A Christian friend sent us a link to a website warning about dangerous doctrines promoted by televangelist Joyce Meyer. She teaches that Jesus stopped being the Son of God on the Cross, yet went to hell to pay for our sins, and was the first to be born again. She claims that she receives direct revelations from God, that she is no longer a sinner, and that Christians are little gods. The truth is far different. The Lord Jesus Christ remained God, had no sin, and did not need to be born again. Sin was atoned on the Cross when He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). No one receives direct revelation today, because the revelation of Scripture is complete. Paul’s letters prove Christians still sin and certainly are not gods.

When the Savior addressed the church at Thyatira, He strongly rebuked them “because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols” (Revelation 2:20). While having a parallel during the Tribulation, this Jewish kingdom church existing in Acts was allowing an evil woman, symbolized by the name Jezebel, to entice true believers into false worship. Jezebel is used as an example because she was an evil Gentile queen married to the king of Israel. She lead both the king and the Israelites into the worship of Baal. This was a particularly seductive influence because the Jews were being drawn to Baal by temple prostitutes but still retained some fashion of worship to Jehovah (I Kings 18:21). Essentially the same thing was happening in the church at Thyatira. A brazen, evil woman was claiming to be God’s servant, a prophetess, and luring Jewish believers into the spiritual fornication of false worship to Apollo. Unbelievably, the church was allowing this wicked woman in its midst without rebuking her soul-damning doctrines or eliminating her platform of influence. The Lord gave a unique warning to her and those following her. If they did not repent and turn to the Lord, they would be “cast…into a bed [of]…great tribulation” (Revelation 2:22). This referred to them going through severe trials during the time of Jacob’s trouble, and ultimately, into eternal punishment.

Believer, don’t allow false teachers an opportunity to deceive you with false doctrines in your home or church. Avoid them, even if they give some truth or have large a following. They are still dangerous.