How To Detect Satan's Indistinguishable Ministers

2nd Corinthians 11:13-15, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

Satan's unrighteous ministers are such skilled actors (imitators) that it is impossible to detect them by appearance alone. The only way to know them (according to Jesus) is by their “fruit.” Matthew 7:19-20, “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” It is unfortunate that many neo-evangelical preachers have misinterpreted this passage to define “fruit” as meaning works instead of doctrine. Some of the biggest offenders are false prophets' Ray Comfort, Joyce Meyer, John MacArthur, John Piper and Paul Washer. These infidels falsely teach that the required “fruit” to prove you are saved is a changed life (WORKS).

Now, we know that this is a wrong interpretation of the Bible because of Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Here we plainly see that these unsaved false prophets DID MANY WONDERFUL WORKS in Jesus' name, yet Christ denied knowing them as His sheep. So, just because someone performs many good works and lives a changed life, this cannot be used as “fruit” to prove that they are saved.

 

“If you have to look at your life to prove that you are saved, it proves that you're not!” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, “Why Lordship Salvation is WRONG!”

The only “fruit” by which we can discern one of Satan's unrighteous ministers is to examine their teachings (i.e., their doctrine). The following biblical doctrines (truths) are fundamentals, which any preacher who denies is a servant of the Devil:

1. There is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4).
2. God is only masculine in gender (God the Father, God the Son. In John 16:13 the Holy Spirit is referred to with the masculine pronoun he). There is no feminine aspect of God.
3. God exists in the three persons of: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-29; Colossians 2:2). This is the Godhead (Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9 - King James Bible). In theology the Godhead is called the “Trinity.”
4. Jesus was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).
5. Jesus lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15).
6. Jesus is God almighty (John 1:1-3 and 14, 10:33; Revelation 1:8).
7. Jesus is the only begotten (biological) Son of God (John 3:16).
8. Jesus died on a cross to pay for our sins (1st Corinthians 1:18).
9. Jesus was buried and then physically resurrected from the dead three days later (John 19-20; 1st Corinthians 15:1-4; 1st Thessalonians 4:14).
10. Jesus has His own physical body in Heaven, and God the Father also has a separate physical body. They both sit on physical thrones (Colossians 3:1).
11. The Holy Spirit has His own person, separate from Jesus and the Father (John 16:13).
12. The Holy Bible is God's inspired Word (2nd Timothy 3:16).
13. Eternal life is the free gift of God (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9).
14. Every human must be born again to enter into God's Kingdom (John 3:3).
15. Hell is a literal physical place where all sinners who die in their sins without having trusted Jesus as their personal Savior (John 8:24), will burn in torment without hope or rest day and night forever (Revelation 14:11, 20:11-15, 21:8).
16. Heaven is a literal physical place where every born again child of God will go when we die (John 14:1-3).
17. Jesus paid for our sins with His literal liquid blood (1st Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5).
18. Jesus sprinkled His literal liquid blood upon the Mercy Seat in the Holy Place in Heaven in the presence of God the Father (Hebrews 9:12, 22-24; 10:1; 12:24).
19. Jesus is our heavenly High Priest (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 4:14-16).
20. Jesus is coming again in a physical body (Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7).
21. Bible repentance means “a change of mind,” not turning from your sins to be saved. Any preacher who teaches that you must “repent of your sins” or “turn from your sins” to get to Heaven is a servant of Satan! This sadly includes Pensacola Christian College.
22. Lordship Salvation is a perversion of the Gospel. Any preacher who preaches or approves of Lordship Salvation is a servant of Satan!
23. All women preachers (1st Timothy 2:11-12).

That is the “fruit” by which you can identify a false prophet!!! Any preacher who teaches partial faith in Christ plus something more to be saved is preaching another gospel. That preacher's fruit is bad fruit!

There are some additional doctrines that I humbly don't think would indicate that a preacher is of the Devil, but I wouldn't follow him. Beware of preachers who deny these truths:

1. The Church (all saints dead and living) will be “caught up” at the Rapture. At this time our body will be redeemed (Romans 8:22-23; 1st Corinthians 15:51-58; 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18). There is considerable debate of the timing of the Rapture. I humbly believe in a Pretribulation Rapture, but there are many godly pastors who don't. I wouldn't label them as being servants of Satan, as I would one who denies Jesus' deity. The New IFB (independent fundamental Baptist) movement teach a PreWrath Rapture. I don't agree with them, but I love their aggressive soulwinning churches. Some preachers teach that Jesus' Second Coming is the Rapture. I disagree, but I wouldn't label them as infidels.
2. Believing is enough to be saved, you don't need to call, pray or ask to be saved. The New IFB movement teaches that you cannot be saved without praying. This is very wrong! Albeit, I do not think teaching this is works, not at all. However, it does confuse people and runs the risk of making it more difficult for a believer to settle their assurance. I was confused for several years after I got saved at age 13 in 1980. I had been misled by every pastor to believe that the way to put your faith in Christ is by using a Sinner's Prayer. That confused me a lot. The New IFB have this doctrine wrong, kindly said.
3. All modern English Bible revisions are corrupted by the Devil. I won't say that a preacher who uses the modern Bible revisions is of the Devil, but he's definitely pulling on the same rope as the Devil, and you ought not follow him. In his historical ignorance, Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980) quoted from some of the Devil's Bible revisions. In his defense, Dr. Rice graduated to Heaven in 1980 and didn't have access to the internet, which is a massive powerhouse of knowledge. We know today that all of the Brooke Westcott and Fenton Hort based Bible revisions are corrupt.
4. Women ought not wear pants. Call me old-fashioned but I humbly believe that females should wear modest clothing. Conceal ladies, don't reveal. I don't like attending churches wear all the women are wearing slacks and pants. Even children know that a bathroom sign shows a person wearing a dress to designate the lady's restroom. So why do women wear pants like men? I am not condemning anyone, I just love high standards in a church.
5. Present-day Israel is NOT the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. I fully agree with Pastor J. Vernon McGee on this matter. I don't like dispensational teaching, which often idolizes manmade Israel instead of focusing on preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. I believe biblically that God's chosen people include believing Jews and Gentiles (Galatians 3:26-29). There was never a time when Christ-rejecting Jews were blessed by God as being His chosen people. We clearly see this truth emphasized in Exodus 19:5-6 and Deuteronomy chapter 28.

I could mention numerous other minor doctrines of the Christian faith, but I have covered the most popular ones. The fundamental truths that I listed earlier are so important. If you use the list that I gave you, then you will see that all of the following religious denominations and false prophets fail the test...

1. Mormons (deny Jesus' deity and require water baptism to get to Heaven)
2. Roman Catholics (add sacraments to faith alone in the Gospel)
3. Jehovah's Witnesses (deny Jesus' deity and require water baptism for salvation)
4. Seventh-Day Adventists (add Sabbath Keeping to faith alone, and teach the Devil's fallacy of Lordship Salvation)
5. Lutherans (require water baptism and holy communion to be saved)
6. Joyce Meyer (teaches Lordship Salvation and wrong repentance)
7. Joel Osteen (teaches Lordship Salvation and wrong repentance)
8. Billy Graham (teaches Lordship Salvation and wrong repentance)
9. Bob Jones University (teaches Lordship Salvation and wrong repentance)
10. Pensacola Christian College (teaches Lordship Salvation and wrong repentance)

There is absolutely no way to identify a false prophet without examining their teachings. A bad preacher may be greedy, but that doesn't mean he is preaching another gospel. Anything that an unsaved person can do, cannot be used as “proof” that one is saved. A hellbound child of the Devil can still love others, sincerely follow Christ, live a changed life, turn from sinful ways, preach in Jesus' name, be ordained as a minister, pastor a church, graduate from a Bible seminary, be a deacon in a church for 40 years and live the Christian life. Yet, someone may do all of these things and never have been saved at all.

In his helpful book titled, “I NEVER KNEW YOU” (Hardcopies are available), Michael P. Bowen writes the following excellent words to refute Beth Moore's counterfeit plan of salvation...

You can trust Christ with all of your might and do your best to turn from you sins and still end up in the lake of fire. That is shocking! You can do your best to trust that Jesus died for you, that He rose from the dead, and try your best to live a good, holy life and “still” end up dying in your sins because you have not placed your trust “alone” (apart from turning from your sins) in what He did for you. The sad thing about adding “self efforts” such as turning from your sins to Christ’s plan of “trust only” is that, while it sounds right, it sounds good, and it feels right, it is not the gospel message that Christ has so plainly given to us in His bible. Jesus said in John 3:16 that “whosoever believeth in Him” would be saved. He did not say “whosoever believeth” and turn from your sins. He did not say believe and be willing to turn from your sins. He did not say believe and follow Him in obedience “in order to” have everlasting life, nor did He ever imply such things when He spoke of salvation.” —Michael P. Bowen, “I NEVER KNEW YOU,” pp. 81-82

2nd Corinthians 11:13-15, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” The word “transformed” in the Greek language is the word metaschematizo, which means “to transfigure or disguise.” They are imitators, Hollywood actors. With this truth in mind, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Billy Graham was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. So also was singer Amy Grant. These are Christian imposters, false converts. Billy Graham's Lordship Salvation could not save him from Hell.

The inspired Holy Bible warns that there are many false prophets who are gone out into the world. 1st John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” Jesus said we shall know them by their “fruit,” that is, by their false teachings. If what they preach is in contradiction to “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4), then you know that their fruit is corrupt and they are a minister of unrighteousness of Satan.