False Leaders (long article, but worth the read)
ACTS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF FALSE LEADERS
This is a minimal list. Evil people are constantly devising new evil schemes.
DECEIT AND DECEPTION
A false leader's primary concern is to lead you away from the Lord Jesus and the Word of God to himself/herself or to his/her organization. Jesus warns His followers not to be deceived by such people. There's no need for demons to possess these men because they willingly serve Satan. I believe it is possible for a Christian to be deceived into apostasy; though like the slowly boiled frog, it might be a gradual process of denying truths in order to believe lies. (See also Mark 13:5-6; Luke 21:8; 2 Tim. 3:13)
Matthew 24:4-5 "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."
Matthew 24:10-11 "And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many."
Offended is skandalizo in Greek; meaning to entrap, trip up, or entice.
False prophets is pseudoprophetes in Greek; meaning pretending foretellers or religious impostors.
Deceive is planao in Greek; meaning go astray, wander, seduce, mislead or to cause to roam from truth.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 "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. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
Be transformed is metaschematizo in Greek, meaning 'scheme against', to transfigure or disguise.
Some false leaders seduce others by promising success and wealth and health and power. Others mislead people, promising to lead them to Jesus but always arriving at themselves or some doctrine or cause instead. They disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness, but their works are unrighteous.