In Isaiah, chapter thirty, verse ten, “Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.” The people could not bear to hear prophetic words that condemned their sinful lifestyle. They were tired of hearing about God and the holy lifestyle He required. They wanted to hear encouraging, pleasant, and inoffensive messages. In the New Testament, in the last days, a similar state of mind will prevail among some within the churches.
These people will reject God’s messengers who proclaim the truth and instead choose leaders who preach what they want to hear. They will insist on pleasant and flattering messages that do not expose their sin and worldliness, but rather assure them of their security and God’s love, no matter what they do. In Second Timothy four, verses three to four, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Throughout the history of the church, some people have refused to endure sound doctrine; yet, as the end draws near, the situation will get worse.
Many will profess to be Christians, gather at churches, and appear to revere God. However, it will not tolerate the original New Testament apostolic faith with its emphasis on the manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s power and its call to holiness in an evil and perverse generation. Many within the churches will no longer tolerate sound Biblical teaching. Those who turn from the truth will want preaching that demands less than the true gospel. They will not accept God’s Word when it speaks of repentance and sin.