Deuteronomy 18: 19-22, is the test of a prophet, and Deuteronomy 13:1-3, is also the test of a
prophet, except the Deuteronomy 13 test of a prophet is God's testing of the hearts of the
people as to whether they love him or not. Understanding the text correctly, it seems that it
was a deliberate act of God to allow a false teacher into their midst ". . .for the LORD your
God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all
your soul." (v. 3). God tested the hearts of His people as to whether they were sincere of
their love towards Him, and by them going after other god's was indication to God of their
insincerity. Does not God test the hearts of His people today.

What did God do with Israel when they went into apostasy? He removed His blessing by
permitting other nations to bring them into captivity. This caused them to cry out and repent.
Along with seeing God deliver them out of the hands of their oppressors was His awesome power
in being able to do this. Even though God was always merciful to Israel, He was not tolerant
with them compromising His commandments.

Whether a person demonstrates extraordinary talents or not leads us to label or categorize
them in some way. If someone demonstrates extraordinary talents, and depending upon our
personal admiration of their talent, could lead to idolizing them. Placing someone in the
position of self exaltation can lead them to believe by popularity they are of greater
exceptional quality than others. This in event incites prideful misconceptions with the
possibility of delusions of grandiose. Its the age old problem from the incept of mankind; Eve
lied to by the Serpent that her and Adam could be as god's knowing good and evil. (Gen. 3)

Prevalent in the church is how leaders are exalting themselves above their adherents. Jesus
said, "Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is
greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased;
and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." (Mat. 23:10-12). Some movements declare
themselves progressively reaching godhood, and exercise intimidation over their flocks for not
being at the place of spiritual growth where they are. This attitude of superiority is
severely condemned in the New Testament. Christians are "one body" (1 Cor. 12) who should love
one another (1 Cor. 13; 1 John). Spiritual gifts are for the Christian community rather than
one's individual abuse, and should be exercised in humility rather than pride (Cor. 12,14;
Eph. 4:11-16). Jesus warned His disciples to beware of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of
the Sadducees. A little leaven, of men s unscriptural teachings, will eventually leaveneth the
whole.

There is much abuse which goes on towards God's flock by the so called shepherds. Some of the
flock are so mesmerized by the charisma of these false teachers, even if warned, they continue
to follow them unquestioningly. We are not without excuse about the possibility of false
prophets. The Lord has warned us of such shepherds, and one need to withdraw from them upon
realizing this. Do not be intimidated by what they might have to say if after what you have
become aware of and wanting to withdraw when the eyes of your understanding become
enlightened. It is your God given right and choice. Read Ezekiel ch. 34 and John ch. 10 for
confirmation of this abuse.

In the 6000 yrs of mans existence, the nature of man has not changed. The pride he had then is
identical to the pride he has now. His sinful acts then are identical to his sinful acts
today. Mankind is in need of the Saviour, the Saviour God made provision for through His Son
Jesus Christ, from the time they fell into sin. God's mercy has been demonstrated all the way
through the entire history of mankind, Who was already providing a way out for man from his
fallen state immediately after the fall. (Gen 3:15)

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling
away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thes 2:3)

What the apostle Paul says in his letter to the Thessalonians, in 2 Thes. ch. 2, is that a
falling away is going to result that will cause the anti-Christ, that man of sin or the son of
perdition, to be revealed. We have all been informed about the inevitable new world order,
world governance of which the United Nations (UN) have been instrumental in implementing. It
has not been easy for the UN to establish a political climate for world unification. Many
nations have told the UN not to interfere with them, and lately, rejecting the IMF's cause for
globalization knowing what the end result would afford. It is a matter of fact that
globalization will result in an appointment for a global leader which the Bible calls the
anti-Christ. Simultaneously, a climate is being established religiously for the unification of
all the worlds religions by finding common ground in each of their belief systems so that they
are able to merge and agree as one. What is this falling away the apostle Paul spoke about? A
falling away from what? In Strong s Concordance, the definition of "falling away" [apostasia]
means "defection from truth [apostasy]." If this means defection from truth. Only the
biblically believing and practicing church of Jesus Christ who have their foundation upon the
Rock - the custodians of the truth - could defect from the truth; who else could? Was Paul
saying that those responsible for delivering the truth at some stage in history would deliver
it no longer? Paul says they will no longer love the truth, and the church is the one
responsible. Ignoring what God has already given us in His Word in professing to a lost world
as sufficient for salvation have turned to philosophies of men, and fables (2 Tim. 4:1-4).
They spice up the message of the cross with what they call "new revelation knowledge" in
despite as to whether it lines up with the content of Scripture or not.

The consequences for no longer loving the truth are that God gives them over to a strong
delusion (2 Thes. 2:10, 11). I have watched a number of video's about the Toronto blessing,
the Brownsville revival, Pensacola outpouring, etc., and one thing noted is the Word of God
never gets read because of their pre-occupation by what the "spirit" is going to do. Prevalent
in these meetings is spiritual drunkenness with pandemonium. In some video clips an attempt is
made to do a reading from the Bible, but then never does. Could this be what Paul says about
no longer being a love for the truth? It does seem to be that way.

One can well believe that this is the case when identifying the new wave of spirituality which
has no bearing upon what the Word of God declares. To me it looks like judgment has come upon
the church, resulting from a falling away from truth. This mayhem being condoned by so many is
alarming, and not only is it being condoned but exercised and promoted by literally every
denomination there is; the alpha course paving the way. What leads one to believe that this
could be the apostasy Paul speaks about in 2 Thes. 2:3 that is going to usher in the anti-
Christ, is due to the wide acceptance this new wave of spirituality is having, and which is
not able to be singled out as a particular groups participation alone because of the mixture
of teachings which have compounded through movements as: Pentecostal Restorationism, Neo-
Pentecostalism, The Latter Rain movement, The Charismatic movement, The Manifest Sons of God,
The Shepherding Movement, The Positive Confession Movement, Dominionism, The Fivefold
Ministry, Present Truth, and new groups arising all the time. The movements that grew out of
Pentecostalism developed new teachings and practices which became more and more extreme as
they began to flourish. Let us look at the excesses of the three dominant movements:
Pentecostalism, Neo-Pentecostalism Deliverance, and The Latter Rain Movement.

Pentecostalism   1. Restorationist 2. Experience-centered 3. Personality-centered 4. Theologically thin 5. Divisive	Neo-Pentecostal Deliverance 1. Restorationist 2. Experience-centered 3. Personality-centered 4. Theologically thin 5. Divisive 6. Sensationalistic 7. Cult like figures 8. Erroneous deliverance methods 9 Scandalous fund-raising techniques 10. False faith appropriation 11. Preoccupation with Satan 12. New revelations 13. Anti-intellectualism	Latter Rain Movement   1. Restorationist 2. Experience-centered 3. Personality-centered 4. Theologically thin 5. Divisive 6. Sensationalistic 7. Cultlike figures 8. Erroneous deliverance methods 9.Scandalous fund-raising techniques 10. False faith appropriation 11. Preoccupation with Satan 12. New revelations 13. Anti-intellectualism 14 New restoration orientation 15. Fivefold ministry 16. Extreme spiritual disciplines 17. A new prophetic outlook 18. Recovery of true worship 19. Immortalization of the aints 20. Unity of the faith (or the faithful)

The chart above was borrowed from Michael G. Moriarty's book "The New Charismatics" (Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan), 353.

The newer groups popping up are practicing all the above groups conglomeration of teachings,
teachings that were once rejected by the church. Those promoting the new teachings that were
rejected by the church became independent from sound theological establishments, and professed
what they believed was the "new move" God is having upon the church. Whether what they taught
could be compared with classical or traditional theological doctrine made no difference, new
revelation knowledge was now in.

Apostasy has always resulted to some degree or another, but in the last century as never
before in church history the escalation of apostasy is evident by the many pseudo Christian
movements which have sprung up as tares amongst the wheat. This apostasy shall be the result
of the church no longer loving and teaching the truth. This, sadly, is already the result as
men teach that new knowledge, unfounded in Scripture, as being given by God known as
"revelation knowledge" for this particular time in church history for revival and growth of
the church. To say that God is giving new revelation knowledge is firstly insulting to God as
though He had no clue to such a time as this ever happening and so realizes the need to give
men new knowledge or understanding on how to manage today's church, and secondly, if this is
the case, then, the Bible cannot be dependable any longer because those who are appointed as
prophets now have the answer for the church today. We may as well re-write the Bible.

Then there is another extreme, the main stream protestant church is encouraging the
consolidation of all religious affiliations together under one banner, that is, the Christian
church merging together with Roman Catholicism, and of which Roman Catholicism is inviting
buddhists, hindoos, shintoists, etc. under the same umbrella too. This is them who avoid being
offended if a stand for declaring Jesus the way, the truth, and the life needs to be made.
Jesus Christ is an embarrassment to them, and therefore excuse adherents of false religious
affiliations that their beliefs are also salvific as Christianity is.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having
their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from
meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know
the truth. (1 Tim 4:1)