Friday, September 18, 2026
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).
If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?
Like the tiny Book of Jude, the epistle of 2 Peter is devoted almost exclusively to exposing false teachers (those who communicate bad or untruthful information, chiefly in the religious realm). Their various characteristics are enumerated so those interested in the truth can be competent in identifying these participants of the Antichrist’s campaign (yet future, when Satan’s lie program reaches its apex). How the Devil interacted with God’s people Israel in time past will be repeated in the ages to come; there is a looping effect, large-scale events having been previewed or rehearsed on a smaller scale as far back as centuries or millennia prior.
In Numbers chapter 22, Balaam was a quasi-false prophet whom Moabite King Balak had hired to curse Israel (Balak feared Israel would defeat him militarily, so he resorted to this underhanded tactic to destroy them). However, the LORD prevented Balaam from saying what sinful words he had been paid/rewarded to speak. Prophetically, standing for the Antichrist is Balak, and representing the False Prophet is Balaam (cf. Revelation 2:12-14,20-24 [cf. Numbers 25:1-3]; Revelation 13:1-18). While all the details of these phenomena are beyond the scope of this study, suffice it to say that—again—there is an appetite for gain (money, fame, whatever). Take Peter’s commentary first: “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet” (2 Peter 2:15,16). Draw your attention to “loved the wages of unrighteousness,” as in delighted to receive compensation for committing sin. Now, compare that to Jude’s statements: “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core” (Jude 11). Did you see “greedily” and “reward?”
Like back then, and what will be again, business-minded men are using religion to worship and promote self (and all sorts of other idols too). For the sake of our own spiritual health, we ought to be on the alert even in mystery….
