"We see all through Biblical history that one of the key elements in weaning a loyal people away from their loyalties to the true God is by infiltration. Sun worship first infiltrated Israel, it became mixed with their true worship, until finally they were carried away into midst of Babylon itself.
Look at the story of Balaam:
The devil knows that as long as God's people are in harmony with God he cannot touch them.
So just like in the days of Israel, when they stood on the banks of the Jordan when
Balaam came to try and curse them, he could but bless them, for he was powerless to do evil unto them while they were in God's protection. Balaam knew why he couldn't curse them:
Numbers 23.21 "God has not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither has he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD God is with them... there is no enchantment that will work against them."
However, a plan was then devised. If the Israelites could be induced to rebel against God's laws, they would lose God's protection and would be destroyed. Crafty false prophet Balaam who once was a true prophet initiated the plan.(Numbers 31:16) Sending heathen women to infiltrate the camp. Friendly, non threatening, they infiltrated, bringing with them their sensual arts and luring them away into idolatry. Numbers 25:2,3 "They called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel." Thousands died, and had not Israel repented they would not have entered Canaan at all. The craft of the false prophet -- is to get people to disregard God's laws! The craft of the false teachers is to get people to believe that God's law is no longer important so that they cannot discern sin. Then they will be easy to catch in the net of disobedience and bond with the chains of sin as they push aside the voice of the Holy Spirit calling them to repentance. For they think they need no repentance. Thus they are lead into the pit of rejecting the Holy spirit -- a bit from which there is no escape. The craft of the false teachers is to go out to deceive the whole world and gather them together to fight against God's government. They can't reach God so they fight against those who walk in harmony with God's laws. Ridiculing and belittling, mocking and intimidating. . For Revelation already tells us that all who will not bow to the false religion will be slated for death. These are the false teachers and the false prophets. Note well where disregard to God's commandments leads. It leads to the worship of other gods. Revelation 13:3,4 I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" ABT
Look at the story of Balaam:
The devil knows that as long as God's people are in harmony with God he cannot touch them.
So just like in the days of Israel, when they stood on the banks of the Jordan when
Numbers 23.21 "God has not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither has he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD God is with them... there is no enchantment that will work against them."
However, a plan was then devised. If the Israelites could be induced to rebel against God's laws, they would lose God's protection and would be destroyed. Crafty false prophet Balaam who once was a true prophet initiated the plan.(Numbers 31:16) Sending heathen women to infiltrate the camp. Friendly, non threatening, they infiltrated, bringing with them their sensual arts and luring them away into idolatry. Numbers 25:2,3 "They called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel." Thousands died, and had not Israel repented they would not have entered Canaan at all. The craft of the false prophet -- is to get people to disregard God's laws! The craft of the false teachers is to get people to believe that God's law is no longer important so that they cannot discern sin. Then they will be easy to catch in the net of disobedience and bond with the chains of sin as they push aside the voice of the Holy Spirit calling them to repentance. For they think they need no repentance. Thus they are lead into the pit of rejecting the Holy spirit -- a bit from which there is no escape. The craft of the false teachers is to go out to deceive the whole world and gather them together to fight against God's government. They can't reach God so they fight against those who walk in harmony with God's laws. Ridiculing and belittling, mocking and intimidating. . For Revelation already tells us that all who will not bow to the false religion will be slated for death. These are the false teachers and the false prophets. Note well where disregard to God's commandments leads. It leads to the worship of other gods. Revelation 13:3,4 I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" ABT