by R. L. Morrison

In Deut. 5, we find that God spake unto the Israelites, "out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness with a great voice..." (vs. 22). But the people feared and the heads of the tribes came with the elders to Moses, and requested that he "Go near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it and do it" (vs. 27). God heard and approved it, saying, "Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them and with their children forever" (vs. 29).

Later Moses recorded that God said, "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die" (Deut. 18:18-20).

We find the fulfillment of the promise of a prophet like unto Moses in the New Testament. Peter, the apostle, declared: "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me: him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people" (Acts 3:22-23). He also said, God raised up His Son, Jesus Christ, sent him to bless these people, by turning them away from their iniquities, and that in Christ, the promise made to Abraham, "in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed" (Acts 3:25-26).

That Jesus is the prophet of whom Moses spoke, there should be no doubt. You will remember the prophet must speak the words God gave him. Now, hear Jesus: "For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak" (John 12:49-50).

While a man in the flesh, Jesus spoke the words God gave him. But he also made preparation for the gospel, God's power unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), to be revealed after his death, resurrection and return to the Father. Twelve men were selected from among the disciples, who became the apostles. He taught them many things and promised them, "When he, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come" (John 16:13).

On the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ, the apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (as Jesus promised in Acts 1:4-5). They began on that day the revealing of God's will for men in these days, that is, the last dispensation of time. This revelation is full and complete. We have it today in the form of the New Testament. Its revelation began on the Pentecost of Acts 2. We do not know exactly when the last book of the New Testament was written, but we do know that it is complete, nothing more is to be added to it. Peter wrote, "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:2-3). Every thing that pertains to life and godliness was revealed by the Holy Spirit through the apostles. Paul wrote that not even an angel from heaven could reveal anything more than had already been made known. He also said that he who preaches any thing other than they made known will be accursed (Gal. 1:8-9).

There are many religious organizations or churches in our country that had their origin as the result of false teaching by a "prophet" or "prophetess". This is not difficult to understand IF one will just remember they had their beginning within the last 150 or 200 years. We have no way of knowing the number of members in any one of these groups, nor is it necessary. But there are many who have been lead astray by false teachers, who proclaim a false doctrine. It is now our purpose to examine some of the false doctrine of some of them.

1. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as the Mormon church. This church is the second largest corporation west of the Mississippi River. It's businesses and business connections, plus its real estate holdings all over the world, are the cause or reason for this. Of course, the New Testament teaches no such activities as this as the work of the New Testament church. This practice is contrary to what the apostles taught.

Joseph Smith is the prophet of Mormonism. He, supposedly directed by an angel, dug up some "golden plates" which were covered with writing in some ancient language. This writing, supposedly, was translated into the Book of Mormon, which was followed by additional books: "Doctrine and Covenants", and "The Pearl of Great Price." These books are the source of authority for Mormonism. They accept the Bible only so far as they say it is correctly translated. When the Bible contradicts their "sacred books", the Bible is rejected. Even though the inspired apostle Paul said, "If any man preach any other gospel, let him be accursed", it is disregarded and error is taught and practiced.

One doctrine of Mormonism: "As man is, God once was: as God is man may become". This, simply stated, means that God was once a man, and a man may become a god. No apostle ever taught this doctrine. No apostle ever taught the words they received and delivered by the Holy Spirit were man's thoughts, or their message originated with men. Mormon doctrine was never preached by an apostle of Jesus Christ. Mormon doctrine had its origin in the minds of men. Those who preach it are under the anathema of God. Mormonism was not planted by God. It will be rooted up and cast into the fire in the day of judgment (Matthew 15:13).

2. Seventh-Day Adventism.

In 1860, the name Seventh-Day Adventist was adopted as the official name of the denomination. In May of 1863, the first General Conference was held in Battle Creek, Michigan. We recognize the year 1863, therefore, as the date of the official organization of the Seventh Day Adventist denomination. This quote is taken from "The story of our church", prepared by the Department of Education, General Conference of Seventh Day Adventists. (Mountain View, California: Pacific Press, 1956) pg. 215-220.

These people claim to believe that the Bible and the Bible only is the sole rule of faith and practice for Christians. Yet, in article 19 of the "Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh Day Adventists" they teach: The gift of the Spirit of prophecy is one of the identifying marks of the remnant church. They believe that this gift was manifested in the life and ministry of Ellen G. White. This simply means that Mrs. White's "so called" prophecy is as binding on mankind as is the gospel of Christ. One of these prophecies was received in a so-called vision in which she saw a halo of glory around the fourth commandment. This refers to the ten commandments, written on the tables of stone that God gave to Moses for the Israelites. She said that this meant that the law that required Sabbath keeping was not abolished, but is to be kept today. It was and yet is taught that those who refuse to obey that law receive the mark of the beast. They teach many other things which are contrary to the gospel revealed by the apostles of Christ.

Seventh Day Adventist doctrine and practices are not in harmony with what the Holy Spirit revealed through Paul. For example, Col. 2:14: "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." The handwriting of ordinances was the ten commandments. Paul, by the Holy Spirit, says they were done away by the death of Christ. Mrs. White says they are not done away and must be obeyed today. These people have rejected the gospel of Christ and replaced it with the writings of a woman, who claimed to be a prophetess. Here is another "plant" not planted by the Heavenly Father. It, too, Will be rooted up.

3. Christian Science.

This organization was incorporated and given a charter on August 23, 1879. This is recognized as the official beginning of the Christian Science church. Its purpose: "To commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing." Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy was appointed to the committee that was to draft the tenants of the Mother Church. After the charter was obtained, she became "pastor" of the church.

Mrs. Eddy wrote the book "Science and Health with a key to the Scriptures." It was first published in 1875. It became then and is yet the final authority for this organization. Christian Scientists believe that Mrs. Eddy received her "insights or inspiration" through Divine revelation. She wrote: "No human pen nor tongue taught me the science contained in this book, "Science and Health." This claims that she was taught her views or what she wrote, by God, not by man. In the book, she wrote: "Here also is found the pith of the basal statement, the cardinal point in Christian Science, that matter and evil (including all in harmony, sin, disease, death) are unreal". There are many other statements of like nature in the book, but these should be sufficient to show the error of this doctrine.

First, consider sin. What does the Bible say about it? Paul wrote to the Romans "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). He also wrote: "Christ died to save sinners, of whom I am chief" (1 Tim. 1:15).

Second: Death. We find the account of the death of many men in the Bible, including that of Jesus Christ (John 9:30-31). Also: "It is appointed unto man once to die ..." (Heb. 9:27). Surely all people can realize that every living thing is subject to death. This is very apparent.

The doctrine of Christian Science was not taught by any inspired man. The apostles revealed ALL things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Since they did NOT reveal the doctrines of the Christian Science church, it will be rooted up in the last day.

4. The Jehovah's Witnesses.

Charles Taze Russell wrote a seven volume series of books, which eventually came to be called "Studies in the Scriptures". These books resulted in what finally came to be called the "Jehovah's Witnesses." It is a religious organization, and the books written by Russell are yet the basis of the doctrine of the group. However, many other books, tracts, pamphlets, and magazines have been written by others and have been widely distributed by the millions in nations all over the world. Let us examine some of the basic doctrines of this sect and compare them with what the New Testament teaches.

A) The Jehovah's Witnesses deny the full or complete deity of Jesus Christ. They teach that he is a "god", but not Jehovah God. They teach also that he is not equal to the Father and is not the second person of the God Head or Deity.

A) The Bible: "But unto the Son, he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom" (Heb. 1:8).

B) The Witnesses deny both the personality and the Deity of the Holy Spirit, defining the Spirit as "the invisible active force of Almighty God which moves his servants to do his will."

B) The Bible: "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit... Thou hast not lied unto men but unto God." (Acts 5:3-4).

C) The Witnesses teach that Christ became king of the heavenly kingdom in 1914.

C) The Bible: "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens, but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool" (Acts 2:33-35). Peter affirmed Jesus had received the kingdom on that day, Pentecost, the first one after the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Therefore, 1914 is over 1900 years too late for him to receive the kingdom. There are other doctrines of the Witnesses, which are contrary to what the apostles preached. These should be sufficient to show The Witnesses "teach another gospel". For this cause the anathema of God not only rests upon them now, but will continue to do so in eternity.

5. The World Wide Church of God

Herbert W. Armstrong worked 57 years to establish this church. His followers believe and teach that he was the prophesied Elijah; that God began to work with him in 1926, and used him until his death in 1986, to build the true church of God. There was, they teach, one John, who prepared the way for the first coming of Christ. There was one "John" (Armstrong), who prepared the way for the second coming of Christ. He (Armstrong) is said to have been an apostle, and that he restored 18 basic truths to the church. Here are some of those "truths": 1. God's purpose is to reproduce himself through mankind. 2. This life is not the ONLY time or day of salvation. The church represents only the "first fruits" of God's spiritual "harvest". 3. The Holy Days and God's master plan. 4. The identity of the United States and Britain in prophecy. 5. The second tithe for keeping God's festivals. There are 13 more of these so-called truths given, but these will serve to point out the error of their doctrine.

In creation, God did say, "Let us make man in our image" (Gen. 1:26), but that does not say or mean that God reproduced himself. God is a Spirit (John 4:24). The "inner man" or spirit of man is in the likeness of God, not the physical man. Paul affirms the whole man is part spirit (1 Thess. 5:23). "I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ". Man can never become God. The scriptures teach that today is the day to hear the voice and invitation of God (Heb. 3:7; 13:15). See also Hebrews 9:27: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." There is no scripture that teaches that any one will be given an opportunity to accept and obey the gospel after death. The New Testament does not require or allow the observance of Holy Days, or any day religiously. Under the law of Moses, Israel did so, but the law of Christ makes no such requirements. In Gal. 4:10-11, Paul teaches against observing days religiously. In the New Testament, Jesus repeatedly referred to the nation of Israel. However, God rejected fleshly Israel. Jews AND Gentiles, alike, through obedience to the gospel, compose "Spiritual Israel", the New Testament church or the kingdom of heaven (Eph. 2:11-18). There is no modern day nation named or referred to in either the Old or New Testament. Paying the tithe (10%) was required of Israel under the law. It was a kind of tax. Their gifts and offerings were made in addition to the tithe. Tithing is not required by the law of Christ. The command to Christians is to give as they have been prospered. The individual determines the amount (1 Cor. 16:1-2). All of these things taught and practiced by the followers of Herbert W. Armstrong are contrary to the gospel of Christ. Again, Paul wrote they who preach another gospel is anathema. This plant shall also be rooted up in the last day, to the surprise and sorrow of many.

All five of the religious organizations named in this writing exist in violation of Hebrews 1:1-2: "God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son ..." The Son revealed God's will by the Holy Spirit speaking through the apostles he had chosen (John 16:12-15). One of those apostles wrote: "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:3). Jude wrote: "... and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). These organizations are not of God, or by the faith which was delivered to the saints in the lifetime of the apostles. Jesus said they shall all be rooted up, destroyed, lost in the day of giving account to God. Those who are a part of them can only expect to hear the Lord say in judgment: "Depart from me, ye that work iniquity, I never knew you" (Matthew 7:23).

What will YOU hear in the day of Judgment???