The Great Apostasy is in Progress

The Great Apostasy is in Progress

 I have stated earlier that I believe the great apostasy in second Thessalonians, which others call the falling away, is already in progress. While I concede that the Lord respects His called people by acceding to that interpretation and it’s ramifications (of abandoning the faith of the fathers), yet there is One who’s position is more relevant to our condition, then what is our own opinion (of our centrality to the question). 

God has His appointed times. He has His Plan. What I am seeing, I feel by saying it, is just repeating what preachers have always said, that our culture is circling the drain, before the plunge into the abyss of being handed over to satan. Preachers may have always said it because rebellion is in our nature, but we all know this time is different. For instance, there is the culturally unpopular Romans chapter one, which specifically says that a people in rebellion will suffer the symptom of sodomy. That is what happens when the Lord withdraws His Spirit. Only His Spirit can provide the spiritual sight and faith necessary to bring repentance and belief (and He will not be gracious forever). The specific sin is the result, not the cause. When He says it’s time, it’s time. His patience DOES have its limits. He will “turn him over to the tormentors” and “appoint him a portion with the hypocrites”, by leaving “ that wicked servant” to satan’s devices. Great apostasy indeed!

These times bring much greater pressure from the enemy, for he senses his short window is coming. There is heartbreak and oppression surrounding us. We can no longer fight in the natural, in a world which has only contempt for HIS Love. Let us pray for deliverance, for ourselves and those enslaved. Let us pray for the power of the Almighty to manifest, that His Name and identity be unveiled to His elect. Let us pray that HIS will be done, and His kingdom come! Let Him find faith on the earth!

Shaken (by the power of the Almighty!)

 Just before the birth, the birth pains get more intense. Maybe if life were somewhat normal, we could question why, and God is very patient to answer our questions, and then by the reading of the Word, we learn how to recognize His answers. Be what it may, right now is the battle and the war, and prayer is not an option, it is a necessity! We who are His, are privileged and honored to be a part of His merciful plans. He develops us as warriors willing to fight. He gives us the strength and faith for the conflict! He welds us as His weapon! We are called out of, for this, because within the very word “fight,” there is also the word “gift.”

As the messenger pointed out, the closer we get to God, the more we are persecuted. “All those who would live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” We can rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for Him (who is more than worthy to receive our offering).We are His Body, “regarded as sheep to be slaughtered,” just like Him. We are the gentile Ruth to the kinsman Redeemer, Boaz. And what did Boaz tell Ruth? He said to her, “I will do all that you have asked.”

We have the authority to ask for anything, when we want what HE wants, and place our very life on the altar, as He did. In the courts of heaven, our prayers plead for justice, and the God who is THE judge, is now also, our Son given for us, and our Prince who gives peace.

I offer an overarching example in my own life. I remember when I was young, I prayed the Lord would wake me up in time to get the kids ready for church. Well, there was an earthquake right on time. (I told the Lord His sense of humor was amazing.) More recently, I was praying and praising Him, and rejoicing in what I knew He would do, soon. The earth started moving and shaking and at first I was laughing in joy, but it went on and on, so then I rebuked it and it was still. Around the same time, when I was praying with my sisters in the Lord, the whole house was rocked, gently, and all of us in the house felt it. The most recent incident happened the first day of a two day fast, the purpose of which was to ask the Lord deliver His people Israel from their unbelief. That was the same day of the recent violent shaking in the Middle East. Hasn’t The Lord said He will shake heaven and earth?