It should surprise no one that the world has gone further and further away from the truth. The world and the truth took different paths in the days of the early church. Many denied that Jesus, by coming to this earth, fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." {John 1:11} The Jews, religious leaders in the days of Christ, did not want what He offered--a spiritual kingdom and a remedy for the sin problem. What they did want was an earthly kingdom with a king to go before and lead them, just as the kings led during the former days when Israel was at the height of her glory. Yet, the prophets clearly taught that men would reject Him. "For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised and we did not esteem Him." {Isaiah 53:2,3}

In the New Testament, the inspired writers foretold a falling away. "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth." {1 Timothy 4:1-3} Men would amend God's word, add to it, subtract from it, and teach completely new things. Today, many religious-minded people still pursue this same destructive course. Never satisfied with the truth, they are forever seeking to change God's designed direction in which He wants men to walk. "Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man -- and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things." {Romans 1:21-23}

"For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves." {Acts 20:29,30} Paul warned the Ephesian elders that even from among the eldership of the Lord's church, men would rise up to lead others away from God! Sadly, this still happens in the church today. How? When elders do not ensure that the pure gospel of Christ is the only thing taught in the pulpits and classrooms. They fail to feed with the only spiritual nourishment for the soul -- the truth!

"Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." {2 Thessalonians 2:3,4} The departure started in the days of the apostles and continues to this very day. Whenever men's words are exalted to equality in force and power with the sacred scriptures, it is already later than we think!

"But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber." {2 Peter 2:1-3} Many who teach the gospel have great ability, having perfected the art of giving good speeches. The problem is that the speeches have no substance, and the hearers in the pews are not checking their validity!

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."{1 John 4:1} Yes, the New Testament writers clearly foretold a falling away. The result is the variety of so-called churches from which men must now choose. Are they from heaven or men? In His day, Jesus asked this same question concerning the teaching of John the Baptist (Matthew 21:21-27). Brethren, we need to keep our ears and our Bibles open! If we don't, we are just as guilty as those who teach false doctrines.