About the Great Temptation of the End Times (Saint John James, The Romanian)

As it is found in the Patericon, the Holy Fathers prophesied about the end days. One of them asked: What do we work for salvation? And, another one, great Abba Isihiron, answered: We work God's commandments. Then, he asked again: And, those after us? And, he answered: They will do half of what we do. Then asked: And, those after them? He answered: Those people will not be able to do anything; but, they will be tempted, and those who resist will be greater than our fathers.

What kind of fearsome temptation will that be? Since, they will not work anything, yet, they will be proven greater than the most godly desert hermits?

Well, that end days temptation has already arrived, as we are getting closer to the time of the Antichrist, if only the elect will even be deceived.

It is not the temptation coming from God's enemies, atheists, worldly people or the decadent because those cannot easily harm Christians. The real danger comes from deceitful brothers, as they are hidden enemies, and that much more dangerous since they believe themselves to be true brothers. They also preach Orthodoxy, but somehow changed and adapted to the pleasures of this world and the ruler of this world. Their sermon is like much needed food that is starting to go bad, and instead of feeding those who eat it, it poisons them. They are a disturbance to Christians. They are the great temptation for the people of the end days. It is them that The Lord prophesied that will come at the end of the age. "For many will come in My name, ..., and will deceive many." (Matthew 24,5)

Deceitful brothers also speak about Holy and All-Sweet Orthodoxy, about love of purity, of good deeds, about humility and virtue, and they help Christian communities. It is so hard for the simple and clean orthodox to realize who stands before them. It is so easy to be attracted by their "philosophical" ideas and believe in what they say. If someone digs deep into the souls of those people, they will not find the burning love for God, but the worshiping of an idol called "man".

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Many times, evil deceives by taking the shape of a good deed. As Abba Dorotheos also said: "No evil, nor heresy is able to deceive, unless it takes the shape of a good deed." And, Apostle Paul also says that the devil can appear as an Angel of light. Tares is what St. Basil the Great calls the heretics who spoil The Lord's teachings and mix themselves with the healthy body of The Church, and, by passing unnoticed are able to cause harm.

-From The Venerable John James/Jacob, The Romanian, of Hozeva Monastery/The Chozebite, (1913-1960+); Feast day: August 5th.

-Selection and translation by Ioan (John) Calineac.