https://www.thepathoftruth.com/false-teachers/ellis-skolfield.htm2 Timothy 3:1
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.This is what Mr. Hafichuk said of our late brother Ellis Skolfield:
"This minister prays only for those Muslims who will turn to Christ.
That's false. He said he does not pray for those that have "committed the sin unto death", which is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. This is where his falsehood seems to have come from:
Victor:
Furthermore, back to my question on praying for them, but from a different perspective this time: If they are without hope, why pray for them? One can only wisely, spiritually pray if there IS hope. Is that not so? The question does not necessarily suggest that we would not pray for them. It is a question that deserves an answer more enlightened and spiritually substantial than simply pointing to the letter and saying, “The Bible says so.â€
Ellis' reply
So is EVERYONE in Islam there because he has rejected God’s son, or is it possible that some are in Islam because that is all they know and they would turn to Jesus if they heard the Gospel in love? I personally know the latter to be true so it is those Moslems for whom I pray. I do not pray for those who have “committed the sin unto death.â€
1John 5:16
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.Besides what would seem an inappropriate or confusing use of "will" (though the writing of Mr. Hafichuk may seem to indicate he believes in predestination (as Muhammad did)), may help it make a little more sense, though it would otherwise seem fairly oxymoronic, since Muslims who turn to Christ are no longer Muslims but rather Christians.
Is he suggesting that Skolfield prayed only for the saved, and specifically not for the lost?! Ridiculous.
For those who have rejected the Son of God, he sees no hope.
Not after they're dead. Skolfield believed that
all could come to repentance, which would obviously mean that we can pray for everyone, because all have hope - as long as they are in this world - including our enemies.
Ellis would point out that
anybody can repent and begin a life in Christ - no matter how errant their life had previously been. He would also say that he doesn't believe that salvation comes through the doctrine one keeps, but rather through the condition of a person's heart. He would likely further illustrate this point by quoting:
Romans 4:15
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.http://www.beholdthebeast.com/one_more_time.htmSo if a Muslim were truly ignorant of the gospel and had not been quickened in his heart as to his error regarding The Son of God, could he could get a pass like perhaps a remote tribesman that hadn't been brought the gospel or a mentally challenged person who did not have the mental capacity to understand, might? Perhaps, but if I were a Muslim it isn't something I personally would want to bet my eternity on!
Ellis might further suggest that if a Muslim came to understand in his heart how the Son of God is revealed through the scriptures, and then rejected Him, he would likely be skating on beyond-thin ice:
1 John 2:22 .....
He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.....
Quran Surah 19:88
They say: "(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten a son!" 89 Indeed ye have put forth a thing most monstrous!John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.http://www.falseprophetmuhammad.com/islam_is_antichrist.htmNot that he still couldn't repent and come to a life in Christ, as 6 million Muslims do every year, in Africa alone. But what do the scriptures suggest regarding someone that passes from this world as an antichrist?
Yet the prophet says that we have all turned our faces from Him. Jesus said that no man could come to Him unless the Father draws him. Therefore, there is hope for all men.....
Ellis would agree with that.
....because God can, and will, turn them, in His time: “The Lord does not delay concerning His promise, as some reckon slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance†(2 Peter 3:9 EMTV)."
"....because God can, and
will, turn them, in His time:" Your suggestion seems to indicate that
everyone is turned by God in His time, so does this suggest that "all roads lead to Heaven"? I would suggest the verse you quoted indicates more that repentance is up to the individual, while God provides the invitation for us to repent and come to Him. However it is of course too late after we are dead.
A thought from Ellis Skolfield:
"Greetings brethren,
I don’t personally write much anymore, but over the last few days, I’ve been led to write the following. Maybe it’s for my web site or for the chat room I visit. Just thought I’d pass it on . . .
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In 1701, Asano Takumi-no-Kami Naganori, Lord of Ako Prefecture, was ordered to appear at the Shogun’s palace to perform a couple of ceremonial duties. Lord Asano was a most honorable and devout Confucian who stood on precepts very similar to those in the Bible. But an edict by the Shogun in 1635 kept Christianity out of Japan so it was impossible for Lord Asano to have even heard of Jesus.
Lord Asano was to be instructed in court etiquette and protocol by the Shogun’s Chamberlain, one Kira Yoshinaka, a greedy and lecherous court official who expected to be bribed for everything he did. Lord Asano hated court corruption and refused, so Lord Kira continually browbeat Lord Asano, who kept his temper until Lord Kira insulted him publically. That was something the proud Asano could not allow so he drew his sword and attempted to kill Kira. He was prevented from doing so by nearby retainers.
This was no minor misdeed; drawing a sword in the Shogun’s palace, regardless of provocation, was an automatic death sentence by seppuku (the ritual and public slitting of one’s own stomach). Lord Asano knew he would die, be dishonored, his lands seized, his family disgraced and his samurai made homeless, but his honor allowed him to do nothing else so he accepted the judgment of the Shogun and committed seppuku.
Well, forty-seven of Lord Asano’s samurai knew this had been an unjust judgment and they really honored their liege lord so they bound together in a blood oath to avenge their master’s unjust death and restore his honor. It took them two years of planning, but in 1703 they stormed Lord Kira’s palace, took his head, stuck it on a pole, and marched it through the capital city. They then laid Kira’s head at the grave of Lord Asano and surrendered to authorities.
From the beginning, these forty-seven samurai knew they would be ordered to commit seppuku for killing the Shogun’s Chamberlain, but they did it anyway because, from their doctrinal position, this was the most honorable thing they could do. All forty-seven gave their lives for their friend’s honor.
Now let’s cut to 2013 and any church in the land. Here we find Alfonzo Schmidlop or the like. And man, does he have his doctrine down. Alfonzo believes in the seven-year tribulation, election, knows the four spiritual laws, has said the sinners prayer, goes to church every Sunday, takes communion and debates all the above ad nauseam. But Alfonzo also sleeps with his neighbor’s wife on Monday, steals from his employer, is a closet drunk, and is judgmental and unforgiving. So let me ask two questions:
1. Is Alfonzo going to heaven because he has his doctrine right?
2. Are those 47 samurai who did what was right going to hell because they didn’t have any doctrine at all?
Those samurai didn’t know anything about Jesus, but “greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friend.†And as the Lord told Samuel, “The Lord doesn’t see as man sees. Man looks on the outward appearance (i.e., the doctrine), but the Lord looks upon the heart.â€
It appears that God is not looking for people with the right doctrine, but people with the right heart. There were plenty who had the right doctrine in Jesus’ day, but He chose to be with the no-pretense types, the publicans and sinners. Point being: We can know a lot about doctrine and debate our individual positions endlessly, but to know a little about the heart of God, ah, that is something worth striving for."
