1 Timothy 4:1

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

Now the Holy Spirit specifically says that in later times [Note: “Later times” in the New Testament usually refers to the period following the first coming of Christ and the establishment of the church], some people will fall away from the faith [i.e., the true teaching of Christianity]. They will pay attention to deceitful spirits [i.e., lying people] and the teaching of evil spirits.

Cross References

2 Peter 2:1

But just as there were false prophets among the people before, there will also be false teachers among you [Christians]. They will privately teach harmful doctrines that destroy people [spiritually], by even denying [that Jesus is] the Master, [and thereby] destroying themselves quickly.

Jude 1:18

for they were saying to you people, “In the last times [See I John 2:18; Heb. 1:1-2] there will be mockers [arise], who will live according to their [own] ungodly desires.”

2 Peter 3:3

First of all, you should understand that, in the final days, mockers with evil desires will come [to you] saying, mockingly,

Jude 1:4

For certain men have secretly infiltrated [your ranks]; they are men who had been written about long ago that they should be judged [and condemned] for perverting the unearned favor of our God into [a license for] living unrestrained, indecent lives, and who deny [the identity and work of] our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:3

But I am afraid that somehow, just as the snake tricked Eve by his cunning, your minds might[also] be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

2 Timothy 3:13

But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse [in their behavior], deceiving people and being deceived by them.

1 John 4:6

We [who preach the true Gospel] represent God; the person who knows God listens to our message; the one who does not belong to God does not listen to us. This is how we can know [the difference between those speaking by] the Holy Spirit of truth and [those speaking by] the spirit of [Satan’s] error.

John 16:13

However, when the Holy Spirit of truth comes, He will lead you [apostles] into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own authority, but will speak [only] what He hears [from the Father]. And He will tell you about the things that are to come.

1 John 2:18

Dear children, it is [now] the last hour [i.e., the final period of God’s dealing with people on earth], and since you have heard that an antichrist [i.e., a person who is against Christ] is coming, even now [you should be aware that] many antichrists have [already] come. This is [one way] we know that this is the last hour.

Revelation 2:11

“The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. The person who has victory [in the Christian life] will not be harmed at all by the second death [i.e., the lake of fire. See 21:8].

2 Timothy 4:4

They will refuse to listen to the truth and will turn their attention to myths.

Revelation 20:10

And the devil that [had] deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire, [burning] with sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet also are. [See 19:20]. And [there] these [enemies of God] will be tortured day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 3:6

The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches.

Revelation 2:29

The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches.”

1 Peter 1:20

For Christ was previously known [by God, even] before the world was created, yet was not fully revealed for your benefit until [these] final times.

Revelation 18:2

And he called out with a loud voice, saying, “Fallen! The great Babylon has fallen, and has become a place where demons live, and a haunt for every evil spirit and every filthy and obnoxious bird {Some ancient manuscripts add the following phrase}“and every filthy and obnoxious animal”.

Colossians 2:18

Do not allow anyone, who delights in acting humble [i.e., living an ascetic life] and who worships angels, to rob you of your reward [in heaven]. [Note: This “angel worship” could mean holding angels in high regard because of their role as God’s messengers, or the claim that God can be approached only through angelic intermediaries]. He places great importance on what he [claims to] see [i.e., visions], being inflated with pride by his fleshly mind for no [good] reason.

1 Corinthians 10:20

[Certainly not!] But I am saying that the Gentile sacrifices are [really] offered to evil spirits and not to God. And I do not want you to have fellowship with evil spirits.

Revelation 20:8

and he will [again] go out to deceive the nations which are [located] throughout the whole world --- Gog and Magog. [Note: Based on Eze. 35-40, it appears that these names are used here figuratively for all the forces of wickedness which are enemies of God]. Satan will assemble them together for battle and they will be as numberless as the sand on the seashore.

Revelation 19:20

But the beast was captured, along with the false prophet [See 16:13], who performed [supernatural] signs in his presence. [He had performed these signs] to deceive those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his statue. [See 13:15-16]. The beast and the false prophet were both thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

Revelation 18:23

And the light of a lamp will never shine in you again. And the voices of the groom and bride will never be heard in you again. For your [retail] merchants were the great men of the earth, and all the nations were deceived by your sorceries.

Revelation 13:14

[And] by being given [power] to perform these signs in the sight of the [first] beast, he deceives the people on earth. He told them to make a statue to [honor] the [first] beast, which had been wounded by a sword and yet lived [through it].

Revelation 9:20

And the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, [still] did not repent of what they had made with their hands [i.e., their idolatry]. They did not stop worshiping demons, and gold, silver, brass, stone and wooden idols, which can neither see, nor hear nor walk.

Revelation 3:22

The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches.”

Revelation 3:13

The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches.

Revelation 2:17

“The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. To the person who has victory [in the Christian life] I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will [also] give him a white stone with a new name written on it, which no one understands, except the one who receives it.

Revelation 2:7

“The person who has an ear should listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. To the person who has victory [in the Christian life] I will give [the opportunity] to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.” [Note: “Paradise” is equivalent to heaven. See II Cor. 12:4].

1 Corinthians 12:11

Now all of these [supernatural gifts] are the work of one and the same Holy Spirit, who distributes them to each person individually as He desires.

Acts 28:25

And when they could not agree among themselves they left, after hearing Paul make this one [important] statement: “The Holy Spirit has spoken truthfully to your forefathers through Isaiah the prophet,

Acts 17:18

Also certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers approached him for discussion. Some asked, “What will this know-it-all have to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating [a belief in] some different gods.” [They said this] because he was proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection [of the dead].

Acts 13:2

As these men were ministering to the Lord [i.e., this probably means worshiping] and fasting, the Holy Spirit said [to one of them by way of inspiration]: “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me, [commissioning them] to do the work for which I have called them.”

Revelation 16:14

For they are spirits of demons, which perform [supernatural] signs. These spirits go out to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for battle on the great day of Almighty God.

Matthew 18:7

“It will be too bad for the world because of occasions that cause people to fall away [from God]! For it is inevitable that such occasions come, but it is too bad for that person who is responsible for causing it to happen.

Luke 17:1

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that occasions which cause people to be led astray [from God] will come, but it is too bad for that person who is responsible for it happening.

Acts 20:23

except that the Holy Spirit reveals to me in every city [I visit] that chains and persecutions await me there.

Acts 21:11

When he met with us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet [with it], and said, “The Holy Spirit has revealed [to me] that the man who owns this belt will be tied up like this by the Jews in Jerusalem and will be turned over to the Gentiles.”

1 Corinthians 2:10

But God has revealed [to us] these things [i.e., His divine wisdom. See verses 7-8] through the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 11:19

For it is to be expected [i.e., it is inevitable] that there would be dissensions among you, so that those who are approved [by God] can become known among you.

James 3:15

This “wisdom” is not the kind that comes from [God] above, but is earthly, unspiritual and demonic [i.e., it is motivated by an evil spirit and not the Holy Spirit].