prophecy.
Second you need to know how to identify the deceivers.
2Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
The first thing you look for is a "damnable heresy". A heresy is a school of thought, not all schools of thought are damnable. For example, should women have their heads covered in church. That is a school of thought but Paul made it clear we are not to allow this "heresy" to divide the church. If you divide the church over a doctrine that is not essential it becomes "damnable". Pre trib is a school of thought but we should not allow that to divide us. Cults always have damnable heresies. They teach something that causes all the members to divide themselves from others. Now many of the teachings that they have may seem good, insightful, and they may appear to be "given" and "absolute". But if you dig down deep you will discover that at the heart of this teaching is a denial of the Lord who bought us. They may profess to know the Lord, but they are teaching that you need Jesus + something else. The Lord's redemption was good, but to really be the Lord's special people you need something else also. Any teaching that says you need something in addition to the Lord's blood to be "fully saved" then that is a teaching that denies the Lord who bought us. Still this can be much harder for a novice to see.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
Pernicious ways have a harmful effect but they are subtle. They are destructive and deadly. This is hard for an outsider to see. However, if you are on the inside you will see this a lot. They will explain this away that they are in a spiritual warfare. But you will see purges, you will see people behaving in ways that are tyrannical, that censor you. Those who are in the group will know there are things you can't say. They will have many people they claim are "toxic" and you can get excommunicated if you talk to them even though a year ago that was a wonderful brother or sister. You won't be told why someone was excommunicated, only that you can no longer talk to that one or this one.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
But here is the key point, these cults are based on covetousness and making merchandise of you. They will sell books, tapes, flowers. All of the tithes go to the "supreme leader" and they don't give to the poor. No soup kitchen.
So ask yourself, those who are telling you these are the end days, are they trying to make a buck? Are they using that to sell a book? Some are, so by all means, if you want to be 100% safe don't listen to anyone who is trying to monetize their ministry. However, that does not mean that everyone selling books is a false prophet. Paul said you should not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn. For me it is simply a red flag. In a soccer match you have to get two red flags to be sent off. But this term "feigned word" actually means "manufactured stories". The word is something you would use to describe moulded clay and means a fictitious tale. The phony cult leaders all have a fictitious tale that causes you to think this guy is some special one sent from God. Dig into their origin story and you will discover it is fiction. If I learn the story someone has been telling me about how they were called or saved is fiction, then that to me is a major red flag. Still don't be too quick to accuse someone of lying. But do you see pernicious ways? Do you see a sinful lifestyle that causes others to speak evil of the way of truth? Do you see damnable heresies? Are they teaching you that if you don't believe their message that you can't be fully saved?
I would say that with many of the "watchmen" concerning the Lord's coming you don't see any of this. There are a few, a select few, that I regularly post links for that do sell books. But again, that to me simply causes my antenna to be raised. One of these has this fantastic, miraculous, experience of being saved and called which for many proves he has been sent by God. For me it is why I stopped listening to him.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 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.
This is something else. The teaching of Islam and FreeMasons is that at the end of the age the Messiah will come in the flesh. They deny that Jesus has already come in the flesh. Their Messiah will be the "antichrist" which means pseudo Christ. this is why FreeMason churches and those influenced by the Jesuits don't want you teaching about the end times, the purpose is to deceive you about the Antichrist being the Christ.
5
