False Prophets and Teachers
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But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be a false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
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And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
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By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
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For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
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and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
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and turning the cities of b Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
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and c delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
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(for that righteous man, dwelling among them, d tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) -
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then e the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
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and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. g They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,
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whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.
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But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,
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j and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure k to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while m they feast with you,
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having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.
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They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of o Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
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but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet.
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These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
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For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.
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While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; q for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.
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For if, after they r have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are s again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
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For t it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
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But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: u "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."
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Cross References
Matthew 24:5
For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.
Matthew 24:24
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.
1 Timothy 4:2
Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.
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Cross References
Genesis 19:1 - 26
Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
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Cross References
Genesis 19:16
And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.
Genesis 19:29
And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.
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Cross References
Psalms 119:139
My zeal has consumed me, Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
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Cross References
Psalms 34:15 - 19
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
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Cross References
Exodus 22:28
You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
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Cross References
Philippians 3:19
Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame - who set their mind on earthly things.
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Cross References
Romans 13:13
Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 11:20
Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper.
1 Corinthians 11:21
For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.
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Cross References
Numbers 22:5
Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: "Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me!
Numbers 22:7
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner's fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.
Deuteronomy 23:4
Because they did not meet you with bread and water on the road when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
Nehemiah 13:2
Because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
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Cross References
John 8:34
Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
Romans 6:16
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
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Cross References
Matthew 12:45
"Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation."
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Cross References
Luke 11:26
"Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."
Hebrews 6:4 - 6
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit.
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Cross References
Luke 12:47
And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
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Cross References
Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.