FIVE PROPHETIC WARNINGS & EVENTS FOR THE END TIME CHURCH
I. The Falling Away from the Faith and Church (Apostasy)
Scripture :
1. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 (New American Standard Bible)
2 Thessalonians 2
Man of Lawlessness
1 Now we request you, (A)brethren, with regard to the [a](B)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our (C)gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your [b]composure or be disturbed either by a (D)spirit or a [c](E)message or a (F)letter as if from us, to the effect that (G)the day of the Lord (H)has come. 3(I)Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the [d](J)apostasy comes first, and the (K)man of lawlessness is revealed, the (L)son of destruction,
Note: Greek texts indicate that the correct translation for falling away is the word ?NOOTAO?A which means “apostasia”. From that word we get the word “Apostasy”. However there are 3 Greek words that define Apostasy and their meanings are “a falling away, defection and apostasy”. However, the actual word “apostasy” is never really mentioned and the more accurate true phrase here is that “ it will not come until the departure comes first." Several words are used and then interpreted to mean "apostasy" in this context. While all comparative scriptures seem to indicate that this is the great falling away or “departure” from the faith that the Apostle Paul is talking about, there are nevertheless two views. One is that this is talking about the great departure of believers from the faith. The other is that it is talking about the departure of the saints from the earth in the rapture. While I believe personally that this scripture is not referring to the rapture of the church, but instead, the departure of many from the Christian faith that will lead to the revealing of the anti-christ, there is a third position that pre-tribulationalists (those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture may consider). This position is that the departure means both of the first two positions. In other words, for there to be the great falling away from the Christian faith (the apostasy), the Christian church must be caught up (raptured) first.
With the Holy Spirit and/or church as the restraining force removed, as some pre-tribulationists believe, the anti-christ then has free movement to come upon the scene as world ruler and those left behind who had heard the Word of God but may not have embraced it at the time, would be given over to themselves and an almost total rejection of Christian faith on the earth (a true apostasy) might then take place.
The above position, however, presents a problem for those who teach eternal security; i.e. once you are saved you are always saved and no matter what, you can never lose your salvation. The one problem with this line of eternal security thinking in comparison to the above scripture is how can you depart something unless you were actually once “legitimately” a part of it to begin with? So the point is, this scripture seems to bare out that you can, in fact, walk away from your salvation voluntarily by “departing the faith" you were once a part of. I personally do not believe you can “lose” your salvation per se because God is faithful in that He will not just “take it away from you”. However, I do believe a person can walk away from his own salvation by making a conscious decision that he or she has “changed their mind” and no longer want anything to do with God. You have to keep in mind what it is that occurs when a person goes to the God and asks Jesus into their heart as both Lord and Savior. They are essentially repenting of the old way of life, renouncing it and saying they want to follow Jesus as both their Lord and their Savior. Would not God allow such a person, if he or she really wanted to do so, to change their mind?
People can even fall under so much deception, if they open their heart to it, that they exchange God for a lie and embrace another religion. I have personally seen men and women whom I know were legitimately saved make that decision. One minister I knew did so for the love of a woman. He renounced Christianity to join the Mormon Church so he could marry this woman. Some will say, "He must never have been saved to begin with." However, I personally knew the man and believe he once had a true walk with the Lord. What happened though was that the spirit of this age, lust perhaps and other things clouded his view and judgment. By being unequally yoked to an unbeliever, he opened the door to his own demise. The end result was that he had to make a choice. He chose a woman and Mormonism over the Lord and the truth. Will God bring him back? I pray that He will. But the reality is that there are people who make similar decisions for various reasons everyday and to be truthful, some never come back. God gives us free will and if we do not want to be saved any longer through Jesus Christ, who is the only means to true salvation, and decide we do not want God in our life, or we willfully exchange the truth of God for a lie, why would He force us against our own will? He respects our decision to accept His provision on the cross for us and He also accepts our decision to reject it at any point in time. We are given free will to decide to come to the alter and accept the Lord as Savior and likewise, I believe people unfortunately can and do exercise their free will to change their mind and walk away from God. The Bible is full of examples of men who have done just that.
It would seem to appear, based on all historic church manuscripts and writings as interpreted from Greek that most likely the event we are talking about here is not a departure (rapture) of the saints from the earth at this time but rather a departure of professed Christians from the true faith.
Note that with regard to the "removal of the restraining force" spoken of above, some pre-tribulationalists believe this pertains to the church and substaniates a pre-tribulation rapture. This may be true. I am not going to take a position regarding pre-trib. mid-trib and post-trib rapture of the church in this article. However, while it is possible that the church could be remnoved from the earth prior to the tribulation, I personally do not believe this scripture means the "Holy Spirit" is the restraining force that will be "removed from the earth", as I have heard some suggest. We know this will not be the case because many...in fact, multitudes of people will still come to faith in Jesus Christ during the tribulation period and there will be need of the Holy Spirit for that to happen. I do believe that when the scripture talks about the restraining force being "removed", this can imply that it is "taken out of the way" or "allowed to give way" for the anti-christ to step in and take power....rather than being taken completely away from the earth. As to the restraining force being the church, as some believe, I am not yet convinced that is the case. I do not dispute it but after studying all positions on the matter, just am not positive about it. Please note that I am not taking any personal view in this writing about my position on pre-trib., mid and post tribulation rapture issues. I am only attempting to break down what the various doctrinal positions are on the above particular scripture dealing with the "apostasy", known also as the departure, falling away, defection, and without going into great detail, explaining why certain views about this scripture are held.
Note that in doing a basic search on the Internet about the views of others in the above matter of apostasy as it pertains to 2 Thesalonians 2: 1-3 i found references where men such as Dr. J. Vernon McGee believe this refers to the departure of the saints. The founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, "Chuck Smith" in one writing or audio segment (I cannot remember which it was) stated he believes this scripture refers to departure of saints from the faith. However, only days after researching his position in the matter, I personally heard him say, in response to a direct question about this scripture in a radio interview that it could. in fact, be a departure of the saints from the earth and thus support the position of a pre-tribulation rapture. Resurgent Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, as referenced in his Expositor's Bible, believes it is the departure of the saints from the earth in the pre-tribulation rapture. He provides a good basis for this position and many seem to embrace it; not the least surprisingly those who hold a strong view on a pre-tribulation rapture. However, from all of my own personal research, it appears that the predominant and most common position between ministers, and particularly among most Bible scholars and Greek translators on the issue of this “apostasy”matter referred to in 2nd Thessalonians is that it refers to a "falling away"…"a departure" from the faith. Many holding to that view also still believe in a pre-tribulation rapture but just do not believe this scripture is referring to it.
Another scripture that deals with the apostasy issue is much less contrversial and by accounts of all of the above sources, seem to be im agreement that this is, in fact, referring to a great departure from the true Christian faith, as follows:
2. 1 Timothy 4:1-3 (New American Standard Bible)
1 Timothy 4:1-3
Apostasy
1 But (A)the Spirit explicitly says that (B)in later times some will [a]fall away from the faith, paying attention to (C)deceitful spirits and (D)doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars (E)seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3men who (F)forbid marriage and advocate (G)abstaining from foods which (H)God has created to be (I)gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.
*The scripture we just read tells us some will depart the faith giving heed to doctrines of demons and seducing spirits
- It also says, as follows, that false ministers will turn the Word of God and the subject of “grace” as an encouragement to sin, saying, “Its okay, you are under grace."
-
Jude 1:4
For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:3-5 (in Context) Jude 1 (Whole Chapter)
- People will seek to have their ears tickled by preachers telling them what they want to hear instead of speaking the truth. Today there are two types of truth. There is subjective truth and objective truth. Websters Dictionary defines "subjective" as meaning "of our resulting from the feelings of the person thinking; personal." The term "objective" gives us a little clearer of a picture and is defined as "existing as an object or fact (note the word "fact" here) and also is defined as independent of the mind; real; concerned with the reality of the thing dealt with rather than the thoughts of the artist, writer, etc." So we see that subjective truth is as matter of ones own opinion while objective truth is a matter of fact. An example of subjective truth might be, for instance, if one were to say, "If I say the sky is green, it is green"...even though is reality it may be blue. Interestingly enough, this is exactly how most people think and live their lives today. "It is what they want it to be". They see truth only as they want to see it, whether it is actually fact or not. From there, we obtain many erroneous suppositions, such as the saying that "all roads lead to heaven" when that is really not the fact or truth at all. However, to those who speak it, this is "their truth" and therefore it is "subjective truth". Then there is objective truth, where, for instance, a fact is a fact. An example would be saying something such as, "This lake is full of water". We then drive to the lake and the facts support that the lake is, in fact, full of water. However, even if we did not drive by the lake and see the water, it would not change the fact that the lake was still full of water. Whether you care to see it, acknowledge it ot not, the fact is still the fact and the truth is still the truth. God's Truth therefore is an objective truth because it is fact, whether one cares to believe it, can see it or not. But in the world we live in today, things are not much different from the past and people as a whole still have difficulty in knowing and defining what "truth" really is. We see this in the book of Luke, Chapter 18: 33-37. Jesus is on trial for His life and sent before Pontius Pilate. One of the few times Jesus is recorded to have spoken throughout this ordeal was over the matter and subject of "truth". He stated that He had come into the world to bear witness to the truth and that everyone who is of the truth hears His voice. However, Pilate's response was one still very common today to a dying and unbeliving world when he sarcastically replied, "What is truth?" In Pilate's mind "truth" was subjective and therefore could be whatever you wanted it to be and was no more than a matter of one's own opinion. He had no understanding of real truth.
- As Christians with a true revelation of Jesus Christ, we in turn know what "truth" really is as it pertains to the existance of God, who He is, how we are to live life in this earth and our eternal destiny. The scriptures tell us that in John 14:6 that Jesus is the Truth, the Way and the Life...and that no one comes to the Father but through Him. Yet today many refuse the Truth of Christ and the truth of God's Word. The sad result of this will even creep into God's church in this end time we are living it and it will become progressively worse, resulting in apostasy or "the falling away" and "departure" of many from the faith. Many people will turn away from sound doctrine. (2 TIM. 4:2-4)
- We see this now with the growth of “seeker friendly” churches. Note the term here..."Seeker friendly". Exactly what are some “seeking”? Are they seeking objective truth, which we already established is actually supported by fact or are they seeking subjective truth which is essentially a matter of their personal opinion and not necessarily truth at all? Unfortunately, the above scripture says many will be “seeking” to find ministers that will want them to preach what they believe and makes them feel comfortable (subjective truth) rather than preach the entire and uncompromising truth of the Bible (objective truth).
2 Timothy 4:2-4 (New American Standard Bible)
2 preach (A)the word; be ready in season and out of season; (B)reprove, rebuke, exhort, with [a]great (C)patience and instruction. 3 For (D)the time will come when they will not endure (E)sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and (F)will turn away their ears from the truth and (G)will turn aside to myths.
- We are living in a day and age of false doctrine entering the church. Many churches, in some form or another are teaching false doctrine already. Churches are selling out to false prophets, false doctrines, and materialism and have become financially oriented instead of Christ-oriented.
- Homosexual ministers are openly welcomed and embraced by major denominations today that were once respected and considered mainline Christian denominations.
- New age philosophy (globalism and Chrislam, to name a few) (explain Chrislam) is being openly endorsed by major denominations. One well-known pastor (I will not name) is a known student of Robert Schuler, who like Norman Vincent Peal embraces humanism and universalism in his writings. And while all of their books have just enough scripture in them to keep the less perceptive off balance, the doctrine being taught by these men is unmistakably self-centered and not at all Christ oriented.
- Increasingly many of these ministers and their contemporaries that I am referring to, while associating with those who attempt to preach a pure Word from God in mainstream Christianity, also embrace the philosophy and teachings Brian McClarin and others of the new Emergent Church movement and seek to bring the doctrinal ideas of the Emergent Church into mainstream Christianity.
II. THE PERVERSION & CORRUPTION OF THE GOSPEL
Scripture: Galatians 1:6-7 (King James Version)
6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
- Gal 1: 6-7 – This is the Apostle Paul’s warning of the perversion and/or corruption of the Gospel. It is not so much that Satan desires to bring a “new Gospel” as much as to instead corrupt and pervert the one God has given us. This is because of his clear hatred for God and for all Christians.
- Holding to a “form of godliness but denying the power thereof” (2 Tim. 3:5 )
2 Timothy 3:5
holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
- In the Bible (in this same scripture we just read) we are warned to avoid such men as these. (Those who teach false doctrine) The Bible also tells us to mark those who cause division amongst us (Rom. 16:17).
Romans 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
- I believe Romans 16:17 is not referring as much to the brother or sister in the church that creates problems, although I am sure to some extent it applies, but in a broader sense it is a warning to the church itself…to the Body of Christ to be vigilant and openly mark those who are teachers of false doctrine and who come in to pervert and distort the truth of the Gospel.
III. The Lamp Stand (Church) Is Removed
1). Revelation 1:20 (New American Standard Bible)
20 As for the (A)mystery of the (B)seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the (C)seven golden lampstands: the (D)seven stars are the angels of (E)the seven churches, and the seven (F)lampstands are the seven churches.
The seven lampstands in this scripture refer to seven churches that exemplify the types of churches that will exist throughout the entire church age. The lampstand referred to is the church. Lampstands give light, as the church in the past and today is also to give light.
2). Revelation 2:5 (New American Standard Bible)
5 Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and (A)repent and (B)do the [a]deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your (C)lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.
- Jesus warns that lampstands (churches) made to give light can and will be removed (not by the rapture) but by judgment if they refuse to walk correctly according to the cross of Christ. While the building, the steeple, a choir, preacher and congregation may all exist in that building and appear entact, the Holy Spirit will depart, if it was ever even there in the first place. I am sad to say that this is already the case today. At a time where we still have more religious freedom to practice our Christian faith than any other nation in the world...at a time when you can almost find a church on every street corner, most a devoid of the Spirit of God and are either on the verge of entering into error or they have already done so.
IV. The Famine Begins
Amos 8:11
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
- This has already begun. And with churches everywhere and seemingly on every street corner in some cities, there is an increasing famine in the land for the pure and true Word of the Lord. People are hungering and starving for Truth and are sick and tired of dead religion that masquerades itself as Christianity. They are tired of walking into so-called "Christian churches" with needs, looking for purpose only to walk out more depressed and empty than when they first walked in. Am I saying that all churches have forsaken the truth? No. There are many out there who still hold fast the profession of the faith and adhere to the word of God, but the percentage of those who do is becoming increasing less than those who have already begun abandonment of the true faith.
V. The True Church and False Church Revealed & Separated
- Jesus uses the parables of the wheat and tares to demonstrate the great separation that will take place between the true and false. This is not just in general reference to separation between good and evil but more specifically to truths and counterfeits, true brethren and false brethren, the true church and false church. (Mat. 13:24-30).
Matthew 13:24-30 (New American Standard Bible)
Tares among Wheat
24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “(A)The kingdom of heaven [a]may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed [b]tares among the wheat, and went away. 26 But when the [c]wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. 27 The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? [d]How then does it have tares?’ 28 And he said to them, ‘An [e]enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he *said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but (B)gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
Many have associated this with the comparison of the believer and unbeliever but this is not correct. Why? Because there really is no similarity between the “obvious” believer and unbeliever. Their lives are totally different in every way. They think different, act different and live different from one another. The more I think about it, the more I realize this is the comparison between the religious and the Christian….between the true church and false church, because from outward appearances, the counterfeit and true churches as well as the religious and Christian almost look alike, until progression or maturity take place.
Think about it. Wheat and tares when first starting out look so much the same you can barely tell them apart at all until they mature….until things on both sides progress. But as the truth becomes apparent (the wheat and tares grow), God separates them and while the wheat is gathered and harvested, the tares are finally gathered, separated and thrown into the fire. The fires of hell await those who “play, toy with, pervert, distort, corrupt and also use the Gospel of Jesus Christ for sordid personal gain….and who lead others to do likewise.”
- What will you be? Wheat or a tare?
- The Bible indicates to us that in the last days it will be evident…the one who serves the Lord from the one who does not. (1 Cor. 11:19)
1 Corinthians 11:19
For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.
A line is being drawn in the sand right now in this prophetic time we are living in. Decide today as a church and as Christians on which side of that line you will stand. There will be no middle ground. You will be on one side…God’s side of the line or on the other.
- The Bible teaches separation…not integration in these matters; i.e.what fellowship does light have with darkness? (2 Cor. 6:14 ) We are told to Be ye separate. (2 Cor 6:17) We must be ready to make some choices.
1). 2 Corinthians 6:14
Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?
2). 2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
Closing Comments: It is my prayer today that those who have heard this Word, whether church members or ministers themselves clearly understand the time we live in and that some hard choices may have to be made in your lives, churches and ministry. Will you end up departing the true faith in this great apostasy we have spoken of to conform to political correctness and eventual irrelevancy as a church and ministry, or will you, in the face of persecution, loss of church members, tithes, finance and other possible hard times, stand up and be counted as true to the Christian faith? The Bible tells us that we must “contend for the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints. Jesus asked the question, “When I return will I find faith (lit. means “The Faith”) in the earth? These really are the questions we are being increasingly faced with and must all answer in our actions as these end time progress.
May the Lord bless this Word to your heart.
Evangelist Mischa Safdie’
09/04/2011
Mischa Safdie' Ministries
136 N. Grand Ave., Ste. 278
W. Covina, CA 91791
(951) 796-3936
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