One of the Bible Studies I have been attending has been looking at what Scripture has to say about the End Times. It is a topic that holds the interest of people, but often leaves us with more questions that answers. Some of the things we would like to know are beyond our ability to understand. But we do know that when Christ returns, He will gather the faithful to Himself.

One of the passages we looked at recently Revelation 13. As we were reading that chapter, these words caught my attention.

Revelation 13:11 Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.

We have all been warned of “a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” but here we are told there will be a dragon in sheep’s clothing. There have been, there are, and there will be those who claim to be speaking the Word of God, but are doing just the opposite.

Social media is filled with people who identify themselves as pastors and proceed to tell people that the Bible is wrong, that you shouldn’t call sin what it is, and that true love accepts people the way they are and doesn’t try to make them conform to the life God identifies as pleasing to Him.

There is a guy who has a feed called “The Holy Nope.” He starts his clips walking into a church, taking a seat and opening His Bible and saying, “It’s the Lord’s day, I’ve got my Bible and I ready to hear the Word.” Then he shows a clip of these characters that are proclaiming all kinds of heresies and falsehoods and demanding people give them money and the like. The clips end with him standing up, closing his Bible, saying “Nope!” and walking out.

I share this because each of you needs to be sure you are in the Word for yourself. How else will you know if someone is telling you the truth or leading you astray. There are dragons in sheep’s clothing. Scripture warns you about this.

1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

You “test the spirits,” the messages others proclaim, by comparing them to the clear Word of God. You want a litmus test? How about this:

2 John 7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Those who refuse to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God who took on flesh, who paid for the sins of all people and defeated death for everyone, those folks are not to be trusted.

Keep your eyes focused on Christ and His Word. He keeps His promises and will not lead you astray.