1 Timothy 4:1 Demonic Teaching

1 Timothy 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

No doubt the later times that Paul talks about here refers to the whole period between the first and second coming of Christ. 2 Timothy 3:1ff says something similar (But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days, etc). Quite how the Spirit has said clearly is not made set out but Paul is perhaps thinking of recorded Old Testament prophecies and ones from the New Testament period that have not all been recorded. Certainly Jesus himself said that At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, etc (Matthew 24:10). The prophecy is that some will abandon the faith and that some will follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such information should give some comfort when we see apparent Christians apostatise and when we see large numbers of people believing things that run clean contrary to what God's Word teaches. Deceiving spirits are active and demons promulgate everything from the theory of evolution through the legitimacy of abortion and assisted suicide to the JW teaching against blood transfusions. Such wild ideas have been taught down the ages - the inferiority of certain races, the acceptability of bull or bear baiting, of human trafficking and crucifixion. This is what we must expect and not become alarmed at. It is part of a minister's calling to tell people that this is the case.