Preparing for What is Coming
Truly, these are perilous times. We live in a world today that is so full of abominations and wickedness that only by the grace of God we shall continue to stand. One cannot open a newspaper, turn on a TV, surf on the internet, or even take a trip into the city to see the world and its lust for greed, power, sex, and all manner of unrighteousness. It is paraded around today deceiving the multitudes into thinking that evil is good and good is evil. The horrible part about all of this is it is rampant in the church. The church of Jesus Christ is to be a holy and righteous vessel through which the rest of this world would see the Lord Himself. We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Instead, when the world looks at so much of the church, they only see themselves. There is no holiness. There is no sanctification. There is no separation. Much of the church is drunk with the wickedness of this world. We have eyes, but do not see. We have ears, but we do not hear. We have ceased preaching the Gospel of repentance, salvation, and deliverance from sin only to fill it with a phony gospel which is no gospel at all. In many places, another Jesus is being preached. The church is all too seeker sensitive with its ear tickling messages and its desires for prosperity and miracles that it has compromised the word that you heard from the beginning. We are so self righteous as a people. Just like the people of Israel, we answer “Abraham is our father.” (John 8:39) In other words, we would argue that we are all ok because we are Abraham’s children by faith, and we deserve the blessings of God. Most do not understand that part of what is coming to this world is because of the church. The Lord promised to present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5: 27.) The state of much of today’s church is, especially in America, is lukewarm at best. A simple read of the church of Laodicea in the book of Revelation views like a mirror of what is happening right in front of us. A better way to describe it is that many are surface Christians. Many are Christian by name, but when you scratch away what is on the surface, you will find what is truly underneath. There is no depth to their Christianity.
The true body of Christ is not afraid to look into the mirror for they shall reflect the image of our wonderful Lord Jesus. They understand that they have died and no longer live. They have no allegiance to this world. They embrace their own crosses as they die to self everyday and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. They are not concerned with themselves or what temporal pleasures this world can give them. As someone once said, a dead person does not have any rights. They seek a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10).
So where are we? Where do we stand in our faith? Are we willing to take a long look at where we are and where God wants us to be? The days upon us are those the prophets have wrote about. They will usher in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are we prepared?
There is a falling away coming
If you talk with most Christians about the return of the Lord, most think that we are ready now to go. Jesus could return any minute and we will fly away in the Rapture. There is no need for tribulation. Tribulation is for those wicked people. The majority of the church thinks that all is well and that we are ready as a spotless bride waiting on her husband. They ignore the Scriptures that speak of the time before the Lord’s return because they conclude that they will not be here so why bother to understand. They leave it up to their favorite preacher to explain it all for them and never question anything.
So today, I want to talk about the falling away. There is a great falling away coming to the church. It really has already begun, but the time is coming when there will be a separation between those who profess and those who believe.
2 Thessalonians 2: 1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition
The word for falling away is apostasia. It means a defection from the truth or revolt and is where we get the word apostasy. The coming of the Lord and our gathering together to Him (resurrection of the saints and rapture of those who are alive and remain) is preceded by a great falling away from the truth in the church. A lost person cannot fall away. On the surface, you can look around at some of the crazy things that are being said and done in the name of Jesus today and say we are very near this time. As was said earlier, the church looks very much like the world and the world’s ways have infiltrated the church. In other words, what society is doing, the church is trying to keep up. We have bent over backwards to accommodate what society is telling us is truth. True Biblical doctrine is being attacked. Many denominations and non-denominations alike have taken up with this trend. Things are happening in the church that are so blatantly against Scripture yet many have fallen trap to the deception. Could it get any worse? What do you see as deception in the church? Do you see anything at all wrong with what is being presented as Christianity?
There will be a great defection from the truth of God’s Word all over the world, including here in the United States. Did you know that a recent Gallop poll said that 78% of the USA considers themselves Christians? That number actually has gone down over the last number of years too. Being born in the United States does not make you a Christian. America is not God’s nation as some think. It is the holy nation (1 Peter 2:9) within the nation that is God’s nation. Do you understand what Jesus said in Matthew 7? Matthew 7: 13 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. What does 78% sound like? Many or few? Many is an interesting word. We will look at it a little closer in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 24: 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many….10 And then many will be offended (fall away), will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
Very few deliberately turn from the Word of God, just like very few people of Old Testament Israel deliberately turned from God. Deception works that way. You believe that it is the truth when in fact it is a lie. Jesus is telling this to the disciples. Do you think He is talking about the people in the world or the people in the church? Who will believe someone speaking in the name of Jesus? Christians will not the world. Jesus said the world hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil (John 7:7). Who will believe false prophets? There seems to be more self proclaimed prophets in the church now than ever and many follow them. 2 Peter 2: 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words. Loving one another is supposed to be the evidence that we are His disciples. Yet, at the end, many become offended and betray and hate one another and because of rampant sin, their love will grow cold. Jesus even said Matthew 10:21 Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Can you even imagine those statements? This is because many have forsaken the truth. Look at what happened during Jesus’ ministry. There was a type of this falling away. His own people, His brothers, Israel, rejected Him and delivered Him to the death. They did the same with His disciples. According to the flesh, John 1: 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. He was the stone they stumbled upon and rejected. In John 6, He was speaking to the people of Israel and was teaching about the true bread of life. Many of His disciples could not accept what He was saying. John 6: 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. They fell away.
Son on Perdition
Let’s go back to 2 Thessalonians again.
2 Thessalonians 2: 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders
Who is this son of perdition and why is he associated with the falling away? Many have come to believe that the man of sin is the antichrist. They believe that because he sits in the temple of God, exalts himself above God, and says that he is God has to be the antichrist. He has been written about in books and portrayed in movies as such. Let’s look a little closer to see if that is what Paul is referring to.
First, perdition means destruction or damnation. Also, one of the most interesting things about this is the son of perdition is only mentioned one more place in Scripture. John 17: 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. Here, Jesus is praying over His disciples and those who would believe through their message in His great High Priestly prayer. The one who was lost was Judas Iscariot who betrayed the Lord. Judas was one of the twelve who were closest to Jesus who followed Him for three and a half years. Many times the only thing we think about Judas was that he betrayed Jesus, but we do not think about what other things we know about him. Matthew 10: 1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Judas is called by name in the next verses as one of the twelve. Judas went out just like the other eleven casting out devils and healing the sick. He was just like the others. Jesus knew his identity, but He did not reveal it to the others until His time had come nor did the others know that the one who would betray Him was in their midst the entire time. At the Passover supper when Jesus said that He was going to be betrayed, the disciples were stunned. John 13: 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. Even after answering John’s question of who it was, they still did not know. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly." 28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, "Buy those things we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. 30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.
Judas was very well hidden inside the body of Christ even until the very end. He left when it was night which we know represents spiritual darkness. John 3: 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. Then, when the time had come for the Scriptures to be fulfilled, he was manifested to all. What Scriptures? Matthew 26: 24 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born. Luke 24: 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Judas was used for the purpose of God Himself. Acts 2: 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death. Judas, the son of perdition, was used by God to help send Jesus to the cross. He betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of silver to the Roman beast and religious leaders of Israel who rejected Him and fell away (Acts 1:25). There was no hope for Him to return.
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God
This verse read as is would be very easy to put a person in a third temple in Jerusalem proclaiming to be God. However, recognizing one word in this verse changes everything and that is the Greek word for temple. There are two main words used in the New Testament for temple. One is hieron which is used to describe a stone and mortar temple. In other words, this is the word for a physical temple. The other word is naos which is the word used here in 2 Thessalonians. Naos can either be used to describe the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies in the temple or the spiritual temple consisting of the saints. Now if it can refer to either one, we need to know what the correct one is because it makes all the difference in the interpretation of the verse. Every time that Paul uses the word naos in the New Testament he is referring to the spiritual temple. Such as 1 Corinthians 6: 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? And Ephesians 2: 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. This Scripture is no different. He is referring to a spiritual temple not a physical one. If it is a spiritual temple, then that changes what the common perception is of the son of perdition being the antichrist. So then, who is the son of perdition?
If you are the temple of God, forming a spiritual house both individually and corporately, who can sit in that temple showing himself as God? Look again at the verse. 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. When we allow the old man rule in our temple and follow after the flesh and the sinful nature, the old man is sitting in the temple and exalts himself above the new man and the truth of God’s Word. He is taking the place of God. This is the character of the son of perdition. If God is not ruling, then your old man and self are. Philippians 3: 18 For many walk (those claiming to be Christians), of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction (perdition), whose god is their belly (selfish lusts, Esau), and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things. Putting our mind on earthly things, (Romans 8: 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be) leads us to an end of perdition or destruction. Remember Colossians 3? We have died and are to put to death those earthly things by setting our minds on the things above. Self is our most determined enemy. It is why we are to carry our cross daily. The old man would love nothing more than to rule in our temple.
2 Thessalonians 2: 6 And now ye know what restraineth, so that he (son of perdition) be revealed in his own season. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work, only there is one that restraineth now, until he become out of the midst. (Numeric New Testament)
The restrainer is the falling away. Many have put this as the church or the Holy Spirit to fit their theology, but we can see it is just repeating verse 3. The falling away happens to cause the son of perdition to be revealed. The falling away reveals the spots and blemishes in the body and will remove them. 2 Peter 2: 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh…13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you…18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh. This is why the Lord cannot return (verse 1) until the falling away happens. He is coming for His pure and holy bride. No spots and no blemishes. We see that the spots and blemishes are caused by those who walk according to the flesh and are tempted by the lusts of the flesh. Remember, the Bible is not silent on what those are. You can find two very good lists in Galatians 5 and Colossians 3.
2 Thessalonians 2: 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The son of perdition will be believed by those who did not love the truth. They will believe the delusion sent by God. Does it bother you that God sends a delusion to those who would rather believe the lie? Satan receives authority to deceive these people. Why? They did not want the truth. This is true today. The church is loaded with people who want church, but they do not want Jesus. Isaiah 4: 1 And in that day seven women (7 churches from Revelation) shall take hold of one man (Jesus), saying, "We will eat our own food (doctrine, manna) and wear our own apparel (works) ; Only let us be called by your name, To take away our reproach (sin).
What is our food? John 6: 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
What is our apparel? Revelation 19: 8 And to her (the bride, the church) it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
These women do not want the true bread of life nor do they concern themselves with being obedient to the Word of God. They just want that assurance that when they die, heaven awaits them. They can live for themselves here on earth. They want the pleasures and prosperity of this world. They desire for their own kingdoms here and now. Churches are full every Sunday of people looking not for the Jesus of the Bible. The Jesus who saves, delivers, opens the ears of the deaf, gives sight to the blind, heals the broken hearted, and sets the captives free and most importantly, sets us free from the power of sin that we may live for God. Instead, the other Jesus they seek does not deliver from sin. In fact, the reference to sin makes people uncomfortable so its been replaced. The new Jesus blesses them with all the material wealth of this world. He has so much love that your lifestyle does not matter, the words of your mouth does not matter, the things you put in your body does not matter. You can hold on to unforgiveness, you can think how you want; you can see what you want. It is about you and how you feel about yourself. Give them the names you want, the Self Esteem Gospel, the Prosperity Gospel, the Purpose Driven Gospel. In the end, the true Gospel of Jesus Christ is being replaced. Those who refuse to let go of it and what the truth of the Bible states are those who will be isolated more and more from here until the end.
If you believe we are near the end, we must prepare for what is coming. If you want to know what is coming, know your history according to God’s Word. Ecclesiastes 1:9 That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. The falling away is coming, the son of perdition will be revealed and reprobated, and God’s temple will become spotless and without blemish.
If we need to change things in our lives, let’s believe God’s Word and change them. If we need to begin doing new things, then let’s believe God’s Word and do them. If we need to repent, then let’s repent and change our mind and change our actions. Turn away and do not look back. God is calling out to His children now in this hour. Revelation 18: Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 2 Corinthians 6: 17 Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.
The conclusion of the matter is that we must be prepared for what is coming. Without preparation, we will be subject to those things that happen around us. We will be led by emotions like fear and the things happening in this world instead of living in faith and our confidence in God. Hebrews 10: 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. If we are living in faith and according to the Word of God and the Gospel, then we are not drawn back to perdition. We are His and He will take care of His own. He is the Good Shepherd and His sheep know His voice. His voice is His Word and the Word is what will guide us in the days to come. These are the days of great deception and great lies, but to those of faith, we are seeing the days that usher in the return of our wonderful Savior.
