Mike Vinson

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2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

This verse of scripture is a perfect description of all of the churches of Babylon The Great The Mother Of Harlots And Of The Abominations Of The Earth (Church – Jer 22:29).

“You might well bear with him…” Paul knew how easy it was to agree with those who attempt to introduce their emotional experiences as gospel. Paul had already met with and rebuked Peter who was giving way to the pressures of heresy.

Gal 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Gal 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
Gal 2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
Gal 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before [ them] all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

Paul knew that “ when he departed” some of those in that very group,”of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things” perverting the doctrine of Christ.

Paul did not mean ‘When I die.’ What he meant was that just as soon as he left Ephesus, a church located in the western part of the Roman Provence of Asia, false prophets would take over the church and “not spare the flock.”

How do I know that this is what he meant? I know that because that is what Paul tells us:

2Ti 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes

Rest assured that Phygellus and Hermogenes were following the spirit of Korah and telling “all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers” that Paul was exalting himself above the congregation, because Paul refused to bend to the pressures of being told that “no one has a comprehensive understanding of the things of the spirit.”

Num 16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
Num 16:2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
Num 16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
Num 16:4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
Num 16:5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.
Num 16:6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;
Num 16:7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.
Num 16:8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:
Num 16:9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?
Num 16:10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?
Num 16:11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

What so few realize is that these verses were penned because the “historical orthodox ” takeover of the church was complete even before the apostles died. Just look at these verses of scripture:

Act 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

And of what was it that Paul was warning them? What was it that brought Paul to tears as he warned the churches?:

1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

1Ti 4:1 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;

“Some shall depart from the faith” is the “Many called ” of this verse:

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen

But what are these “latter times?” Is this an allusion to some event two thousand years in the future? Or was this an assertion that this was an immediate threat? What did Christ’s apostles consider as “the latter days?:

1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

That is right. Just as “all in Asia,” the church of Ephesus included, had all turned their backs on the doctrine of God’s apostle Paul even before he died, so were they rejecting the apostle John before he died:

3Jn 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

And just how ensconced in the church was this heretic Diotrephes?

3Jn 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

The apostasy was an accomplished fact before the apostles were even dead:

1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

It should now be clear why John penned these epistles in words like these:

2Jn 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that [ the True Jesus- verse 9] Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

And where did this exclusivist doctrine get the apostle John?

Rev 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

And how was Christ betrayed? Was He betrayed by a Pharisee? No, it was one of His own apostles!

Those who take this verse seriously and search the scriptures daily to see if the doctrines of orthodoxy are so, just might notice this verse of God’s Word:

Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

But do the modern day Diotrephes give freely the things which they have received? No, they do not. And when they do not, they are identifying themselves as the “ravenous wolves” they are.

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

2Co 11:7 Have I committed an offense in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

What had become common place as regards the Word of God before the apostle Paul ever died:

2Co 2:17. [ For we are not as many [ Greek- the majority], which corrupt [ Greek- kapeleuo- hawk- sell] the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

But is this Greek word [ kapeleuo] limited to tithing and money making gimmicks? Absolutely not! What Paul is speaking of here is the same buying and selling seen in Rev 13:17.

Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Anyone who is selling God’s Word has the mark of mankind. You cannot buy or sell without that mark. Only those with that mark want to buy and sell God’s Word.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [ that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Look at how Strong’s defines this Greek word translated corrupt. [ From kapeleuos (a huckster); to retail, that is, (by implication) to adulterate (figuratively): – corrupt] Look at what each of these words means, and you will see that the crescendo is self explanatory. Dictionary. com defines these words as follows:

Retail: The sale of goods or commodities in small quantities directly to consumers.

Huckster: Not only one who sells wares or provisions in the street; a peddler or hawker but also one who uses aggressive, showy, and sometimes devious methods to promote or sell a product.

Adulterate: To make impure by adding extraneous, improper, or inferior ingredients.

Merriam- Websters Dictionary of Law defines adulterate as: “to corrupt, debase, or make impure by the addition of a foreign or inferior substance or element; especially to prepare for sale by omitting a valuable ingredient or by replacing more valuable ingredients with less valuable or inert and usually harmful ingredients or with ingredients different from those claimed”.

So my question is who is it that makes impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance to the doctrine of Jesus Christ? Who is it that omits valuable ingredients of the doctrine of Jesus Christ or replaces such valuable ingredients with less valuable ingredients or inert and harmful ones? Who is it that has different ingredients altogether? Who is it who through their addition of extraneous, improper, or inferior ingredients now preaches another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel? [ For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2Co 11:4)] The answer to that question is every church. Every church in the world is out there selling a false bill of goods. Why? Because God has sent them strong delusion that they should believe a lie. [ And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (2Th 2:11)]

1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.