four end times dangers

And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.”

Matthew 24:4

When asked by His disciples to teach about the signs of His return and the end of the age, Jesus begins with this stern warning. He looks right at the men who left everything to follow Him and warns them they are vulnerable. The first sign of His coming and the end of the age would be that the loyalty of His own disciples would be attacked. Some would fall away. Many false teachers will claim to be what only Jesus is and will seek to lead many disciples astray from truly following Him.

Doctrinal divisiveness and heretical teaching combined with messianic personalities will come at the end. Jesus states that it will be so deceptive that only the most discerning disciples will stay with Him. And that has been unfortunately a problem in every era of church history, with an explosive profusion of false teaching and popular figures luring many people away from the truth of the gospel as we near His return.

Some current dangers readily visible that are dangerously sucking away Christians from the centrality of the gospel:

• Popularism. The internet and social media have created swarms of Tik Tok teachers spouting every kind of old and new heresy. They may even claim biblical support and authority. But just because millions “follow” or they sound persuasive does not make them right at all.
• New Ideas. Many claim that Christians have had it wrong for a long time. Or like Dan Brown they may insist that early on in church history Jesus’ original message was suppressed and hijacked by a controlling monolithic church. But they are instead hijacking the gospel to New Age thinking. Many in this camp link modern casual ethics and liberal sexual mores to re-interpreting Christian teaching, thus rejecting what the Word of God says.
• Tribalism. You want to believe that Jesus advocated the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms? Someone out there has a Youtube channel and followers who buy into that. Want to withdraw to a cave and wait out until the end in a monastic cult? The Internet will lead you to a group somewhere that you can join. False teaching, no matter how outlandish, is easier than ever to find and to propagate.
• Christian Nationalism. Yeah… that is definitely on the rise thanks to politicians both liberal and conservative hitching their wagons to every Christian group enamored with celebrity and worldly power. And it is not just limited to one side of the aisle… you can easily find the political messiah of your choosing. But be careful. That leader will lead you astray from Jesus!