The latter times of the dispensation of grace are marked
by Satanic doctrinal defection (I Timothy 4:1)
The last days of prophecy are marked by Divine signs and
wonders (Acts 2:16-20)
The Holy Spirit warns emphatically that some will depart
from the faith and be seduced by demonic doctrines (I Timothy 4:1)
Paul warned tearfully the Ephesian elders for three years
("night and day") that false teachers speaking perverse things would arise from out of their own ranks
after he was gone (Acts 20:28-31)
These deceitful workers are hypocrites speaking lies and
have their consciences seared as with a hot branding iron (I Timothy 4:2)
Paul's exhortation to Timothy was to hold fast the faith
in a good conscience (I Timothy 1:19)
Paul's requirement for deacons was to hold fast the mystery
of the faith in a pure conscience (I Timothy 3:9)
The demonic doctrines are identified as legal prohibitions
on marriage and the eating of meat (I Timothy 4:3)
Paul required bishops and deacons to be "the husband
of one wife" (I Timothy 3:2,12)
Paul desired that "the younger women marry"
(I Timothy 5:14)
Paul declared that "the kingdom of God is NOT meat
and drink, BUT righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17)
Under the Law there were certain animals that were ceremonially
"unclean" (Leviticus 11:46-47), which typified the "unclean" Gentiles (Acts 10:9-14)
whom God says are NOW "cleansed" (Acts 10:15-20)
God used Peter's experience with Cornelius to pave the
way for the Jerusalem church to accept Paul's Gentile ministry as distinct from their ministry to Israel:
The Jerusalem council was convened to determine whether
or not Paul's Gentile converts were to be subject to the Law of Moses (Acts 15:1-5)
Peter cited his own experience with Cornelius as testimony
that God saved the Gentiles apart from the Law through faith in His grace (Acts 15:6-10)
Peter's testimony concerning Cornelius allowed the sharing
of Paul's ministry among the Gentiles (Acts 15:11-12)
Paul's ministry among the Gentiles was acknowledged to
be consistent with "the words of the prophets" (Acts 15:13-17)
The council's conclusion was NOT to burden the Gentiles
with the Law, but to refrain from idols and the eating of blood (Acts 15:19-20,28-29)
Some Gentiles incorrectly connected the restriction on
refraining from idols to the abstaining from meats offered to idols (I Corinthians 8:1-9)
The restriction of the eating of blood also applied to
Noah and his descendants who were allowed to eat "every moving thing" (Genesis 9:1-4)
Today there is NO distinction between "clean and
unclean" for God has sanctified ALL by "the Word of God and prayer" and, therefore, ALL should be
"received with thanksgiving" (I Timothy 4:4-5) as was borne out by Peter's vision (Acts 11:2-17)