THE APOSTATE CHURCH

AN APOSTATE CHURCH

from The Prophet

Let's review some of the things we have looked at over the past few years:  A lie is coming down the pipe and God is going to allow it.  In fact, he is going to assist in bringing it about.  That truth is taken from II Thessalonians, chapter two.  Let's look at that passage.

"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." 

In the first letter to the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2, Jesus has an indictment against that church.

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou has left thy first love.       

Now over the years I have heard this passage interpreted as them "losing" their love for Christ.  That is an erroneous interpretation. If you look in verse three you will see that the church had not lost its love for Christ.  But, (contrary to what most believe,) Christ was not their first love.  Those who met Christ and fell in love with him actually fell in love with his words.  The gospels confirm this fact again and again.  The crowds never heard any man speak the words Jesus spoke. What the Ephesian Church left was their love for the Word of God.  They lost their ear to hear. Now if that happened as early as the first Church Age, how impaired do you think the hearing is in this last Laodicean Church Age?  It's no wonder that all of the letters written to the seven churches close with the admonition:  "He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."  That is the most repeated verse in the bible, appearing seventeen times.

Unfortunately, the churches have not heeded this advice, particularly this last church, the Laodicean Church.  The love for the truth was once again extended to this last church but we're told in II Thessalonians that they did not receive it.

I have said many times that if you were to take a survey as to why people attend the church they attend, the reason that would seldom top the list is because of the word of God.  Oh, they may like the preacher but not necessarily because he or she preaches the word.  Usually a church is chosen because of its programs, the choir, auxiliaries, and the list goes on and on. Jesus was quite direct and very much on target addressing the audience in his day when he asked the question, "What went ye out to see?"

Why that question?   Because that is why most people go to church—to see, and not to hear.

Let us continue with the text in Thessalonians:

"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."

Here again, a correction must be made to the text. The original uses a definite article, "the lie."  A particular lie is about to be unleashed on the world that will cause the collapse of the nominal adherents to the visible Christian Church to take place in one day.  That event is often referred to as the Great Falling Away.  It's a theological term, not a biblical expression. The scriptures simply refer to that event as a falling away but you can believe that it will be great.  It will signal the official beginning of the Apostate church.  It is already in existence and is filled with those who have lost their ear to hear what the Spirit has to say.  When Jesus is found knocking at the door of his church in Revelation 3:20 he makes the statement, "if any man will hear MY voice."  That's the problem.  Too many saints in too many churches are listening to the voice of their pastor, deacon, church mother and so forth and not listening to the voice of the One who owns the Church.  What Paul wrote in II Corinthians 11:4 has become a reality in many churches and they are not even aware that a change has taken place. What did Paul say?

"For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." 

One aspect of "another gospel" in these last days is the gospel of blessing and prosperity. The Laodicean Church claimed to be blessed or rich.  A common password among Christians these days is "blessed." Far too few who make that proclamation have reference to the word of God for the blessed state.  As long as Jesus is multiplying the fishes and loaves he will have a crowd of 5,000 return the next day.  When he addressed that same crowd with the word of God, they left.  He then turned to his disciples and asked if they were leaving also.  Blessing and Prosperity are not God's program today.  To the same church in Revelation he said that those whom he loved he would rebuke and chasten.  The saint who is the recipient of those actions is often looked upon as being out of the will of God.

"Thou sayest I am rich and in need of nothing."  If the message of Jesus Christ was a message designed to make believers become rich on the earth, he should have commended the Laodicean Church instead of condemning it. Rather, he called it "poor, miserable, wretched, blind and naked."  Prefacing those adjectives he made the comment, "and thou knowest not."  The Church is oblivious to its deplorable state.