The Falling Away

How can a Christians leave God?

Lord bear witness to this study

     To leave God, that is what the falling away means. If the Devil came up to you and demanded you follow him, you would spit in his eye. He is not a harsh contender; he is the congenial deceiver. I was raised a Jehovah’s Witness. I lived in the belly of that beast. Because you don’t see hide nor hair of the Devil, you might think he is gone, or on vacation, or sulking in the corner. You would be wrong.

     The original falling away happened in the Garden of Eden. God gave his word to man "the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die". The Devil then brought his lie, his deception, "Ye shall not surely die". The choice was made. Adam and Eve believed the lie and we lost our intimate relationship with God. A very great falling away!

     The Bible's prophecy is clear: there will be a falling away before Christ comes back. This prophecy is for the believers, not the unsaved. As in the Garden of Eden, this falling away will be conceived by Satan. And as in the Garden of Eden, the deception(s) he brings will be against God's Word.

KJV   2 Thes. 2:3    Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

     For the last 50 years, I have been studying the authorized version of the King James Bible(KJV). The King James is based on thousands of early manuscripts; that form a solid foundation. Hundreds of godly men and women were killed in bringing this Bible to us.

     Towards the end of the Reformation, while the Vatican was killing Protestant Christians by the hundreds for bringing the Bible to the masses, the Vatican gave the Protestants the Vaticanus manuscript[1] and slipped into the background. Right around that time, the Sinaiticus manuscript also showed up. Both claimed importance, both are steeped in controversy, and both are considerably different compared to the other manuscripts. Over the last 150 years, new modern Bibles (NWT, RV, ASV, RSV, NIV, NASV, ESV, etc.) have emerged based on these two manuscripts. As a result the modern Bible versions and the KJV have many differences when compared with each other.

     Having my Christian walk firmly planted in the KJV, I was unaware of the differences. I started noticing something when my church changed its preferred Bible to the English Standard Version(ESV). Over the course of a couple of weeks, it began to bother me. And I suppose I wouldn’t have noticed anything amiss for quite some time if I had not been raised as a Jehovah’s Witness. Something was very familiar, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. When it did come to me, I downloaded the New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witness Bible) from the internet and checked some of the troubling verses in the ESV Bible with the JW Bible. They pretty much matched. I hold to a well-earned belief that the JW Bible is not the word of God; it is quite the opposite. That is what started this study; I needed to get to the bottom of this!

KJV   2 Cor. 2:17    For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

     In this study, I compare the KJV and the ESV and sometimes the NIV. What I found deeply concerns me. I’m not interested in the process of how these things came to be; I’m only concerned with what actually is.

     [1] See the link to a reference book at the end of this study.    

Examples

1: God was in Christ.

KJV   2 Cor. 5:19    To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
ESV   2 Cor. 5:19    that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

The verses are not the same.

     There is a big difference in these two verses. In the KJV, God himself in the person of Christ reconciles the world to himself. In the ESV, God seems to use Christ more like a stand-in who reconciles the world for him. If you are new in the Lord, the ESV makes it pretty hard to see that God himself , in the person of Jesus Christ was the one doing the reconciling. The KJV makes this clear.

 

2: God would have all men to be saved.

     When I first came to the LORD, I was plagued with thoughts that I could never be saved, that I was way passed saving etc.; this went on for months. In hindsight, I know it was the Devil attempting to deceive me, trying to get me to walk away from Christ. I just kept reading my Bible; I’m still here. But when you think about it, why would the devil spend so much time trying to talk people out of their salvation unless sometimes it works? This verse is heard every Christmas by the saved and unsaved alike.

KJV   Luke 2:13-14    And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

     Every Christmas holiday, the churches are filled. You will find there people struggling; on one side, God is setting forth his free gift of salvation, and on the other side, the devil telling them that they are not wanted, or not good enough, or its not for everybody - certainly not for them. That is what the devil does: he lies.

ESV   Luke 2:13-14    And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
NIV   Luke 2:13-14    Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The verses are not the same as the KJV

     The ESV and NIV reference only a small subset of humanity at best. The devil sure could use this in his campaign to trip up the ones that are struggling.

     Please, I’m asking any pastors reading this: please, don’t quote this verse using one of the newer versions of the Bible; use the KJV. It is correct and debunks the attack of the Devil.

 

3: Jesus was not just a man.

     Great is the mystery of Godliness

     When I was first saved, I believed Jesus was sent from God; he paid for our sins, and it was a free gift. Not much more than that. I’d say a lot of Christians walk through the door of salvation, find a comfortable spot, sit down, and never move or grow. There are some, however, who lay hold on their Bible with white knuckles and devour His words (abide in Him). A month, a year, or how ever long it takes, we start to see something - something that people can’t convince us of; it needs to be revealed to us by God. You can’t read the Bible without eventually understanding that Jesus is more than just a man (John 1:1-14). And if you read long enough, you will notice that prophets of old always said, “Thus saith the LORD”, but Jesus would say, “Verily I say unto you.”, slowly, it starts to sink in. I believe that the revelation that Jesus is God brings us closer to discipleship. The devil does not want this.

KJV   1 Tim. 3:16    And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
ESV   1 Tim. 3:16    Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
NIV    - same as ESV

Again, these verses are far from the same.

     These new versions of the Bible do not convince me of any great mystery. I’m not going to get to the revelation that Christ was God in the flesh using this verse. Anyone who has not read the KJV will probably not even notice that God's word has been changed. As for the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and who knows how many other cults, this scripture helps establishes their principal doctrine: that Christ was less than God. The new modern versions, in this verse really help these cults. Billy Graham was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, ---. In this scripture's alteration, Jesus and Billy Graham have the same credentials. The devil likes this change: he planned it. One of the devil's devices is to change God's word so that we would believe him rather then God.

Another example minimizing who Jesus is.

KJV   1 Cor. 15:47    The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
ESV   1 Cor. 15:47    The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.

The ESV had to change the text, given the following verse.

KJV   1 Cor. 12:3    Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

 

4: Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

KJV   Luke 9:54-56    And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
ESV   Luke 9:54-56    Luke 9:54-56 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” __MISSING VERSE__ 55But he turned and rebuked them. __MISSING VERSE__ 56 __MISSING VERSE__ And they went on to another village.

     Why did Jesus rebuke them? Without the explanation given in the KJV, no lesson is taught: The mission Of Jesus is not revealed, and the knowledge that James and John could listening to the wrong spirit is lost. The possibility that Christians can be influenced by devils is an important teaching. The Devil does not want this instruction making its way to us. It is far easier to believe that this instruction was snipped out, then to believe that the translators of the KJV invented it.

KJV   1 John 4:1    Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

 

5: Paul did not have disciples!!!!

KJV   Acts 9:24-25    But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
ESV   Acts 9:24-25    but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

Paul instructed the Ephesians against men who wished to have their own disciples.

KJV   Acts 20:29-31    For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Paul instructed the Corinthians.

KJV   1 Cor. 3:4-7    For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Seeds of hypocrisy in Paul?

 

6: Fasting's power against demons.

References to fasting being a weapon against demons are removed from the ESV!

KJV   Mat. 17:21    Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
ESV   note: Mat. 17:21    This verse is completely removed from the ESV.
KJV    Mark 9:29    And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
ESV    Mark 9:29    And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer__MISSING VERSE__.”

Someone does not want us to know about the power fasting has against Satan!

We can glean two facts from this example:

We need to get our eyes off of men.

KJV    Eph. 6:12    For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

7: It is impossible for God to LIE.

This is another attack on who Jesus is.

KJV   John 7:8    Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up YET unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come.
ESV   John 7:8    You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.”

Jesus then went up to the feast (John 7:10).

Here, in the ESV, Jesus is being depicted as a deceiver. God's Word assures us that it is impossible for God to lie.

KJV   Heb. 6:18    That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

 

8: The removal of God's name.

     The KJV Bible includes the name of God (JEHOVAH) 7 times (Gen 22:14, Ex. 6:3, Ex 17:15, Judg. 6:24, Ps. 83:18, Is. 12:2, Is. 26:4). Both the ESV and NIV have completely removed His name from there Bible. I suspect the other newer versions have also made the same changes (too many to check). This example proves that the changes in the newer versions can not possibly be what was originally in God's word. This error is obvious.

Here, God is speaking to Moses.

KJV   Ex. 6:3    And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
ESV   Ex. 6:3    I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name, the Lord, I did not make myself known to them.
NIV   Ex. 6:3    I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them.

     This next verse is God speaking to Abraham 400 plus years before Moses. I only need to show the ESV and NIV verses: the KJV says pretty much the same. I point out here that this is where God declares to Abraham that He is the LORD.

ESV   Gen. 15:5-7    And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. 7And he said to him, “I am the LORD. who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”
NIV   Gen. 15:5-7    He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 7He also said to him, “I am the LORD., who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.”

     Here, God in speaking to Abraham and establishes that he is the LORD. For God to tell Moses several hundred years later in Ex. 6:3 that he did not make him self know to Abraham as the LORD is a monumental blunder on the part of those changing God's Word! God's name is JEHOVAH, as the authorized version of the King James Bible, as well as other early Bibles, tell us.

 

9: A very fundamental change to the book of Revelations.

     The simplicity of the gospel is summed up in the following.

KJV   Rom. 10:9-10    That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

     The righteousness of God has always been by faith in what God has promised. This righteousness we receive as a gift from God not of works.

KJV   Rom. 4:3    For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
KJV   Eph. 2:8-9    For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
KJV   Is. 54:17    No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
KJV   Is. 51:7-8    Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. 8For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.

     Throughout the KJV our righteousness is declared to be the results of our faith in God. This Righteousness is sure and complete and is what God will clothed us with.

KJV   Rev. 19:7-8    Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

     Paul drives home the point by casting his own righteousness behind him and seeking to be found in Christ with only the righteousness which is of God by faith.

KJV   Phil. 3:8-9    Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

     I laid this ground work to bring up a disturbing verse in the ESV. Here the ESV plainly declares that we are to be righteous before God through our own righteous deeds.

ESV   Rev. 19:7-8    Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

     The Devil would love for you to base your righteousness on your works. He will do anything in his power to separate you from trusting completely in the finished work of Christ.

KJV   1 Pet. 5:8    Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

     The question is this: will you stand before God in you own righteous deeds as the ESV puts forward, Or will you as the KJV asserts, want to be found in Christ not having your own righteousness, but “the righteousness which is of God by faith”? And what of your good works, are they required for you to be saved?, or are they a result of you having been saved?

KJV   Gal. 5:4-5    Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

 

     There is a link at the bottom of this page to a book, you need to read it.

     Its worth noting here that the Vatican has completely rejected the Vaticanus manuscript and does not use it in its own Bible.

     The very existence of differing versions of the Bible is, in itself, used by Satan. I have heard Muslims say that because of the conflicting Bibles, the Bible is too unreliable to be taken seriously. This is a very great loss. They don’t consider that the “word of God” has an enemy: Satan, and his intention is to get us to reject God's word and accept his. For who you believe (have faith in), that is who you belong to.

     These examples are but a very small tip of the iceberg: there are hundreds of verses like these. I do not trust the new versions. The many questionable differences, force the conclusion that the modern versions are not pure, complete, undefiled renderings of God's word; the modern versions have suffered an attack. I cannot accept them. I also cannot reference them for fear that I will lend credance to them.

          

So, KJV it is!

I gleaned this from the Internet:

     A brief reason why there are so many new Bibles. The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, always has been, and always will be. The modern versions (NWT, RV, ASV, RSV, NIV, NASV, ESV, etc.), to one degree or another, are using the two corrupt manuscripts, along with the others (I assume), to create a sufficiently different Bible, thereby acquiring a lucrative copyright. Hmmmm

 

Here is a link to a book insisting that the manuscript given to us by the Vatican is a forgery.

link to the book