2 Thessalonians 2:3: “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy comes first.” (NASB)
1 Timothy 4:1-2: “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.” (NASB)
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12: “With all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” (NASB)
Just a thought: The most important end-time sign of God’s coming judgment, and then the return of our Lord, can be found within the “Church” at-large. What makes this “Dark Age” different from the past, and absolutely bone-chilling to me, is the fact that this apostasy is happening in the face of the widespread knowledge of God’s Word. Whereas, in the past, God’s written Word was cut off from the general public. For the first time in human history, we are seeing the confluence – the fusion of apostasy and blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit (calling evil good, and good evil) not in ignorance, but in the face of knowledge, i.e., the only unpardonable sin. (Note: We’re seeing this same scenario take place outside the “Church” as the Gospel is now being preached throughout the world. Again, another very important end-time fulfillment.)
In reference to the apostasy, right now, the fruit that the Church at-large is manifesting is statistically identical to the world, ranging from divorce to pornography. This cannot – it must not stand. Can God’s judgment be far off? After reading God’s very clear and precise warnings, none of us can afford to be looking to our left or to our right, can we? We must start looking into our own spiritual mirror. Let’s look at this logically: Looking at the dreadful statistics of the Church at-large, it cannot always be the other person, can it?
2 Corinthians 13:5: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you – unless indeed you fail the test?” (NASB)
The following quote is taken from the Preface of my book, The Portrait of a Christian: “If there was ever a time in the entirety of mankind’s history to take the above verse of Scripture seriously – it is today. In the above portion of Scripture, the Apostle Paul was not speaking to the unbeliever, but he was directly addressing his admonishment (warning) to those who identify themselves as Christians. This is very significant as Paul seemed to be very concerned about the very real possibility that everyone in Corinth who identified himself as a Christian may in fact not be a genuine born-again Christian at all.”
1 Thessalonians 5:3-6: “While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.” (NASB)
Prayer: My Lord, my Father, through the mirror of Your Word and the warnings of Your prophets, give me the eyes to see my true spiritual condition before it’s too late and terminal darkness – terminal blindness invades my heart. Oh Lord, I clearly see the labor pains of this world all around me, please open the eyes of my heart before destruction – Your judgment suddenly falls upon me and this world. Wipe the sleep from the eyes of my heart so that I may be alert and sober. For it is written, that today is the day of salvation. In fact, there may be no tomorrow for me, or Your age of grace may suddenly come to an end. Today is the day! Amen and Amen!
Website: www.SoppMinistries.org
Book: The Portrait of a Christian: Preface:
www.SoppMinistries.org/index36.htm
Book: The Portrait of a Christian:
www.SoppMinistries.org/index37.htm