Apostasy in Motion

How and why would any Christian abandon their Savior and sound Bible doctrine to follow after a false religion?

In the last days of the church’s sojourn on earth, the apostle Paul alluded to an event that would preclude the return of Christ for the church:

“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you 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. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away [apostacia] comes first…” 2 Thes. 2:3

For Bible-believing Christians, such an apostasy is beyond mere “backsliding” — rather, it is a wholesale abandonment of systematic faith, belief and actions. It is man working in his own strength and not under the direction and enablement of the Holy Spirit. This is the major risk for the living church today, and signs are already appearing that indicate that apostasy is indeed already in motion.

Yet, apostasy is not just falling away into a vacuum. It is implied those who fall are actively drawn away to a false gospel, one that sounds reasonable enough but clervely excludes Christ and thus denies His power. Paul warned that “false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matt. 24:25)

When Jesus wrote to the 7 churches in Asia Minor (Rev. 2-3), he wrote to seven physical churches. Historians and Bible scholars believe that the letters were also directed to the corporate church as it would exist in seven different ages throughout the church age. If so, the seventh and last letter to Laodicia would represent a pungent exhortation to today’s church.

This last letter reveals a church that is lukewarm and that has a thoroughly false assessment of its own condition. It believes it is rich, self-sufficient, full of knowledge and healthy. In turn, Jesus said, “But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Rev. 13:17b)

The most shocking thing however, is that verse 20 reveals that Jesus Himself has been put out of His own church and is pleading to re-enter: “Here I am!”, He says, “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20)

This is the heart and soul of apostasy: Man-centered philosophy, wealth and “good works” displaces Christ, and with Him, all the enablement to live the Christian life as revealed in the New Testament.

The first purpose of RevelationGate Ministries is to present the book of Revelation as it is written by the author Himself. That is, it reveals the person of Jesus Christ as He is today, not 2000 years ago. It declares to every Christian His glory, His marvelous works, His unbounding grace, His infinite mercy. As such, it let’s us look intently into His face to know His character, His heart, and His love for us.

The second purpose is to warn Christians and the church against apostasy and the world system that is rapidly being formed into unified power structure ready to be controlled by the future Antichrist.