There are numerous reports where people are claiming to have had visions and prophetic words...or heavenly encounters with Jesus where He commands that believers today must 'tithe'   ....or even that they will go to hell for not tithing.

"What do you say about that?"  ....some people ask

First I would counter..."We should instead be asking 'What does the Word of God say about that type of vision...and those people?'"

Gal 1:6-9

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.  NKJV

 

Those who says that we must tithe in order to be saved ARE perverting the Gospel of the GRACE of God where man is saved by FAITH alone...and not by works of the Law. A simple reading of Romans 4 and Ephesians 2:8-10 should silence this deception.

The gospel as preached by the apostles did NOT include any requirement for tithing...and Paul said he preached the WHOLE counsel of God

Paul also states that he taught ALL that people needed to know and to present the word of God in ALL its fullness...and did not teach tithing! (Acts 20:20 & Col 1:25 & 28)

The apostles and the whole church and the HOLY SPIRIT...the SPIRIT OF TRUTH ...did NOT say in their first church council that 'tithing' as required by the LAW was one of only four things REQUIRED for the gentiles church to practice or avoid. (read Acts 15)

 

The vast majority of those who 'tithe' do so because they fear that they may be 'robbing God'' if they do not 'tithe' ....and are thereby DEMONSTRATING that they do NOT HAVE FAITH in God alone for their salvation...but actually believe that they must also ADD their own works to the cross in order to be saved ...Brethren this is SICK.

Faith says I will go to heaven because of what JESUS did for me!

Faith says that my sins are forgiven....even the 'sin' of not tithing....because of Jesus shed blood

Faith says I cannot go to hell because of what I fail to do...other than failing to put my faith in JESUS!

Faith says God will bless me because of what Jesus has done ....and not because I earned it!

 

The greatest demonstration that we LACK saving faith is when we are motivated by FEAR...rather than LOVE.

 

Jesus did NOT command people to tithe money from their income to churches...he merely confirmed that under the LAW tithing of PRODUCE of Israel was required to be given BY ISRAELITES.....to LEVITES ONLY.....in accordance with the Law of Moses. Jesus did not say Gentiles believers should tithe....and neither did the apostles add this as a requirement.(This would have been to COMPLETELY CHANGE THE LAW which Jesus did not come to do!)

Matt 23:23-24

23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.  24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!   NKJV

The YOU here is categorically referring to SCRIBES AND PHARISEES...those UNDER the Law!

 

The writer of the book of Hebrews confirms the same

Heb 7:5
5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren... NKJV 

 

SO ... "Who and what are you going to believe?" 

 

The written WORD of God....as confirmed by the Holy Spirit and the all the apostles.

or

A vision purportedly given to someone who has no credible or comparable credentials and usually has a vested interest as they are related to the ones who claim to now be 'the authorized receivers' of these deceitfully obtained funds'  ?

 

2 Cor 11:13-15
3 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light . 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.   NKJV
 

Titus 1:10-12

For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.   NKJV

      

2    Peter 2:1-3 

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.    NKJV

 

Destructive heresies are those which ADD requirements for salvation other than what Jesus and the apostles taught as clear commands in the New Testament scriptures...ie FAITH and NOT works

 

2 Cor 1:13
13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand.   NKJV

Obscure interpretations frequently seek to add requirements which the apostles did not teach...and often as a way to be 'blessed' (ie the Blessed Life) 

 

If a 'vision' contradicts the WORD of GOD ...which is TRUTH  ....and contradicts the SPIRIT of GOD ...who is TRUTH  ....and contradicts or adds to the Apostles clear teaching   ....

 

Brethren, it is a LIE from the pit of HELL