A stalking horse ∙

A stalking horse ∙

Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. – 2 John 1:7

Matthew 7:15-20

15 Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?
17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.
19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.
20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit so that you can identify people by their actions.

Matthew 24:23-25

23 Then if anyone says to you, “Behold, here is the Christ,” or “There He is,” do not believe him.
24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
25 Behold, I have told you in advance.

The Origin and Meaning of “Stalking Horse”

The term stalking horse is widely used in business and politics to describe a strategy or tactic designed to mask true intentions. Its origins trace back to hunting practices, where a hunter would use a horse as a shield to approach prey without alarming it. Over time, hunters replaced live horses with horse-like figures, which served as decoys to help them get closer to their targets unnoticed.

Over time, this concept morphed into a metaphor, representing any deliberate use of deception or camouflage to conceal real motives or plans. A stalking horse, much like a decoy, is a tool of misdirection, allowing someone to act covertly while hiding their true intentions.

Stalking Horses in Scripture

While the term “stalking horse” does not appear in the Bible, the concept is evident throughout Scripture. Many biblical figures and situations involve hidden motives and deceitful actions. False teachers and false prophets, in particular, serve as classic examples of spiritual stalking horses. They use deception to disguise their true intentions, often leading others astray for personal gain or malicious purposes.

The Role of Prophets

The term prophet is derived from the Greek word prophḗtēs. Prophḗtēs comes from two Greek words: pro, meaning “before,” and phemi, meaning “to declare” or “to speak.” A prophet is an individual who declares, foretells, or predicts. Old Testament prophets were guided by the Spirit of God and acted as God’s spokesmen, communicating His revelations. Prophets were the conduits of God’s words, faithfully declaring His will to the people.

False Prophets: The Ultimate Stalking Horses

A false prophet is the epitome of a stalking horse. The Greek term for false prophet, pseudoprophḗtēs, combines pseudḗs, meaning “false,” and prophḗtēs, meaning “prophet.” This term refers to individuals who deceitfully pose as prophets of God. They are impostors, intentionally misrepresenting themselves as messengers of the Lord, but they are not.

False prophets are not merely mistaken; they are deliberate deceivers. They spread false doctrines in God’s name, leading people away from the truth. Scripture warns against them repeatedly:

• “And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray” (Matthew 24:11).
• “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24).
• “Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets” (Luke 6:26).
• “They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them” (2 Peter 2:1).

REFLECT & PRAY

Our battle is not against physical foes but against spiritual forces. The weapons we wield in this fight are not material but spiritual— including prayer, the Word of God, unwavering faith, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit’s strength, the children of the King dismantle strongholds of false beliefs and destructive behaviors.

Father, we thank You for revealing the enemy’s deceptive schemes. Please help us to deeply embed Your Word in our hearts and stay vigilant. Teach us to stand firm, resist temptation, and walk in truth without falling prey to deception.

INSIGHT

The Enemy’s Strategy: Deception Through Disguise

Our adversary, the enemy of our souls, employs a cunning strategy to conceal his true intentions. Like a stalking horse, he uses distractions and disguises to misdirect and obscure his malicious objectives. His tactics are rooted in deception, designed to lead people astray and away from the truth.

As Jesus warned in Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.”

False prophets, though appearing as messengers of God, are aligned with the enemy of our souls, Satan, the ultimate deceiver. They serve his purposes, spreading lies and leading others into spiritual ruin.

Satan: The Master of Deception

The apostle Paul spoke extensively about Satan’s strategies in his letters to the Corinthians. He highlighted the various ways the devil attacks believers:

• Weighing down the conscience of believers who have sinned (2 Corinthians 2:10–11).
• Blinding unbelievers to the truth of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4).
• Deceiving the minds of believers (2 Corinthians 11:3).
• Inflicting harm on the bodies of believers (2 Corinthians 12:7).

The Lord Jesus Christ also described Satan’s character in John 8:44, “The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Satan is not only a liar but the very source of lies. His nature is rooted in deception and destruction, and he uses these traits to manipulate and destroy.

False Prophets: Servants of Deception

Paul further warned in 2 Corinthians 11:13–15, “These people are false apostles.. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end, they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.”

Satan is a master of disguise, masquerading as an angel of light to deceive.. He deploys false prophets and counterfeit apostles who mimic devotion to God but are, in reality, his servants. These individuals engage in pretense, presenting themselves as righteous while spreading lies and false doctrines.

For those grounded in Scripture, Satan’s lies are not readily accepted. However, he is relentless, probing for weaknesses and cleverly baiting his deceptions to make them more appealing.

Blinding Minds and Performing Wonders

Satan’s influence extends to blinding the minds of unbelievers, as Paul noted in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.”

He obscures the truth from people’s minds, leading people to embrace his lies as though they were truth. False prophets, empowered by Satan, even perform great signs and wonders to deceive. As Jesus warned in Matthew 24:24, “For false Christs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

These miraculous displays are designed to mislead, even targeting those who are strong in their faith.

Our Strategy: Standing Firm in Truth

How do we combat such a cunning and relentless adversary? Scripture provides a clear strategy:

Submit to God and resist the devil: James 4:7 says, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

How do we resist? Follow the example of Jesus. How did the Lord Jesus Christ resist the temptations of the devil? When tempted by Satan, He resisted by quoting the Scriptures. He countered every lie and deception with the truth of God’s Word.

For example, in Matthew 4:4, Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

By immersing ourselves in the Scriptures, humbling ourselves before God, and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, we can stand firm against the enemy’s schemes. The truth of God’s Word is our greatest weapon, enabling us to discern lies, resist temptation, and walk in victory.

Let us remain vigilant, grounded in truth, and unwavering in our faith, knowing that the enemy’s deceptions cannot prevail against the power of God.

Be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8).

¯_(ツ)_/¯ 11-11-3

© Dr. H 2025