Apostasy comes from the Greek
word “apostasia.” It means; a falling away, defection,
or apostasy. The King
James Version (KJV) and the New King James Version (NKVJ) translate it “falling
away.” The New Living Translation (NLT), New International Version (NIV), and
the English Standard Version (ESV) translate it “rebellion.” The New American
Standard Bible (NASB) translates it “apostasy.”
“Let no man deceive you by
any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first,
and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;” (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
The question at hand is, “Are
we in the days of apostasy?”
The Scripture is clear that
in the last days prior to Christ’s return, there will be an age of apostasy, or
rebellion, against God. When this age of apostasy has run its course on God’s
yardstick, the Lord will return.
The next event on God’s
calendar is the rapture of His Church. There are no signs for the Rapture.
Afterwards, the period commonly known as the seven years Tribulation (Daniel’s
70th Week) will occur. This is prophesied in Daniel 9:20-27. At the
end of the Tribulation, Jesus will return to the earth (Second Advent).
During the Tribulation
period, apostasy will reign on earth primarily due to Satan’s desperate, but
futile, attempt to dethrone God. Even though the world will be falling apart
around everyone’s ears, most men will still curse God instead of pleading for
forgiveness and salvation.
As dark clouds form in the
sky prior to a storm, the clouds of apostasy are getting darker as we approach
this seven year period; i.e. the Tribulation. We are in the preparatory stage
of apostasy, and even now the world wants nothing to do with God and is getting
more aggressive toward those who belong to Him.
Our country for example, once
a Christian nation, has kicked God out of every area of our lives, but then we
have the audacity to say, “God bless America.” Our hypocrisy is flabbergasting!
I well remember a time when
most everyone in my little world was, at the minimum, respectful toward
anything related toward God. The Bible and all it stood for received respect
from even the most vile of persons. Generally speaking, people respected each
other. The Ten Commandments wasn’t just for those who followed God, but all
accepted those standards and tried to obey them. We now live in a country I no
longer recognize.
I recall churches, in the not
too distant past, where great preaching was heard. The Bible was actually
taught from the pulpit. Pastors called for repentance and unabashedly
proclaimed the name of Jesus. Children were actually taught the Bible in Sunday
School and Vacation Bible School. Church members visited the lost and sick in
the community, and people came to church to respectfully worship Jesus and
learn of Him. By and large, this is not so today.
Most want nothing to do with
Jesus, the Bible or anything else associated with God. Of those who do come and
sit in the pews, most just want to be entertained and have a warm fuzzy feeling
when they leave, and they don’t want to stay long.
Society is attacking anything
to do with God in every area of our lives and it shows. The world is rapidly
becoming more and more anti-God and dangerous.
What used to be defined as evil
is now good, and what used to be defined as good is now evil. (Isaiah 5:20)
The word “shame” is no longer
recognized, because few know what it is. Men and women of character are
shrinking in number because we as a society have lost all conscience of
morality, dignity and honor. Most in our society live strictly for themselves
with little to no thought of others. We are selfish, spoiled and corrupt, and
the full onslaught of apostasy has not even arrived!
Most in today’s society see
nothing wrong with the sins they have crawled in bed with and flaunted in the
face of God. “We are our own god!” they say. They are like a child who has left
the nest to be on their own and has gone stark raving wild with no thought of
tomorrow.
The saddest part is that most
in the church have failed their families, friends, and neighbors by their
silence and by their compromised living. The Bible says, “How then shall they
call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him
of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”
(Romans 10:14) Most of the preachers have failed and those who are Christians
but not preachers have failed.
The word “preach” means to
proclaim or to be a herald. Most think it is “the preacher’s job” to witness,
but it isn’t just “the preacher’s job.” It is every Christians’ responsibility
to proclaim Jesus to those we come in contact with. Why isn’t this being done
on a large scale by those who claim to be Christians? It is obvious. Apostasy
has crept in the back door of the church and Satan is having a ball.
I say again that this is just
the beginning. When the church is removed (Rapture) and the Holy Spirit of God
lifts His hand of restraint upon Satan, apostasy will have a free hand to do
Satan’s will.
It is way past time for those
of us who say we are Christians to start acting like it. The tide of evil is
not going to be reversed. However, we can prevent some from joining Satan in
hell by our witness. The Rapture has not yet occurred, so we still have time to
try to save some. We need to be much in prayer and unashamed to stand up for
our Savior and Lord.
Or is He our Lord? If Jesus
Christ is our Savior, then it stands to reason He should be our Lord. Is He?
Let us challenge each other to stand in the light in these dark days. Maybe
someone will notice and want what we have, and that of course is Jesus Christ.
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
