In this teaching, James Jacob examines where the church first went wrong by abandoning apostolic authority in favor of patristic (church-father), papal, or institutional authority, warning that this shift opened the door to enduring deception. Drawing on Acts 20:28–30, 2 Peter 2:1–3, 2 Corinthians 11:1–5, Revelation 2:2, Numbers 16, 2 Timothy 1:19–20; 2:17; 4:14, and 3 John 9–10, he shows a consistent biblical pattern: false teachers arise after God-appointed leaders, mix truth with error, promote “another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel,” and draw disciples after themselves. He applies this framework to modern movements—especially Roman Catholicism and other traditions that appeal to church fathers to override Scripture—arguing that knowing the apostles or being historically connected to them does not confer doctrinal authority or spiritual legitimacy. The message concludes that Scripture alone, as the preserved apostolic witness to Christ, is the church’s final authority, and that deviation from it—however ancient, respected, or popular—leads inevitably to doctrinal corruption and division. 

This teaching was originally taught on RTN TV's "Word for the Weekend" on June 21, 2025 and can be found on RTN and Moriel's YouTube and ministry channels. Word for the Weekend streams live every Saturday. See RTNTV.org for more information