A Great Apostacy

            The greatest single indicator of the times and seasons which are upon us is the general spiritual state of that large body of people who identify themselves as Christians. In the Apostle Paul’s second epistle to the Thessalonians he addresses this truth. And this is also revealed in an examination of other Scriptures as well as an even cursory observation of the doctrinal confusion prevalent throughout what is broadly identified as the Christian church.  Let us attempt to at least in some brief manner address these issues which confront the Christian community. It is notable that in the first verse of the second shaper of this epistle Paul connects two significant events as happening concurrently.  Those two then are the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”, and “our gathering together unto him.”  Those two consequential events are coordinated for us again at I Thes. 4: 14-17 and Matthew 24:29-31. We would father note that the time of their occurrence is stated to be “immediately after the tribulation of those days.”   The vast majority of those who would identify themselves as evangelical Christians numbering somewhere between fifty and seventy million in America alone would strongly affirm that the “rapture” of all believers occurs before the period identified in Scripture as the tribulation. They have made this a necessity because the Jews are seen by them as God’s “chosen people” and the church must in their view be taken out of the world so  that God can resume his program with the Jews during the seven year tribulation period.   Evangelicals who should then, by their own self proclamation represent the bed rock of sound fundamental biblical doctrine. As we would pursue the subject of our treatise, namely a great apostasy or a falling away, we will find their view of these events to be flawed on more than one count. As an aside it is clear from Scripture that the tribulation is three and one-half years long and not seven as they assert, and as is stated numerous times.

             Looking later within the same context of the second Thessalonians passage we are further informed that those two signal events mentioned in verse one will not happen “except there come a falling away first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God…”(vs.3). This, of course, is the Antichrist. He then is said to sit in the temple of God showing himself to be God.  Now, if the Antichrist is to be revealed before the coming of the Lord, and before the event of “our gathering together unto him”; how does it work out that the Jews re-gathered in Israel will embrace Christ as their messiah concurrent with the revelation of the Antichrist and who they say is to establish a one thousand year reign in Jerusalem over them and the entire earth?   The doctrine of a pre tribulation “rapture” of the church and the introduction of a seven year period when only Jews are converted to Christ is a grave deception and just one graphic example of today’s apostasy.

            Let’s build further  on the false and unbiblical doctrines held by many Christians. The entire concept that the Jews, or any other ethnicity or natural distinction for that matter, somehow become the object of special favor with the Lord is a fallacy.  Peter said it well. “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him.” (Acts 10:34-35)  There exists within the doctrines of virtually all so called Christian denominations a complete failure to discern and understand the nature as well as the true identity of “Israel”.  “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, or uncircumscision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” (Galatians 6:15-16)  To be identified with Israel is to be identified as being in Christ Jesus and has nothing to do with any natural distinction.   The failure to understand these basic truths of Scripture subjects the uninformed and misguided to be beguiled and deceived by the subtitles inherent in the coming

“strong delusion”  spoken of later in the II epistle to the Thessalonians.

            Only sound and accurate doctrines understood and held will bring the individual believer through the testing and trials of faith which are increasingly coming upon those who dwell on the earth.   It is for this reason that I wrote and recommend the reading of both of my two recent tiles: The Israel Deception to clarify the sound doctrinal principles and covenants set forth in the Bible. And then to understand the prophetic Scriptures and end time developments taking place even now on the earth: These Prophets and the Revelation.  Both titles are available at Amazon, com., Barnes and Noble and other booksellers. Don’t be among those who have been, and continue to be deceived by unsound and false interpretations of the Bible. The Christian church is truly in a progressive and dangerous period and state of apostasy.

David Lance Dean

theseprophets@gmail.com              website: theseprophets.blogspot.com