2 Thessalonians 2:1-5
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
Paul wrote twice to the Thessalonian Christians reminding them about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ since certain men entered the church saying that He already came. Among a couple of things that Paul wrote, he reminded them of events that need to take place prior His return. From a portion of his second letter, he spoke of two things that needed to take place: first, a rebellion, followed by the revealing of the man of lawlessness. The Greek word used is apostasia (rebellion), where our English word apostasy comes from. I must admit there are various interpretations by Christians on this coming apostasy, depending on which side of the eschatological fence you may belong. But I am not going to discuss that (for now), rather, point you (the reader) to the current direction some evangelicals are travelling at cruising speed which will give us a picture of what apostasy looks like, biblically speaking.
Please allow me to refer you to a current article by Paul Proctor (see link below) . There are a handful of watchmen in this current bewitching hour who have faithfully and continually exposed the downgrade (borrowing the use of this term from Charles Spurgeon’s newsletter “The Downgrade Controversy” more than 100 year ago while speaking on what he has observed as a departure from Scripture by other pastors within the Christian community in England at that time). This linked article articulates much of what was in my head as I read more and more departing from the faith within the evangelical community.
Like in the days of old, the watchmen were assigned in shifts atop of the perimeter wall surrounding the city and be constantly on guard to bring ‘breaking news’ to the kingdom of impending attack from the enemies near and far. At the first sign of danger, watchmen begin to sound the alarm and the whole city is mobilized to do its utmost to prevent the enemy from overcoming the city. Once again the current watchmen has sounded the alarm and we in the evangelical community who loves the Lord should be wise to heed this current warning. The apostle’s question needs to reverberate again in our minds, “Do you remember…that I told you these things?
Now then, if you are are a Christian, and you are waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, be not afraid of the current sign of the time, but take this as a reminder to stand your ground on God’s entire counsel in His Word, faithfully proclaim the unadulterated and undiluted Gospel, do not be entangled with works of inquity, and keep the eyes of your heart looking up for our blessed hope, the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, at a time and hour that no one knows except God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Rick Warren: From Tolerance to Respect http://www.newswithviews.com/PaulProctor/proctor183.htm
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