Beware of Apostates!

This month, I will examine apostate denominations. Those are the ones who reject the Bible's authority and read their own meanings into scripture verses. We need to know about the errors they teach and why those doctrines must be avoided.

Apostasy began with Satan's rebellion in heaven. Revelation 12:4 (KJV)tells how it happened. "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born." This verse reflects upon both Satan's fall and how he sought to destroy Jesus.

Isaiah 14:12 (KJV) also mentions Satan's fall. "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!"

We also see how Satan, whose character is that of a snake, got Eve to doubt the Lord. Genesis 3:1 (KJV) says, "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, 'hath God said, "Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"'"

And throughout history, Israel kept wandering away from God's protective embrace until life grew too painful. One of many apostasies happened just after the Lord rescued the Israelites from Egyptian captivity. As 1 Corinthians 10:7 (KJV) explains, "Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.'"

But we believers can't smugly assume we're immune to apostasy. Paul showed in 2 Timothy 1:15 (KJV) that those who ought to have known better left the faith. "This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes."

It's sad that entire denominations have become apostates. Even so, the Bible promises that there'll be a remnant who will stay true to Christ. I'll be writing about how to spot such people in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Many churchgoers appear pious but it's all for show.

As for Saturday's post, it's about cities and one city in particular which all believers desire to live in.