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Vol. 4 ... #5
Paul says Jesus cannot return until the "apostasy" takes place in the churches
II Thess. 2 (NASB) ... 1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy (the falling away: KJV) comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
Apostasy is defined as: the abandonment or renunciation of a religious belief
Apostasy is departure from scripture or twisting of scripture making the instruction given by scripture and once held as "true" and "valid" to be no longer valid in the church.
KJV ... apostasy is called "falling away" ...
In l936, King Edward VIII in England was forced to abdicate the throne in England because he was determined to marry Wallis Simpson, a divorced woman.
In 1936, the church of England taught remarriage after divorce would be adultery. The masses abided by the teaching of the church of England.
Edward went to parliament to try to get approval to marry Mrs. Simpson. Parliament said the masses would never approve a divorced woman being Queen of England. Parliament said they would all resign if Edward insisted on doing this. So Edward abdicated the throne in December 1936 and married Mrs. Simpson in France after her divorce from her second husband became final. (See Wikipedia on Internet / Edward VIII)
By this event, we can see Bible doctrines still being upheld in religious teachings and among masses of people in a nation and by governments of men (parliament in England) in 1936 ...
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Mt. 5:32, Jesus said: Whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery:and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
In 1940, in USA, sins of adultery, fornication, homosexual/lesbian and other sins cited in Bible, were committed but not approved by the masses. Morality of the masses was closer to teaching of Bible.
In 2016 in USA and many countries, sins that were forbidden in 1940, are not only being sanctioned, but any public figure who dares to call these acts "sin" is in danger of strong action being taken against him ... Approval of sin is not only sanctioned by masses but is required.
Today, in the churches, so many scriptures which were once held to by church groups, have been either completely renounced and a new set of rules set up to approve sin in the congregation ... or the churches just stop mentioning scripture such as the following words of Jesus in Mt. 5:32... "whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery."
What we are seeing today in the churches is the apostasy which sets up the return of Jesus, and the wrath of God that is to come upon this world in the end of this world.
The apostasy has taken place in the various churches and is taking place right now, today, in the churches as they have fallen away from many scriptures once held as "sacred".
The lawlessness today inside the churches sets the stage for the return of Jesus where HE takes out those who have held fast to the Bible in the midst of lawlessness against the Bible.
Now there is also a "unification" program where many Christian ministers are meeting with Catholic church to agree and have unity. But no one repents, not the Catholic pope and certainly not the Christian ministers who seek this unity with Catholic pope. This is the apostasy of the Bible where scriptures are changed and people are approved in their sins because there is no longer the restraint of the Bible.
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There is nothing we can do but come out of those church groups when they have cast aside scripture and have set up "another doctrine" in place of those scriptures.
We have to find other individuals who have Holy Spirit and speak with them often by phone or in homes, when possible. We cannot continue to sit in apostate church groups. To do so will bring God's judgment upon ourselves.
II Thess. 2 (KJV) ... 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
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Paul and John, in Bible, said there were already many antichrist among them in their day. (I Thess.2 & I Jn. 2)
Antichrist was not one person. Antichrist is a spirit that man allows to come into his heart. It is a spirit that takes that individual away from the ordinances of God cited by the Holy Bible and sets up new rules opposing various scripture or explaining away various scriptures.
Antichrist was in many people even in the first days of the New Testament church.
The apostle John said ...
I Jn. 2 ... 18 Little children, it is the last time:and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
The apostles, Peter, John, Paul were restraints against those person who would bring perversions into the church. But Paul said the following ...
Acts 20 ... 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with HIS own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
We certainly see that even in 1936 there was some truth in the doctrines being spoken in the church for they held to the doctrine that man could not marry the divorced woman so King Edward VIII had to abdicate the throne of England to marry a divorced woman.
Church doctrines gradually changed through the decades with scripture being omitted entirely or twisted to allow sin to take place in the congregation ... The apostasy ... the "falling away" from scripture by church groups.
Examine your own church group. A very good test is this: Do they still teach the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. I've never heard this taught in a church group. It is just omitted and they keep silent about this subject but each church group I've attended since 1975 when I was born again has approved men who marry divorced woman.
The apostasy is happening right now in the church groups.
Jesus could return for HIS followers, those who uphold the scriptures ... this return of Jesus could happen any time now. Hold fast to scriptures. Keep doctrines of Bible before you. Surround yourselves, your minds daily with Bible and godly exhortations.
Cling to the Holy Scriptures ... Doing the instructions of Bible can save you from this unlawful church generation and can separate you from the apostate church.