Watching the signs

We all should be watchmen in these days

“Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the ^[c]apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed], ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself [so proudly and so insolently] above ^[d]every so-called god or object of worship, so that he [actually enters and] takes his seat in the temple of God, publicly proclaiming that he himself is God.” - 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (AMP)

I love the Amplified Bible translation, mainly for its expansion and clarification of certain words or verses in the text, along with the footnotes. My Bible study today centers on 2 Thessalonians, and the signs of the coming “lawless one.” The verses above, in context, are speaking of what we’re to watch for before the eventual return of King Jesus, to claim His throne, and His bride - that is - the remnant of Believers who have kept their robes white and not bowed to the enemy.

Are we in the time of the apostasy, now? Are we seeing a “falling away” of those who have claimed to be followers of Christ, but who are more closely aligned with the world and all of its adulteries?

I see so many "Christians" rejecting the lessons of Christ [while still claiming to be Christian] to chase after their worst, most flesh-driven impulses. They've rallied around a man who has referred to himself as "God," on more than one occasion and who is treated as a messiah-figure by many professing Christians. The more cruel, destructive and profane he is, the more they adore him and cling to him. There is no amount of pain he can cause that will untether them from their devotion to him. There is no proof of wrongdoing you can lay out for them that they will not excuse, ignore, or deny. He is infallible. He is divine. Loyalty to him, above kin and country, has become their whole identity.

Many of us are suffering the fallout of his actions. Personally, at a time when I should be mapping out my retirement plans, it very much appears that if I intend to retire before time and nature overtake me, I will have to choose which "luxuries" - such as food, shelter, clothing, medicine, etc... - I'm willing to do without. And to be perfectly honest, just so this is all kept in context, there are some things I have now that I know I could do without. I’m not “rich,” by what most consider the definition of the word to be, but I have worked hard (as does my husband) and I’m am much better off now than many in the world are. I give God the glory for sustaining me. It’s not my hard work, so much as it is God’s provision that has allowed me to find work that uses my skills, affords me the kind of life I have, the ability to pay my tithes and give back where I see a need. It’s God’s grace that I lean on for strength, to overcome the fears of the coming times of struggle.

That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t or won’t call this out.

How can so many Christians be so deceived? This is a spiritual malady. This is separating wheat and tare. There are those who have been church-goers all their lives, but their actions and allegiances now are a lesson to be learned: It's not the building you go into or the preaching you sit under. It's how the heart within you receives the Word and how you reflect that Word to the world outside.

I’m purposely not saying the name of this false messiah. I’ve said it so many times. I’ve called out so many wrongs and laid out so much proof. I’ve fought this battle on the political field for a decade. I want to cut off all oxygen to this festering pox on humanity, and on the Church, specifically. We already know the world is doomed. It has been judged by God and its destruction is imminent. The Church, however, if it is to still be the Church, needs to do her job. More specifically, the American Church needs revival, and that will only come through repentance and prayer, seeking revival above political power.

I’ve been thinking of what to write about for many weeks now, starting and stopping. I get a topic, then something more horrendous than the day before happens and I have to start over. So for the time being, this is what I’ve come up with. It’s a call to action to the Church to wake up from the delusion, those who still can, before you find yourselves left on the threshing room floor. With the celebration of Redemption Day so near, now seemed the right time to put this out there.

I’m so tired, dear readers. There is wickedness in this world. There is deception, corruption, and ungodliness in our systems of government. Politically, no one is coming to save us. Spiritually, He is coming soon.

Maranatha, Lord. Come quickly.