Apostasy - A case study

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The following link is from a member of a church who has experienced the "hostile takeover" of a Bible believing CONGREGATION by Kingdom Now theologians. This post is instructive. Clearly shown is the type of subtle, and not so subtle, shifts in exposition of the Biblical text. The writer is succinct and direct. If you are interested in what to watch out for in your congregation, READ THIS!!.

Apostasy

What is apostasy?

"The departure from the truth that one professed to have." The term does not imply that apostate has ever had the truth. They have however, by accepting an office of the church or some other mechanism professed to have the truth. How do you recognise an apostate?

Deeds and actions of the Apostasy

The Footsteps of the Messiah Page 71 - 72 b

1. Jude 17-19 - Mockery (results in division in the church)
   But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
   
   
2. Mocking of the fundamentals of the faith, verbal inspiration of the Scriptures, Virgin Birth, substitutionary death of the Messiah.
   
   

Mark of Apostasy

The Footsteps of the Messiah Page 70

1. 2 Peter 2:1
   But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
   
   

Teachings of the Apostasy

The Footsteps of the Messiah Page 70 - 71

1. 1 John 2:22-23 - denial of the Trinity
   Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
   
   
2. 1 John 4:2-3 - denial of the Incarnation
   Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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.
   
   
3. 2 John 7 - denial of the Incarnation
   For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist.
   
   
4. 2 Peter 3:3-4 - denial of the second coming
   Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
   
   

Character of the Apostasy

The Footsteps of the Messiah Page 66 - 70

1. 1 Timothy 4:1-3
   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; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
   
   
2. 2 Timothy 3:5
   Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
   
   
3. 2 Peter 2:1-22
   But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgement now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forebad the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
   
   

Salvation III - Tribulation

Salvation in the Tribulation

Never have I heard a sermon about how you get saved during the Tribulation. Thank God for Ariel Ministries.

It turns out you can be saved during the Tribulation. The Tribulation is a period of time when God judges the world for not accepting His Son as their saviour. The Universal Church, which includes only those who have accepted Messiah as their saviour, will not be judged, which is why some Christians talk about the "Rapture." The Rapture is when all Christians are taken up to Heaven. This is because they are not subject to the judgements about to be implemented by God. (1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 17)

But wait, there is more! During this time God seals 12,000 Jews from each of the 12 Tribes of Israel to preach the "Good News" to the whole world. The result of this display of Grace by God to a world under judgement is a massive world wide revival.

The conditions of Salvation are the same as those for the New Testament believer. However those who are saved during this time will not receive the deposit of the Holy Spirit, as this gift is reserved only for the Universal (Invisible) Church.

At the end of the Tribulation Christ will set up his Judgement Throne, known as the White Throne Judgement, and will separate the goats from the sheep. He asks them tells them at the time they are judged this:

Sheep
Matthew 25:35 - 25:40
For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Goats
Matthew 25:41 - 25:45
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

Is this judgement based on the works of supporting the Jews during the Tribulation? No, the judgement is based on the content of each believers faith, which lead them to support the Jews during the Tribulation. Because the believers understood the Gospel, and they had faith in God for their salvation, the held right doctrine and provided aid to the brethren of Jesus, the Jews.

During the Tribulation there are two faith systems in place. There are the Saints, and there is the Apostate Church. The Apostate Church will persecute all discenters. Ultimately there is war between the Saints and the Apostate Church during this period.

Arnold Fruchtenbaum says this:

The Goats will be sent to Hell, whereas the sheep will not only enter the Kingdom (v 34) but they will also inherit eternal life. Is their salvation, then, based on their works, be they anti-Semitic or pro-Semitic? Not at all. The Scriptures make it quite clear that salvation is always by grace through faith totally apart from works. During the Tribulation, the Jews will become the dividing for those who are believers and for those who are not. Only believers will dare to violate the rules of the Antichrist and aid the Jews.¹

Summary

• During the Tribulation 144,000 Jews will preach to Gospel to the whole world.
• Salvation will be by faith in Christ as it was before the Tribulation
• The judgement of the Gentile will be on the basis of pro-Semitism or anti-Semitism, which will be the outward and visible sign of the inward and spiritual status of all Gentiles at this time
• The Antichrist and the Apostate Church will persecute all who disagree with its religion
• Jews will be persecuted like never before
• True believers will give aid and comfort to the Jews during this time

For a full exposition of the period of time known as the Tribulation please refer to Dr Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum's Book, The Footstep of the Messiah

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Footnotes:

1. Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of Messiah, pp 367
   Used with the permission of Ariel Ministries.