Understanding Apostasy Is The Key

I'm beginning to realize that the key to understanding prophecy as well as where we are on God's prophetic timeline is to understand what is meant by "apostasy" because we seem to have collectively ignored this word and its implications for us.

There is a prophecy in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 about a coming apostasy that is associated with the disclosure of the Antichrist:

"Let no one in any way deceive you, for it [Jesus' return] will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction."

Have you been looking for the coming of the Antichrist? Are you waiting for him to pop up on the world scene? If you are, are you also looking for the related apostasy? Most Christians are looking for the Antichrist, but are not looking for signs of apostasy. The Bible is God's Word and it tells us what is right and wrong. To the degree that anyone disagrees with the truths of God's Word, to that same degree they are falling away from it. This link provides an excellent study on this topic with several helpful lists of examples.

Maybe it's kind of like "selective hearing" because bonce we take a close look at what it actually means and realize what it says about us there's only one conclusion and that's that the apostasy is all around us - we're definitely in the end times!

Let's look at what the Holy Bible has to say about this. If you look at the Laodiciean church in Revelation 3, the Lord has NOTHING good to say about it:

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

One blogger Christian Apostasy has been sounding the alarm for quite some time now, and I thank God that there are people out there in this world like this individual who are willing to stand up and tell is like it is. The truth hurts, but we need to hear the truth in order to make sure we don't "fall away" ourselves.


This particular article has some poignant things to say. Mainly, that today's form of Christianity has interpretive dance, rap groups, bands, movie screens, a brand name preacher/guru/CEO, million dollar "sanctuaries" and various other things to its "credit," but where is its ZEAL for the true Jesus? Where is the ZEAL and passion for His Word?

Neither hot nor cold, so it will be spit out. Lots of people are "playing church" these days, meanwhile the term "Christianity" has become at best a joke, and at worst something to be avoided at all costs. At what point was Jesus not enough for people? Who decided that the church needs rapping, interpretive dance, bands, movie screens, coffee shops, book stores, self-help pop-psychology seminars, and 50 foot high colored posters written at the 3rd grade level to get through to people? When did Jesus need the business world's advice to advance His kingdom? When did marketing and "branding" pastors names and church names take precedence over the name of Jesus? Where did this stuff come from?

Faithless men, worldly men. Men who think they can do a better job of growing the church than Jesus can because Madison Avenue PR firms and Rick Warren and Joel Osteen told them how to do it. Get rid of the true Son of God and put in an idolatrous substitution and "churchianity" will sell like hotcakes!

Are you still wondering why only a few will be saved (Matthew 7:14)? That's the question people should be asking today, why will only a FEW make it through the narrow gate? Why?

Time is short, there are still a few people in this world looking for the truth. If you want to find the truth, you have to search for it like hidden treasure. You have to REALLY want it just like anything else worthwhile. Half-hearted efforts won't cut it. Playing church won't cut it. Your social circle won't cut it. Your pastor won't cut it. Do YOU know Jesus Christ, and more importantly, does He know you (Matthew 7:21) despite all your imperfections?

I believe it was Dr. David Reagan who also noted the signs of apostasy all around us when he said that apostasy is falling victim to spiritual error on things that are fundamental and foundational to a true faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It's taking His Word and twisting it to suit us instead of just taking it the way it was intended to be taken. One MAJOR example of apostasy is how Churches across the world are embracing homosexuality and allowing not only gay marriages in their churches, but also allowing openly gay church leaders to serve and lead the flock. This is such an obvious form of apostasy that it's mind-blowing that any true Christian could read God's Word and rationalize a mindset that allows for this sort of thing to be more than ok in the church no less! A true sign of the times we live in.

Yes, we're all sinners and we've been told to love the sinner, but hate the sin. That doesn't mean we go out of our way to encourage sinful behavior or to accept it as being harmless. We should be educating people on the need to turn away from their sins, and helping them learn how to do that in the form of genuine repentance as they seek the face of God and his mercy and forgiveness.

When I was drowning in my sin of being addicted to pornography I didn't hate those who reminded me it was wrong and who encouraged me to repent, I appreciated their support and understanding and thanked God that they were there to hold me accountable. Besides, the Gospel that offends no one is not the Gospel of the Bible.

It's clear we're deep into it now. Understanding apostasy is the key to all of us. Lord have mercy.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Apostasy In The Christian Church

Posted in: How Close Are We?,Prophecy Basics,Spiritual Deception,Truth From The Fringe,Why Study Prophecy?