Falling Away
Pastor Jerry Wilhite,
author
This study has content that some will find offensive but it is necessary to show how close we are to the end. Before reading this study understand I will be labeled by some because of the content. I am not against anyone; I do not preach people as being evil but actions as evil. I believe all people have some good in them, but evil is easier to fall into than good is to seek. I believe some have fallen so far that only a miracle or a lot of prayer will save them now. Professing Jesus as Lord does not save on its own; it requires believing in His resurrection. To believe in His resurrection or salvation without any doubt we must hear from God that we are saved. We can not hear from God if we are in sin especially by choice.
Romans 8
16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
No matter what, we are not to judge or condemn, but to forgive. We should avoid all forms of sin and judge not. Remember that when Jesus was on the cross He said, "Forgive them for they know not what they do." Jesus did not come into the world to condemn/judge but save (John 3:17) and we should not ever think we can do what He did not.
Matthew 7
1. Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Mark 11
25. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
We must seek righteousness because righteousness is slowly decaying in the world these days. Remember in Sodom and Gomorrah sexual perversions were running rampant, mostly homosexuality which of course meant adultery and fornication. Abraham asked God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18) if as few as 10 were found to be righteous there, but in the entire city not even 10 could be found.
Genesis 19
1. And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
2. And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
3. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
4. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
5. And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
6. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
7. And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
Today we see Homosexuality growing again along with even more sexual perversions than even in Sodom and Gomorrah. Even so, we are not at the same level as Sodom and Gomorrah. Remember if 10 had been found that were righteous then God would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah, not 10% but 10 individuals. In the tribulation this world will reach that level of perversions, everything from sexual perversions to hate and violence.
2 Thessalonians 1
The closer it gets to the end there will be more who are truly righteous and persecutions and tribulations will increase, but not more than anyone can bear.
5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7. And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Those who are of Christ will grow; the power will increase, then it will be removed, and the falling away of man from God will begin (decrease of morality will be the outward sign).
1 Corinthians 1
24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Only those of Christ will have the power and wisdom of God. How many have you met or known who have the power and/or wisdom of God?
2 Thessalonians 2
1. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3. 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;
The falling away first is two-fold.
2 Thessalonians 2
4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6. And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
Above is again a reference to the power found in Christ that is restraining those who are of sin.
8. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Some will ask, "Why would God allow this?" He does not; we do; it is our fault. We did not seek the truth and in turn got the lie and fell for it and followed it based on traditions and the church of this world.
1 Corinthians 1
11. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Catholic; and I of Methodist; and I of ENTER NAME OF YOUR CHURCH; and I of Christ.
13. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
As it appears in the KJV - 1 Corinthians 1
11. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
What follows is from another study called "Peace of God" so there is some duplication of scriptures and explanations.
The falling away is already happening and if you look around you will see it, lack of 2 parent families, divorce, drugs, sex, violence, hate, prejudice, etc.
What really gets me is how so many can hold on to prejudice and not see that it is the same as judging. They do not see that that judging is wrong; to judge is the same as not forgiving.
Matthew 7
1. Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Mark 11
25. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
I honestly believe there are a lot of people who want to know God but have been blinded by traditions, law, etc. Unfortunately until they seek the truth from God, not mankind, they will remain blind to the truth. The real shame is there are a lot of people misled due to a select few and even some of these few do not realize they are wrong. Why? Because this world and tradition blinds people to the truth. If we are busy in rituals and tradition then we do not have the time to have a relationship with God.
WARNING
There are many false religions and beliefs.
Matthew 7
15. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Verse 20 above the fruit Jesus spoke of is:
Galatians 5
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Much of what Jesus spoke of below has come to pass if not all.
Matthew 24
4. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
9. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
I could go on and on, but the truth is that Jesus did not come to create another religion but to bring deliverance, love, and peace to us all.
Do you actually hear from God, hear His voice? If not, start trying now.
One last warning - many religions teach many falsehoods and many have false prophets and a false Christ or prophet can just be an impostor of almost any sort.
Strong's Ref. # 5578
Romanized pseudoprophetes
Pronounced psyoo-dop-rof-ay'-tace
from GSN5571 and GSN4396; a spurious prophet, i.e. pretended foreteller or religious impostor:
KJV--false prophet.
I John 4
3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
If you read the book of Revelation chapters 2 and 3 and study the following you may be shocked:
If you study just these two chapters completely you may be surprised.
One last revelation is in II Thessalonians.
2 Thessalonians 2
3. 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;
Strong's Ref. # 646
Romanized apostasia
Pronounced ap-os-tas-ee'-ah
feminine of the same as GSN0647; defection from truth (properly, the state) ["apostasy"]:
KJV--falling away, forsake.
The falling away has already started. It is a falling away from God, morality,and truth not religion.
2 Thessalonians 2
7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
Strong's Ref. # 2722
Romanized katecho
Pronounced kat-ekh'-o
from GSN2596 and GSN2192; to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively):
KJV--have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, X make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold.
That which is restraining the antichrist is the power in Christ as explained in:
1 Corinthians 1
24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Understand that if you are of Christ you are of the power and wisdom of God. Do you really believe you are of the power and wisdom of God? Think about Solomon and his wisdom; it was a man’s wisdom blessed by God, not God's wisdom imparted as is with Christ.
1 Corinthians 1
11. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Catholic; and I of Baptist; and I of ENTER THE CHURCH YOU attend HERE; and I of Christ.
13. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Yes I updated verse 12 you can look it up and read it as Paul wrote it.
Just remember Satan wants nothing more than to keep us tied up in the lies, to keep us from truly forgiving, and to keep us where we judge, condemn, envy, and lust after one another. He will use our thoughts against us. Think of this when you hear of a mother who kills her babies and says she did what she was told. She is telling the truth as far as hearing except it was not God with a capital "G" that told her.
Then there are those who have imaginations pop in that are evil, hateful, lustful, etc. A lot cast them down and some try, but in time accept them. They believe if they thought it, then it must be their thought. Some are even priests, pastors, teachers, leaders; no one is protected until they learn how to get control of the imaginations. If this could happen now we would have worldwide peace. I am sad to say the world may be too far-gone for all, but that does not mean you are too far-gone.
Remember you are in the world but not to be of the world.
For those who have not figured it out yet, salvation does not mean you are of the church or Christ. Yes you have the spirit in you and you are saved. Think of it this way Saved is like being in elementary school; being of the church is being promoted to junior high or middle school and to grow into Christ is like high school and college, but in this life never getting out of college. The lost are those still in pre-school and that is why Jesus said on the cross "Forgive them for they know not what they do".
It may seem I come down on or judge people when talking about religion, but I did not. I believe most people are like those in pre-school. Religion is something Satan is manipulating and controlling and the Sun will never set on my anger with sin and Satan, but I will not let him steal my peace.