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Prophecy: the Falling Away ~ BIBLE LESSON # 23

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Prophecy: the Falling Away ~ BIBLE LESSON # 23 ~ Prophecy: The Falling Away ~ BIBLE LESSON # 23 “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). Introduction Content Summary Each topic is briefly These Bible Studies An overview will help introduced with Bible are topical in nature reinforce the subject references taken from and are set in a matter. Note: These the King James question and fill in studies are not meant Version. the answer format. to be exhaustive. Quote: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” ~ Paul (2 Timothy 4:3). INTRODUCTION The apostle Paul declared a great falling away, an apostasy in the Church just before the second coming of Jesus Christ. Apostasy is described as a total departure from the faith. There will come a falling away from Jesus Christ and the precious truths of the Bible. How do we reconcile this with Matthew 16:18 that says, “the gates of hell shall Compiled by: not prevail against it [Christ’s Church]”? Pastor G. Angel The Bible has the answers. Let us turn its pages and read further. Casas Questions regarding What did Jesus say when He these Bible Studies or founded the His Church? Word of His Grace Christian Ministry can “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this be submitted at: ___________________ I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:19). WordofHisGraceCM@g mail.com Who is the rock on which the Church is built on? Thank you! “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner __________________________, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded” (1 Peter 2:6). “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was ________________________” (1 Corinthians 10:4). What is the Church? “To the general ___________________ and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23). Note: The New Testament Church is made up of regenerate believers who have been called out of the World. It comprises those who have placed their faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Church is not a single denomination, assembly, or institution but rather a spiritual entity of all who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ and who are led by the Holy Spirit. What did the apostle Paul say about the coming great apostasy? “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that ___________________ shall not come, except there come a falling away ______________________, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Is this the first time that Paul hinted at this coming apostasy? No… “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the ___________________, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the ___________________. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking _________________________ things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of _____________ years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:28-31). Was Paul the only one to speak of this coming great apostasy? 2 12 “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, “Thy Word is a Lamp Unto my Feet, a light myunto path” (Psalm 119:105). even ____________________ are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (1 John 2:18). “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the ______________________ which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ____________________ men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and ________________ the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:3-4). “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers _________________ you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Peter 2:1). Note: Apostasy is the desertion of or departure from the faith that was “once delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3). The New Testament forewarned of the days just before the return of Christ, there is to be a great falling away from Christ and the truths of Scripture. As stated, many false doctrines would enter the church with the aim of superseding, obscuring, overshadowing, and replacing God’s Word. So how do we explain Jesus’ statement that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against” the Church? “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made __________________________ among you” (1 Corinthians 11:19). “And for this cause God shall __________________ them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the ___________________, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:2). Note: Despite the powers of darkness, Jesus promised that His church, those who are “born of God” (1 John 5:4) and “endure unto the end” by faith in Him (Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13) would prevail. What are some of the signs that this apostasy is fast approaching? 1. The denial of the deity of Christ - (Colossians 2:9). 2. The denial of the bodily resurrection of Christ - (Luke 24:39). 3. The denial that Jesus Christ came in the flesh - (1 John 4:3; 2 John 1:7) 3 4. The denial of Jesus Christ as the head of the Church - (Ephesian 5:23; Colossians 1:18). 5. The denial of the complete atonement of Christ - (Romans 5:11; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 1:3). “Heaven and earth 6. The denial of the gospel - (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans shall pass away 1:16). but my words shall 7. The elevation of self above others - (3 John 1:9). not pass away” 8. Pleasing men rather than God - (Galatians 1:10). - Jesus (Luke 21:33). 9. Teaching false doctrines - (2 Timothy 4:3-4). 10. Permitting the unrepentant to serve - (1 Corinthians 5:1-7). 11. Promoting a false unity - (Ephesians 4:13; John 17:17; Jude 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:3). 12. Refusing to preach repentance - (Matthew 3:2; Acts 17:30; Revelation 12:17; 14:12). 13. A self-centered worship - (2 Timothy 3:2-4; Revelation14:7). 14. Elevating the traditions men above the Word of God - (Mark 7:8-9; Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19). Did Jesus warn His Church of these issues? Yes; read Jesus’ messages to the seven churches: 1. Ephesus - (Revelation 2:1-7). 2. Smyrna - (Revelation 2:8-11). 3. Pergamos - (Revelation 2:12 -17). 4. Thyatira - (Revelation 2:18-29). 5. Sardis - (Revelation 3:1-6). 6. Philadelphia - (Revelation 3:7-13). 7. Laodicea - (Revelation 3:14-22). How should Christians respond to this growing apostasy? “But speaking the truth in ______________, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with ______________________ and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). “Keep yourselves in the love of ________________, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 1:21). What will this coming apostasy eventually lead to? “Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that __________________ of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who 4 opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God ___________________ in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). See verses 1-12 for context. “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the ___________________: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Revelation 13:18). Note: This great falling away takes place just before the second coming of Jesus Christ. The Antichrist, also known as the Beast “Remember and the Man of Sin arises from within the Church and will lead in establishing a global religious-political system that usurps the ye not, that, position and authority of the LORD Jesus Christ. when I was yet with you, I told “Wherefore also it is contained in you these the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a things” (2 chief corner stone, elect, precious: Thessalonia and he that believeth on him shall ns 2:5). not be confounded” (1 Peter 2:6). 5 SUMMARY The Holy Bible speaks of a growing apostasy within the Christian Church that will eventually lead to the rising of the Man of Sin.
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