If you want to understand how the devil operates, understand this: he is a master counterfeiter. He recycles the same scams century after century, deceiving souls away from the absolute sufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ and the authority of the Bible.
Two prominent examples are Islam and Mormonism. Separated by twelve centuries, Muhammad and Joseph Smith emerged from different locations and cultures but followed an extremely similar pattern: new revelations, supernatural messengers, additional scriptures, and a different gospel.
The Bible warns us:
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 (KJV)
Fake Messengers
Islam traces its beginnings to Muhammad’s reported encounter with Gabriel in the cave of Hira. Mormonism traces its origins to Joseph Smith’s claimed First Vision and his later encounter with the angel Moroni.
The details differ, but the central question remains: Does a claimed heavenly messenger prove that a message comes from God? Absolutely not.
Paul gave us the test: “Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you… let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). An angel’s appearance does not override the gospel of Jesus Christ. If the message contradicts God’s Word, the messenger is a deceiver, not a reason to abandon the truth.
The Corrupted Bible Deception
It’s the first lie of the devil in Genesis to question God’s word, and he has continued with that same lie to lead people astray. Islamic interpretations of tahrif teach that earlier revelations were distorted or corrupted. Mormonism teaches that the Bible is the word of God “as far as it is translated correctly” and that precious truths were lost.
Both cults say that the biblical revelation Christians received is insufficient without correction from a later prophet.
But Jesus declared, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). God is not helpless, and His truth does not depend on a modern prophet rescuing Christianity from failure. It’s also the height of absurdity to believe God spoke the universe into existence but somehow isn’t powerful enough to preserve His word just as He promised.
Another Book
Muhammad proclaimed the Quran as divine revelation, associated in Islamic scripture with the preserved heavenly tablet. Smith claimed to translate golden plates delivered through an angel and later taken away.
Both movements ask believers to accept additional scripture on the authority of claimed revelation. But Christians must test every message against the gospel already delivered, not abandon it for a new religious authority.
Revelations?
Early Islamic accounts describe the controversial episode known as the “Satanic Verses,” although its authenticity is disputed. Joseph Smith’s surviving First Vision accounts also differ: his 1832 account emphasizes seeing the Lord, while his 1838 account describes two personages.
These differences deserve serious scrutiny. A claim of divine revelation does not exempt a prophet from examination. “For I am the Lord, I change not” (Malachi 3:6).
Polygamy and Prophetic Authority
Both Muhammad and Smith practiced plural marriage, appealing to religious authority to justify their marital arrangements. Smith’s plural marriages included teenage girls and women already married to other men; traditional Islamic sources also record Muhammad’s multiple marriages and “special marital permissions.” Essentially, they were both perverts that started a cult around them to excuse their highly immoral behavior. Modern muslims often excuse the pedophilia of their founder, but then claim eating pork is a sin—it’s about as twisted as it gets!
Flight, Conflict, and Power
Muhammad’s Hijra took him from Mecca to Medina, where Islam developed into a religious and political community. Smith’s movement passed through Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois amid financial controversies, violent conflicts, and persecution.
These histories are not identical, but both movements demonstrate how religious claims can become intertwined with political authority and the power of a charismatic leader.
A Different Gospel
Here is the heart of the matter: the sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
Islam emphasizes faith, obedience, righteous deeds, and their “god’s” mercy. Mormon writings declare that “it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do“ (2 Nephi 25:23). These teachings differ from the biblical doctrine that sinners are justified by grace through faith, not by their own works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Any system that makes human performance or additional religious requirements necessary to complete Christ’s saving work preaches a different gospel.
The Scriptures were delivered “once unto the saints” (Jude 1:3). Christ is our only Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), and no angel, prophet, or religious institution has the authority to replace His finished work.
The stakes are eternal. Any prophet who leads you away from the true Christ and His gospel is a deceiver. Any message that supplants the biblical gospel is a counterfeit.
Reject the counterfeits. Reject every false gospel and every wicked cult. Stand on the King James Bible, trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, and do not follow a deceiver, no matter how wild his claims might be.
