Dreams come and go but nightmares that awaken you with murmurings are rare indeed. The other morning after a late night reading of a recently received article, addressing some of the Tribulation hysteria that is beginning to mount, I was startled awake from a vivid scene of confronting a known false prophet in front of many witnesses. Since I have not had many dreams lately and no nightmares to speak of, I thought it odd, so I mentioned it to my wife. I recalled that in the past, when directly in person confronting this particular false prophet and his “end-time mind control” emphasis in 1999 and 2005, I was always wide awake and by myself. The fact that I had witnesses in this scene in some respects has prompted me to convey these recollections, so that perhaps in some way, others might learn from my experience or be startled into remembering their own excursions down similar paths.

As the morning meandered along and I contemplated my rude awakening, the thought that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” was recalled a few times. When I found the time to take a look at the context of where this verse originated, I turned to the letter of 2 Timothy and re-read the text. While imprisoned in a Roman jail awaiting his execution, conservatives widely conclude that the Apostle Paul composed this letter to his disciple Timothy in Ephesus. It was probably in a dark and dank enclosure, unsure of when the Praetorian Guard was going to summon him to the chopping block where his head was to be severed, that Paul mustered the courage to convey some final thoughts of encouragement to his young devotee. He knew his days were numbered, but he was confident that he had completed all that he was predetermined to accomplish, and was simply ready to receive his reward for faithfully proclaiming the gospel during his ministry:

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

In the opening greetings of his letter, Paul gives Timothy then—and by extension those of us today reading his words—some of the attributes critical for followers of Yeshua the Messiah to finish the course of life with confidence that our efforts have not been in vain. Paul’s many years of pursuing the Holy One were encumbered with many trials, persecutions, and personal tribulation. These experiences had given him a broad understanding of what is required to overcome the world, the flesh, and the Devil in service to the Most High. Despite the fearful personal predicament awaiting his execution, Paul contrasts the spirit of fear with other godly characteristics that should be employed when Believers encounter various situations on their path to finish the race of life:

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV).

According to Paul’s exhortation, Believers are not to operate by a spirit of fear, but rather call upon the power of the indwelling Spirit to help discern the source of the fear. Then, they are to allow the unconditional love of God to respond in a temperate and deliberate manner by utilizing the sound mind of the Messiah as the circumstances dictate (1 Corinthians 2:12-16). Mature, born again Believers are to possess “self-control” (RSV) or “discipline” (NASU) in all that they do, traits that I observe have been lacking in recent days.

The more I thought about the nightmare and the recollection of this verse—and the fact that many in the Messianic community of faith are also being inundated by unsolicited e-mail reports, opinions, and declarations about the consequences of the American election cycle—the more I became convinced that something needed to be stated in order to point out the insidious nature of the spirit of fear. Please understand that many false teachers are cleverly using the election results and turmoil in the financial markets to incite fear in their listeners and readers. This pattern of deception is not new, but has been employed for nefarious means for centuries. Even Paul warned Timothy about these sorts of problems in his final appeal:

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Paul’s list of negative traits about the ungodly who love pleasure and not God, holding to a form of godliness but having denied its power, is not very complimentary. But did you notice Paul’s final admonition to avoid such people? This is a strong condemnation of those who use their positions of influence to achieve financial gain or physical pleasure. You might ask yourself: Are you avoiding those who do these things? An even more pertinent question might be: Have you encountered people who do these things without even knowing it?

When you hear someone with authority declare that he believes that we are the last generation, that we will witness the return of the Messiah and the return of all Israel to the Promised Land, think clearly. Be forewarned! Down through the ages there have been many who have made these same kinds of declarations. They have found their followers who will support their efforts. In fact, the annals of Church history are littered with just such false teachers, false prophets, and false apostles. Just think about the Radical Reformers who thought they could march on Rome and overthrow the pope, go into cemeteries and raise the dead, and who did not champion the cause of returning to the Scriptures the way they should have.

What we are witnessing at this very moment is a recycling of many of the declarations that came forth from different Messianic leaders during the 1990s. Many of the statements regarding the supposed change in weather patterns have not kept up to date with meteorological understanding, but are simply repeating data from decades past. The theoretical 6,000-year time line is almost universally taught in our faith community in order to confirm an imminent date for the Messiah’s return, and it gets recalculated and recalculated when predicted dates come and go. Others are now weaving in references to the Mayan calendar ending at 2012. Various “blood red” moons are supposed to appear during some future Biblical feasts, even though these are astronomically predicable phenomena.

During the 1990s we personally witnessed a number of families who wholeheartedly believed the words of some false prophets. In so doing, they dramatically altered their lifestyles, and in many cases severely damaged their families. Some wage earners decided to quit their jobs, sell all their assets, and move close by their leader for more constant updates on when the Great Tribulation was going to begin. Their finances were invested in beans, rice, and whole grains. Many families gave up on educating their children, concluding that since the end-times were fast upon us, there was no sense in having their children educated. Instead, they would teach them how to cook or how to survive in the wilderness march that was imminent.

After many months or years of waiting for the Great Tribulation to commence, when it did not these families were devastated. Some became so irritated with their false leaders that they openly attacked them and everything associated with them. Others got so aggravated with the community of faith built around these false prophecies that in their anger they denied Yeshua and decided to simply walk away from local assemblies of Believers. The fall out for many from following those who promoted their ministries, by provoking a spirit of fear, was a great travesty to witness. Lamentably, many of these groups were started by sensationalistic teachings promulgated by charismatic Messianic teachers, who simply spoke with presumed authority. They had a little more information of certain subjects, and could convince their audiences that they were “hearing from God.” As the Scriptures clearly state, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). These patterns are repeating themselves once again, just as has happened down through the ages.

If you go back and re-read Paul’s final instructions to Timothy, you will discover much of the wisdom that is a direct result of the power, love, and sound mind he mentions. Paul reminds Timothy to be aware of his testimony and calling. Central to all is the ability to proclaim the gospel of the good news of the resurrected Messiah by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit:

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Messiah Yeshua from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Messiah Yeshua, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Messiah Yeshua. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:8-14).

Paul goes on to compare the life of a saint as like a soldier or an athlete or a hard working farmer, noting that each is totally focused on their callings just like those called to suffer for the Messiah. Once again the indwelling power enhanced by the unconditional love to endure is intimated by the desire to see all come to faith:

“For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Messiah Yeshua and with it eternal glory. It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene” (2 Timothy 2:10-17a).

Did you see that there is a strong admonition about wrangling with words and avoiding worldly and empty chatter that leads to further ungodliness? Sandwiched in between those warnings is the exhortation to accurately handle the Word. What we see missing in many of the teachings that promote rabid end-time prognostications and conclusions is a good and proper use of the Scriptures. People often come to quick and hasty conclusions about certain things—and then package it and go around teaching others. In the long run, they are simply not handling the Word of God carefully because they are not operating with the sound mind that Paul states is an imperative attribute. The results can be devastating as related above.

Paul repeats himself about getting into speculations and quarrelsome arguments, noting that they are unproductive, further admonishing Timothy on how to conduct his walk of faith:

“Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:22-26).

This is some sound advice on how to approach those who are making these false prognostications. We are not to be quarrelsome, but be able instead to patiently and soberly turn to the Scriptures for carefully correcting those who make false declarations. Hopefully, as Paul teaches, this approach will give such people a heart that through repentance can gain a saving knowledge of the truth, escaping the snare of the Devil.

However, having had some up close and personal experience with false teachers, let me be the first to advise you that these people are usually not very open to correction. If given the opportunity to share with them about where their teachings or conclusions are errant, prayerfully engage them by the power of the Spirit in love, and with a clearly thinking sound mind.

Finally, after Paul reminds Timothy about the blessing of all Scripture inspired by God, he goes on to exhort his disciple to fulfill his calling in the Lord, recognizing that his days are coming to a close:

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. Make every effort to come to me soon” (2 Timothy 4:2-9).

Again, did you notice that Paul continues to go back and warn Timothy about the propensity for people to fall away from sound doctrine or accurate Bible teaching? Instead, many are just going to want to have their ears tickled in order to satiate their own desires. They will turn away from the truth and instead turn to myths. In the case we have been discussing, we have seen many people turn to gross speculation about the End of the Age, and away from the work of the gospel. This is a very enticing subject because it not only invokes the spirit of fear, but the spirit of fear almost regenerates itself as new ear-tickling speculation comes into focus. This is very dangerous for the Body of Messiah to endure. In the long run, as our faith has experienced these false teachings down through the centuries, it has done irreparable damage to the lives of many. For the Messianic movement, going through End of the World hype over and over again has kept us spiritually and theologically inept to actually endure the end-times whenever they do finally come!

It is my fervent prayer that we will each re-read the final writings of the Apostle Paul, as false teachings are going to increase in the months and years to come. Speculation is going to run rampant, and there will be a concerted effort for the enemy of our souls to ignite the spirit of fear in the hearts of the saints. We have been given great instruction from these words of Paul as how to overcome the spirit of fear with the power, love, and sound mind that comes from the Holy One of Israel and His indwelling presence.

It is up to each of us to call upon His strength—and if the spirit of fear does arise—to fight it with the Scriptures, the very Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). In so doing, may we all finish the race with our chests stretched forward to meet the tape at the finish line!