- Resemblance Deception
- by Dr. Ken Matto
(Rev 2:14 KJV) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there
them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a
stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto
idols, and to commit fornication.
One of the most diabolical characters in Scripture is definitely Balaam. He
was willing to sell his services to the highest bidder. Balak, the king of
Moab, was worried that the Israelites had become very strong and they had
known what they did to the Amorites. Balak feared that he was also going to
be defeated. Balak knew that if he took on the Israelites in a military
showdown, he too would go the way of the Amorites. Balak knew that Israel
was a religious nation so instead of using the sword, he sent for the
prophet Balaam and his desire was that Balaam would curse the Israelites.
However, God would not permit it but Balaam had to bless the Israelites
instead of curse them. Balak did everything in his power to get Balaam to
curse Israel but he could not go against what God had commanded him to do.
(Num 22:18 KJV) And Balaam answered and
said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of
silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less
or more.
A major principle emerges from this scenario. It is a principle which Satan
has used and is using very successfully against the body of Christ by using
it within the body of Christ. If you notice in the Numbers account of
Balaam, he would not curse the children of Israel nor could he go beyond
what God had commanded him. Balaam, being a false prophet, still gave advice
to Balak on how to conquer Israel from within and then God would have to
move against Israel for their disobedience. When we look at the Revelation
verse above you will notice the following section, “ …who taught Balac to
cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things
sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication." Balaam knew that God was
jealous over the children of Israel, so instead of attacking Israel
militarily, he counseled Balak to weaken Israel by means of infiltrating
Israel with false religion.
When we read the history of Israel and Judah in Chronicles and Kings, we see
that their very downfall was precipitated by the allowance, tolerance, and
practicing of false religions. In the middle ages when the Roman Catholic
Institution began its program of systematic slaughter of the real
Christians, after some 600 years of murdering them, the Roman Catholics
realized they could not have victory over the true Christian. So in the late
1800’s she changed her method to the doctrine of Balaam. Instead of trying
to physically kill the Christians, infiltrate them with false gospels that
are so close to the real, they will be unable to tell them apart. I wish to
call this technique “Resemblance Deception.” It is deceit which resembles
the truth and has gained a major foothold in the body of Christ today.
Balaam couldn’t curse Israel but he gave the most successful satanic
principle used in attack against the body of Christ. That principle was to
let Israel think they were worshipping God, letting them think that they
were walking in God’s ways but all the while planting seeds for false
religion and teachings among them and knowing human nature, they would grow
among the people. This principle is so successful that it has weakened the
church and the body of Christ. Let me name some of the “resemblance
deceptions” which we see so plainly.
Christmas - Let us celebrate the birth of Christ but let us add Santa
Claus and let us make him omniscient (he knows when you are sleeping),
omnipresent because he can visit every house in the world in one night.
Eventually Santa Claus will overshadow the real meaning of Christmas which
has happened already. Now it is okay to have a scene of Santa but Nativity
scenes are illegal.
Easter - Let us celebrate the Lord’s resurrection but let us add
rabbits and new clothes. The Easter Bunny is now bigger than the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. How many churches sponsor Easter Egg
hunts without realizing they are paying homage to the fertility gods of
paganism?
Thanksgiving - Let us celebrate Thanksgiving by giving thanks to God
but let us also add the teaching that the Pilgrims were thanking the Indians
for helping them stay alive. Let us also add a major emphasis on Sports for
that day and on the Turkey, even to the point of calling it “Turkey Day.”
Let the real meaning of it wane till it is invisible.
Reformation Day - Let us celebrate Reformation day on October 31 but
let us also add the celebration of Halloween. How many churches sponsor
bonfires, hayrides and even Halloween parties? How many of their adherents
know who Martin Luther was and what these men of the Reformation sacrificed
to free us from the yoke of Rome.
Can you see the principle at work on these four holidays? Each one carries a
great spiritual meaning but instead of doing away them, Satan has raised up
people to plant seeds of the tares among the wheat. The principle of adding
is also a New Age tenet. Let me quote from the book entitled, “The New
Revelations: A Conversation With God by New Ager, Neale Donald Walsch, page
177:
“The world must create a New Spirituality. Not something to completely
replace the old, but something to refresh it. Not something to reduce the
old, but something to expand it. Not something to subvert the old, but
something to support the best of it. Human spirituality is in need of
refreshment. It is now time to present the world with new theological
thoughts and ideas, a new spiritual model. The world must have something new
to hold on to if it is to release its grip on the old….Build therefore a
bridge.”
Do you see what Walsch is advocating? He is not advocating doing away with
the old, he is advocating adding to the old to create a new. In other words,
he is desiring to add to the pure gospel so it will become more palatable to
the world. In the church today we are seeing many new ideas being brought in
which are antithetical to the Scriptures. The church has become so neutered
to truth that it does not recognize the resemblance deception. Here are some
examples which affect every Christian in the world.
The Bible - Let us not do away with the King James Bible but let us
create new translations under the guise of scholarship and then sell the
Christians on the idea that the modern versions are easier to read and at
the same time we will make over 100,000 changes to the text. It will
resemble the true Bible but there will be a deception as to the source of
the new bibles.
Teach Grace Alone - Let us teach that salvation only comes by the
Grace of God but let us add to the teachings that a person must accept “the
offer” instead of just becoming saved by God’s decree and sovereignty. This
will resemble the true Gospel but it will make man the sovereign in
salvation and make God the beggar. It will sound very holy but it will be
against the teachings of Scripture.
Teach Grace Alone - Let us teach that salvation is by grace alone but
let us add works and make salvation a process. The works will add to the
self-esteem of man and the addition of works will still resemble the true
Gospel but it will be a deceptive method.
Let’s Teach the Bible - Let’s teach the Bible in all the churches but
let us add man’s teachings to it such as psychology or sociology. It will
embellish the teachings and make it sound so intellectual. It will resemble
the true Gospel but it will be an admixture of lies with the truth.
Let’s sing the Old Hymns of the Faith - Let us keep the hymnbooks and
let us sing the old hymns of the Faith but let us add the Charismatic praise
songs which we will sing alongside the old hymns. It will resemble the true
songs of the faith but the praise songs are extremely shallow and are
written out of greed. The old hymns were written out of some of the darkest
periods in the lives of God’s children and have stood the test of time for
truth and theological content. The praise songs resemble the true hymns but
are very shallow.
Let’s use the Organ and Piano in Worship - Let us use the organ and
piano in worship creating a spiritual atmosphere when singing our songs but
let us add a full band for more fullness of music. The more instruments we
have the greater we can praise God in the sanctuary.
Let us preach and teach the True Gospel - Let us preach and teach the
true gospel in the churches but let us add signs, tongues, and wonders and
then claim all of that comes from God. These things may resemble what is
found in the Bible but they are deceptive since God closed the Canon and is
not giving any more verbal revelations through dreams, signs, or tongues.
The Charismatic movement makes God out to be a liar claiming He is still
giving revelation when He has clearly stated He is not.
Let’s teach about the Body of Christ - Let us teach about the body of
Christ and how Christ had redeemed the entire body of true believers with
His blood but along with that, let us add a mythical chosen people and make
them an icon in the churches. Instead of teaching that the redeemed are the
true Israel of God, let’s make them second place and teach that the Talmudic
Jews are God’s chosen people and anyone who does not believe it, deem them
anti-semites. This teaching resembles the true Gospel but makes an icon out
of the Jews and displaces Christ in many churches.
Summary
These are some examples which every Christian has come across in their
lives. The warning is that whenever you see or hear something added to the
true Gospel then know that a resemblance deception is occurring. The reason
that the churches have become weak is because they have opened their doors
to every satanic deception that has come along. As Balaam taught Balak the
principles on how to defeat the Israelites, those same principles are being
used in the modern church and against individual Christians. This is why the
church is on the run from the world instead of the other way around.
(Acts 17:6 KJV) And when they found them not,
they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying,
These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
Now the world has turned the church upside down. Let us begin to use
discernment and realize that God has already given His methods to use in the
church, it is Satan that is continuing to supplant those methods by means of
always introducing something new. Beware of “New” teachings.
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