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continuation...
There was a vast plantation of bitter gourd (ampalaya). When the owner of the plantation learned that the prices of bitter gourd had gone up, he immediately harvested his crops, even though he had just sprayed them with insecticide. The bitter gourd (ampalaya) were sold. Now, if the owner cares for his fellows, he should have waited first for several days before he harvests his crops, to allow the insecticide’s poison to subside.
That way, the bitter gourd could safely be eaten. But, in his desire to earn a big amount of money, he sold them despite the hazard they pose to the people’s lives. This is a realization of what the Bible says, that, in the last days, people will be lovers of their own selves.
As what we have just read from the Bible, we are living in the last days … and these days will be perilous. And the worst peril that besets mankind today is the proliferation of false prophets and false Christs, whose aim is to deceive men.
I John 4:1 says--
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
The warning of St. John concerns us. It is in our time that the false Christs and the false prophets shall appear. And for this reason, we can say that, we are, indeed, living in a very perilous period. We might become victims of the deception of these false prophets and false Christs, which, according to the prophecy, will appear in the last days. But, why are they succeeding in deceiving many? In Matthew 24:24, our Lord Jesus Christ says,
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs of wonders; insomuch that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
In other words, the reason is, they are able to show great signs and wonders. That is why, it is no longer surprising to hear claims that they can heal the sick, and they can raise the dead. However, this is a big deceit! It is a blatant lie! They are the ones that our Lord Jesus Christ referred to as false preachers.
So, if we are really going to examine the present situation, we can very well say that, we are living in a period of deception. At present, the appearance of many false preachers has become very noticeable. You see them in every corner … you hear them over the radio and television … you can also read them in newspapers and magazines.
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Bible
Finding
the True Religion
