We have begun a new series entitled: ” The Next Exit.” We have spoken about the rapture of the church; last Sunday we talked about the timing of the rapture and knowing the seasons. This Sunday, we are continuing in the book of 2 Thessalonians with a message about one of the factors that will signal the return of Christ, which is…the falling away.
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 antichrist)...
It's interesting that even as Paul speaks about the return of Christ, that apparently there was a false teaching circulating among them, that Jesus had already returned… and he tells them don't get bent out of shape about any word or letter or spirit . Sometimes the enemy will incite people to say things that aren't true…..it comes from a demonic spirit.
But the main thing I want to talk about today is the fact that Paul says that “the Day” will not come; the day of Christ's return, unless the falling away comes first. This is a certainty in Paul's mind. The word is “apostasia” from where we get the word apostasy or to be apostate which is basically to be a turncoat, a deserter or a traitor. Paul is saying there's going to be a rebellion, a revolt, a departure from the faith.
And Paul says that this is going to be an earmark of the last days. There will be an apostasy and a falling away associated with the coming of Christ. It seems that in this last hour, that the devil, knowing that his time is short, will crank up the heat on believers. And we know that that's true; that already there's a growing antagonism towards Christianity. One of the main ways that Satan will deceive believers is through bogus teachers and so-called prophets who will prey on the church and they will throw it into so much doctrinal confusion that the end result will be a falling away from the faith - a rebellion that will become evident.
A book released just a few months ago entitled: The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back?...explores some of these issues regarding church attendance and faith and why people have left evangelical churches recently. Some of the reasons given are as follows: They did not fit in (23%) They did not feel much love in the congregation (18%) Negative experiences with evangelicals (15%) They no longer believed (14%).
1 Timothy 4: 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
The Bible says the time will come when men will not endure sound doctrine….but the antidote is to eagerly desire the pure milk of the Word of God.
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “The Falling Away. ”
Blessings,
Kevin