How I’ve Learned to Stay Safe

Jesus tells us to beware.

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.
Matthew 24:4-5 NASB® 1995

John tells us in 1 John 2:18

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.
1 John 2:18 NASB® 1995

“Antichrist”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Antichrist” is antichristos (500): Antichrist
- HELPS Word-studies: 500 antíxristos (from 473 /antí, "opposite to, in place of" and 5547 /Xristós, "Christ") – properly, opposite to Christ; someone acting in place of (against) Christ; "Antichrist."

John goes on to give us some understanding how to identify false prophets and the spirits they listen to.

Beloved, 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. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 4:1-6 NASB® 1995

The word “Confess” In 1 John 4:1-6 means ‘to speak the same language.’

“Confess”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Confess” is homologeó (3670): To confess, to acknowledge, to agree
- HELPS Word-studies: 3670 homologéō (from 3674 /homoú, "together" and 3004/légō, "speak to a conclusion") – properly, to voice the same conclusion, i.e. agree ("confess"); to profess (confess) because in full agreement; to align with (endorse).

It is very important to understand that an antichrist spirit is most likely not going to feed you a lie that sounds like a lie. Oftentimes, spirits feed someone doubt to lead them into unbelief which is disobedience.

Look at the story of Eve and the serpent in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Also, look at Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11). Oftentimes, spirits will simply get you to question the truth and doubt the Word of God. They plant a seed of unbelief that will turn into an act of disobedience.

Eve got into trouble because she added to God's Word, but Jesus knew His Father's heart and mind and knew how to fight with the Word of God.

In the book of Daniel, he gives understanding about what to pay attention to in the last days so that we are not led astray.

By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days. Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy. Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.
Daniel 11:32-35 NASB® 1995

“Smooth”: The Hebrew word for “Smooth” is chalaqqah (2514): Smoothness, flattery
- Flatter: 1. to praise insincerely, especially in order to win favour or reward 2. to show to advantage: that dress flatters her.
  3. (tr) to make to appear more attractive, etc, than in reality 4. to play upon or gratify the vanity of (a person): it flatters her to be remembered. 5. (tr) to beguile with hope; encourage, esp falsely: this success flattered him into believing himself a champion. 6. (tr) to congratulate or deceive (oneself): I flatter myself that I am the best.
  - Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged

Look at what it is saying here: by flattery, smoothness, and fine promises, he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant.

In 2 Thessalonians, Paul writes,

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 NASB® 1995

These are the attributes of the antichrist spirits and the people who listen to them.

“Deceive”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Deceive” is exapataó (1818): To deceive thoroughly, to beguile, to lead astray
- HELPS Word-studies: 1818 eksapatáō (from 1537ek, "wholly out/from," intensifying 538 /apatáō, "deceive") – properly, thoroughly deceived ("hood-winked"), describing someone taken in, and enslaved by, Satan (sin, darkness).
  1818 /eksapatáō("deceived into illusion") emphasizes the end-impact of deception – i.e. missing true reality because "biting on the bait that brings the hook!"
“Apostasy”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Apostasy” is apostasia (646): Apostasy, rebellion, defection, falling away
- HELPS Word-studies: 646 apostasía (from 868 /aphístēmi, "leave, depart," which is derived from 575 /apó, "away from" and 2476 /histémi, "stand") – properly, departure (implying desertion); apostasy – literally, "a leaving, from a previous standing."
“Lawlessness”: Strong’s: The Greek word for ‍“Lawlessness” isanomia (458): Lawlessness, iniquity, transgression ‍
- HELPS Word-studies: 458anomía (from 1 /A "not" and 3551 /nómos, "law") – properly, without law;
  lawlessness; the utter disregard for God's law (His written and living Word).
  458 /anomía ("lawlessness") includes the end-impact of law breaking – i.e. its negative influence on a person's soul (status before God).
“Destruction”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Destruction” is apóleia (684): Destruction, ruin, loss, perdition
- HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 684 apṓleia (from 622 /apóllymi, "cut off") – destruction, causing someone (something) to be completely severed – cut off (entirely) from what could or should have been. (Note the force of the prefix, apo.) See 622 (apollymi).
  684 /apṓleia ("perdition") does not imply "annihilation" (see the meaning of the root-verb, 622 /apóllymi, "cut off") but instead "loss of well-being" rather than being (Vine's Expository Dictionary, 165; cf. Jn 11:50; Ac 5:37; 1 Cor 10:9-10; Jude 11).
“Opposes”: Strong’s: The Greek word for ‍“Opposes” is ‍antikeimai (480): To oppose, to be set against, to resist
- HELPS Word-studies: 480antíkeimai (from 473 /antí, "against" and 2743/kautēriázō, "to place") – properly, place fully against, constitutionally oppose – like someone being thoroughly unreconcilable ("intractable, implacable").
“Exalts”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Exalts” is huperairó (5229): To exalt, to lift up, to raise above

The Greek word for “Temple” in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 is naos. It is the same Greek word for “Temple” in 1 Corinthians 3:16.

“Temple”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Temple” is naos (3485): Temple, sanctuary
- HELPS Word-studies: 3485 naós (from naiō, "to dwell") – properly, a sanctuary(divine dwelling-place); a temple (sacred abode), the place of divine manifestation.

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NASB® 1995

We know from 1 Corinthians 3:16 that the temple of God is in His people. We are the temple of God.

The term “Lawless one”, used in 2 Thessalonians 4:8, is the Greek word anomos. It is not addressing one individual.

“Lawless one”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Lawless one” is anomos (459): Lawless, without law, wicked
- HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 459 ánomos (from 1 /A "no" and 3551 /nómos, "law") – properly, "no-law," i.e. lawless disregard for proper authority. See 458 (anomia).

It is very important that we truly know what the Word of God says because these false teachings about Jesus, these different or distorted gospels, and these different spirits, as Paul states in 2 Corinthians 11:4 and Galatians 1:6–9, easily lead people astray by tickling their ears with what they want to hear instead of what the Word of God actually says.

For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.
2 Corinthians 11:4 NASB® 1995

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
Galatians 1:6-9 NASB® 1995

The question is, what gospel did you receive? Was it the one from Scripture that teaches you to repent of dead works and bear fruit in keeping with repentance, and that you cannot continue to practice sin? Or was it something else? (Matthew 3:1–11, Romans 6, and 1 John)

Second Thessalonians gives a terrifying warning for people who do not love the truth: “God will send upon them a “Deluding Influence” so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”

“Deluding”:Strong’s: The Greek word for “Deluding” is plané (4106): Deception, error, delusion, wandering
- HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 4106 plánē (a feminine noun derived from 4105/planáō) – deviant behavior; a departure from what God says is true; an error (deception) which results in wandering (roaming into sin). See 4105 (planaō).
“Influence”:Strong’s: The Greek word for “Influence” is energeia (1753): Energy, working, operation, activity, operative power
- HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 1753 enérgeia (the root of the English term "energy") – energy; "power in action" (Wm. Barclay, More NT Words, 46). See 1754 (energeō).

Over the past few years, I have been faced with all kinds of teachings from man, various false teachings of Jesus, deceitful spirits, distorted gospels, and doctrines of demons.

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 NASB® 1995

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,
1 Timothy 4:1-2 NASB® 1995

“Deceitful”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Deceitful” is planos (4108): Deceiver, misleading, seducer
- HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 4108 plános (a substantival adjective, derived from 4105 /planáō, "wander") – a deceiver, trying to get others to also veer off God's course (path of safety). See 4105 (planáo).
“Doctrines”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Doctrines” is didaskalia (1319): Teaching, instruction, doctrine
“Demons”: Strong’s: The Greek word for “Demons” is daimonion (1140): Demon, evil spirit
- HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 1140 daimónion(a neuter, diminutive noun) – a demon, i.e. fallen angel. 1140 (daimónion) always refers to demons in the NT – the only exception being Ac 17:18 (which refers to heathen gods). See 1139 (diamonizomai).
  [1140 /daimónion ("demon"), the diminutive form of 1142/daímōn ("demon"), conveys how utterly powerless demons (fallen angels) are against Christ (His plan).

I have been in prayer, and the Lord has directed me to share how I have learned to overcome these tactics of the enemy so His people will not be led astray. It has helped me over and over.

I have faced many different Jesus' teachings in different denominations that have told me that how I live is wrong, what I believe in the Bible is wrong, and what I teach is wrong. When I have faced these different types of teachings of Jesus, I go back to the Word and examine which Jesus teaching has set me free from sin and death, literally, not figuratively. The other Jesus' teachings talk about being set free, but the people following them are steeped in sinful practices, disobedience, and unbelief. So I go back to the Jesus I have been following, the One who has taught me not to lie, gossip, be selfish, or have hate in my heart; who has taught me what love means, how to examine the Word of God, and so on.

I come back to the Jesus in the Word of God and do what He says, no matter what spirits or people attack me, saying I am wrong in how I live, what I believe, and what I teach.

I look closely and examine whether my life mimics those who have gone before me in both their death process and their life process.

This has kept me safe and also corrects me if I have done wrong.

I have been persecuted and slandered a lot, but this has driven me to examine myself and the Word more. I’ve learned not to defend myself to people of the flesh, but instead to see if there is any truth to what they are saying. So I examine myself and ask God to search me and show me if I am missing something.

For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.
1 Corinthians 4:4 NASB® 1995

I have no desire to miss a spot on my robe because I do not want to ignore someone accusing me of something. Maybe there is some truth in it. Because of this, I scrutinize every area of my life before God and ask Him to do the same. Not because I live in torment, but because I love peace and I love His presence.

This has kept me safe.

I encourage everyone to examine what fruit in the life of a believer is according to Scripture. Really ponder what a disciple's life is to look like. These are the things that keep us safe. Ponder this: How do I know I’m following the correct Jesus?

You could get offended by all of this, or you could simply see it for what it is: a message that will keep you safe, no matter what anyone thinks of you. Ultimately, it does not matter what you think of yourself or what any other human thinks of you. It only matters what God sees.

I encourage everyone I study with to ask Jesus, "Which church in Revelation 2 and 3 do You see me in?"

That is the question everyone needs to ask.

I pray that if you are reading this, you are able to receive it, and that it will be a testimony that helps you overcome in the last days.

References:

Strong’s Greek/Hebrew: Biblehub.com
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003,2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
- "flatter." Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014. 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014. HarperCollins Publishers 29 Jun. 2026 https://www.thefreedictionary.com/flatter