"Truth Under Fire"

What do you get when you blend Christianity, pantheism, Eastern religion, mysticism with a dash of New Age philosophy? A recipe for disaster!

The Bible tells us that the end times will be characterized by false teaching and deception. Even what passes for the church will grow lukewarm and lethargic, (Revelation 3:16), with a watered-down, seeker-friendly version of the Gospel that has no place for Jesus.

We are no longer a predominantly Christian society. In fact, anti-Christian sentiment so permeates our public schools, one would think the mere mention of Christ (or God forbid!), the Ten Commandments, might actually corrupt young brains. The end result is a people ignorant of biblical truth and polluted by sin. The pursuit of a secular life without God leaves a spiritual vacuum that will, of necessity, be filled with deception. Take God out, and an empty, lost society will fill the void with something. Drugs, alcohol, materialism or some false religion are all popular options.

The Bible predicts that a time of spiritual apostasy will precede the end and pave the way for the arrival of the Antichrist. The word apostasy comes from the Greek word apostasia which means, literally, "to defect, or to forsake the faith."

Most evangelicals believe this apostasy is the product of a false Christianity--people who claim to be Christian, but who don't follow Christ. This false Church will have only the appearance of Godliness, but deny the power of God to save. They will be devoid of the Spirit and of truth. They will be counterfeits.

The false religion of the last days will be a combination of: corrupted Christianity, pantheism, Eastern religion, mysticism, and New Age blather all tossed together into one big fat grand DECEPTION.

Buyer beware.

A wise man once said: "Test everything against the truth of God's Word. The more familiar you are with the "real thing"--Scripture--the easier it becomes to spot a phony." -- Greg Laurie, evangelist

"How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure"  Ephesians 1: 3-5.

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• CNN: Rogue FBI employee marries ISIS terrorist she investigated.
• RR News: Iran Using U.S. Cash To Fund Massive Military Buildup; Money part of nuclear deal under Obama Administration.
• The Hill: U.S. intercepts Russian bombers, fighter jets off Alaska.

"Apostasy Rising"

Two billion people on the face of the earth identify themselves as Christians.

But let's face it gang, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that not everyone who claims to know Jesus really does.

For instance, how many "Christians" do you know who rarely:

• read the Bible
• attend church
• fellowship with other believers

While engaging in these activities will not save people, saved people engage in these activities.

Why?

• Jesus is the Word made flesh. If we don't know the Word (Scripture), we can't really know Jesus.
• We are not to forsake the gathering together (or going to church)--Hebrews 10:37. We are God's family. His desire is for a close-knit church family that gathers together regularly.
• We fellowship with other believers for the same reason. (Birds of a feather flock together. If we have no Christian friends maybe we're not part of the flock!).

Just before Christ returns for His Bride (the people who love Him), we are told to expect a mass apostasy, or falling away from the faith.

"And now, brothers and sisters, let us tell you about the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered together to meet Him (2 Thes. 2:1).

"For that Day will not come until there is a great rebellion (or falling away) against God...(2 Thes. 2:3).

Rebellion against God is rampant today. The church is full of false teaching and counterfeit believers.

Jesus said He would allow the wheat (genuine believers) and the tares (counterfeit believers) to grow together until the harvest (or judgment)(Matthew 13:30).

How do we recognize counterfeit teaching? The same way a bank teller recognizes a counterfeit bill: By being so familiar with the Truth that a counterfeit stands out like a sore thumb.

That requires study, people.

"Study (not just read the Scriptures) to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that has nothing to be ashamed of, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).

A wise man once said: "The imagery and symbolism of marriage is applied to Christ and the body of faithful believers who love and obey Him. As followers of Jesus Christ, we who are the bride of Christ wait eagerly or with 'outstretched necks' for His return. If this does not describe you...repent and return to your first love" (Revelation 2:5).--Anonymous

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