The
Great Apostasy
The great apostasy; are we seeing this in the world today? The answer is yes... We are in the time that the great apostasy begins to take place, and it has branched out to the four corners of the earth. What exactly does apostasy mean to the Christian and the church? The Greek word for apostasy is (apostasia), meaning a falling away, or defection from truth. Today, we are seeing exactly that among many religions. People are leaving churches and denominational organizations in record numbers. Why? Because people are tired of being lied to by the clergy with traditions of men, false teachings, and perverted cover-ups.
The great apostasy was predicted thousands of years ago and is now coming into play more than ever as we move closer to times of tribulation. Lets take a look at some scriptures that give us all the clues and answers about the great apostasy in the later-days. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. (Isaiah 24:5). The people sin and have twisted God's instruction, His everlasting covenant broken. (Genesis 9:16). They lay aside the commandments of God (even the ten commandments), and keep traditions of men. (Mark 7:7-9). Did you know that one of the largest religious denominations has even changed the ten commandments to suit their own traditions and doctrine? Do a little research and see who you come up with. If you need a clue, it is one of the denominations that has all the child sexual abuse charges against them. God is not happy with these so pious looking hypocritical clergy or the people who support them with their weekly donations. "Watch who you donate or tithe your money to."
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: (Isaiah 29:13). The people honor God with their lips, but not their hearts. They worship Him with nothing but man-made rules, rituals, and traditions. Looks so good from the outside when they go through the motions, but their hearts are not in it. (Matthew 15:7-9, Mark 7:6). "Again, we call them hypocrites."
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. (2 Thessalonians 2:11). If you want to be ignorant of God's Word and follow lies, deception, and traditions of men; God will send you strong delusion to believe those lies. "He will close your eyes to the truth." (Isaiah 29:10). Look at how people are so comfortable with their teachings. "Comfortable with their spirit of slumber."
Did you know that if these people continue in their slumber of man made rules, rituals, false teachings, and traditions of men, that God will let them be fooled by Satan himself? And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Satan as the anti-Christ will completely fool those who refused the truth of the Word that they might be saved. "Those who follow Satan will perish." Once saved always saved? "I don't think so." The fact of the matter is that their is a famine in the land as we speak. Because we do not obey God's laws, and all the junk that is being taught within the churches, "that famine is for hearing the truth in Gods word."
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. (Amos 8:11). That famine for hearing the Word of the Lord is upon us now. People are starving for the truth in the Word, not a bunch of fairy tales, false teachings and traditions of men that are taught in most churches today. This is the reason for the Great Apostasy, falling away from the church in the later days; people just don't know who to trust anymore. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. (Amos 8:12). People will stagger from all parts of the world, church to church, searching for the Word of the Lord, but will not find it. (Romans 9:31-33, 11:7-10, 2 Timothy 3:6-7).
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24:24). Many who claim to be Christian and prophets of God will arise and do wonderful miracles, and if possible even deceive God's elect. You can start to see it today in our society... Those who prey on the weak minded with their hands on healings, prayer cloths, miracle water, and other gimmicks.
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). Falling away is speaking of the great apostasy. The son of perdition is the anti-Christ. Satan will be revealed after the great apostasy as the false messiah. (Revelation 17:8). Do not be deceived! Christ will not return until after "The Great Apostasy."
The apostle Timothy speaks of departing from the faith in the later days. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. (1 Timothy 4:1). The Holy Spirit tells us; that in the later times many will fall away (the apostasy), from the faith (the true teachings of Christ), and listen to a bunch of false teachers and traditions of men which. "They play right into Satan's hand."
Yes we are living in the later times and the great apostasy is taking place as we speak. People are tired of religion and traditions of men, starving for the truth in God's word. God gave us a personal letter being the written word. We need to read it and discover what it means to us on a personal level. The great apostasy is another sign that we are closer to the return of Christ when He will set all things straight.
Keep The Faith,Barton