Along
with the “little flock” teaching (described in chapter 3) is the
teaching of “a falling away” or the “great apostasy” that cancels any
notion of a great end-time harvest. Since the Bible speaks of both, we
need to sort out this seeming contradiction. Let me say up front that
both have to be true, therefore there has to be an explanation, and
this chapter endeavors to do that.
Here is the “falling away” proof text:
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 KJV)
I believe we are seeing the “falling away” as doctrinal error in 100%
of all doctrinal groups that confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
today (as well as those that don’t). In the 500 years since the
Reformation, we have seen church splits, schisms, and terrible
persecution of the brethren that should not have been a part of
Christ’s church.
There are some who argue that church conditions today — division,
prayerlessness, lack of holiness and power — are all that we should
expect in the last days church. Their argument is that Jesus also
warned of a great falling away from the faith. Yes, and they are proof
of it! However, because they have succumbed to unbelief, that is no
reason why we should slide into such hopelessness as well.
And
this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a
witness to all nations, and then the end shall come. (Matt 24:14)
Jesus said, “. . . this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached
in the whole world.” Jesus is not referring to typical,
traditional western Christianity, which has apostatized in many ways.
Jesus is not so unjust that He would offer the unsaved world a gospel
spoken by powerless, sinful people.
He said, “this gospel,” speaking about His message! His message comes
with corresponding signs, wonders and miracles, authenticating its
divine source. This is the message Jesus sent His disciples out with
in the first century; and He shall send His disciples out in the last
century with this same message:
And
as you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Heal
the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely
you received, freely give. (Matt 10:7-8)
It is amazing how Christians believe and, at the same time, do not
believe the Bible. In the Bible we read about all the wonders and
miracles God has done, yet we don’t believe; or should I
say, we don’t expect God to manifest His presence or
power in our personal lives.
Our faith is often based more on our personal experience than on faith
in the Word of God. Too many Christians do not expect
conspicuous answers to their prayers because their personal
failure repudiates their faith. These are Christians who simply do not
believe what Jesus has clearly told them in the Bible, and that is
apostasy.
Here is a painful fact of life — we all are guilty of at least one
small area of unbelief in our lives.
Was
that interesting? There is so much more in this chapter that you will
want to read. Is this a good time to order the book?
