Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Chapter Six
Pondered Question 6 - Falling Away FIRST
Dear Pastor, in this Blogsite we examine two things Paul explained, actually re-explained, to the Thessalonians. He wrote, "Remember ye not when I was yet with you, I told you these [2] things"  (2Thess.2:5)? Those two things are:
1- Jesus will not come before Antichrist is revealed.
2 - The Church will apostatize and Antichrist will emerge at the same time.

Pastor, it is likely that everyone teaching Pre-Trib has read the following Scripture and had a serious pause and ponder moment. Paul prophesied that Jesus would not "Gather" His people and take them to Heaven until after Antichrist is revealed. In the text, note especially the words "Falling Away": "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, no by word, nor by letter as from us, as that Day of Christ is at hand. Let NO MAN DECEIVE YOU by any means! For that Day shall NOT come, except there come a FALLING AWAY First, and that Man of Sin [Antichrist]be revealed, the son of perdition"  (2Thess.2:1-3)!   Can we read this from Paul and still conclude that Jesus is going to gather His people and take them to Heaven before Antichrist is revealed and does his work?  How does Pre-Trib deal with this Pondered Question? Some actually claim that the words "Falling Away" mean "Rapturing Away." The original Greek word Paul used for "Falling Away" is translated "Apostasy!" Pastor, let's be totally honest and look at what Paul is saying. Is there any possible way we can read this prophecy from Paul without at least wondering what that forged letter really said?

Forged Letter To The Thessalonians
Someone presented a letter to the Thessalonians claiming it was from Paul. The letter was obviously an attempt to reverse something Paul had explained to them before. The theme in 2 Thessalonians centers upon Christ's return and Antichrist. Paul was annoyed that the fake letter claimed that Jesus was going to return and take His people to Heaven before Antichrist. Again, Pastor, let's be honest and ask ourselves the obvious question. How can our popular Preachers teach a whole belief system claiming it to be Bible truth, even though Paul wrote his entire letter of 2 Thessalonians to refute exactly that Doctrine?

Satan and Antichrist
Satan and his Demons were constantly attempting to overpower Paul and the Apostles as in the Early Church. Let's follow the logic Satan would have for reversing the appearance of Christ and Antichrist. Satan infiltrated the Early Church from the very beginning with fake believers, using these evil persons to do his work. If Satan could inspire an evil agent to lie, saying he had a letter from Paul, and if Satan wanted to prepare the way for Antichrist, what better lie to tell than to claim that Antichrist COULD NOT APPEAR or WORK until AFTER Jesus took His people away to Heaven. If Christians believed this, they'd have no reason to watch for Antichrist, or prepare for his deceptions. Antichrist could set himself up as a Church official, maybe even the head of the Church, and no one would be the wiser. Could anything be more beneficial for Satan and Antichrist? Could anything be more devastating to the Church? For sure that fake letter was Satan's doing! Now if Satan wanted to deceive the early Thessalonian Church by reversing Antichrist's work and Christ's Coming to take His people to Heaven, how about now? Could it be that Satan wants us to believe that Antichrist cannot have any impact on the Church because the Church will be Raptured Away before he is allowed to work? The answer is all too obvious, and we should definitely Ponder this question. Jesus never said the Church will not be here on earth during the Tribulation. Paul didn't either, nor did any Bible Prophet.

Conclusion
Pastor, if Paul gave the exact order of events in 2 Thessalonians, has that order really been reversed? Since Pre-Trib has been introduced in early 1800s, it has been the fastest growing movement within Christianity. Let's prayerfully study this subject carefully. If it is true that the Church will deal with Antichrist, we will want to do all within our ability to help the Church become prepared. We'll want to teach the Church everything the Bible says about the Mark of the Beast! We'll want the Church to know when Antichrist is allowed to work! We'll want the Church to know what and when Antichrist's Deadly Wound really occurs! God has promised to send His Spirit to, "guide us into all Truth...and to show us things to come" (Jn.16:13)!   Let's pray for this guidance!!

Thank You, Pastor, for your time and interest.
Your Brother in Christ
Walter C. Martin Jr

For a more detailed look at this, see "Is there a Pre-Trib Rapture - Does it Matter." Also see "One Left Behind." 

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Check Our Other Blogsites:

Pre-Tribulation Rapture

Post-Tribulation Second Coming of Jesus

Will We Eat Pigs During the Millennium?

Planet Earth WILL be Destroyed After the 1000 Years!
New Jerusalem - How BIG is It?
Great White Throne Judgment Seat - When and Where
Christ's Kingdom - Millennial or EVERLASTING?

 Hell Fire
Is God Torturing People Now
Did Jesus Suffer ALL of Your Hell?
The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Death
The Dead - Dead or Alive - What is Death?
Did Jesus Die YOUR Death for You?
Will Satan Ever Die - Bible Says "YES!"
Testing Our Doctrine About Death
The Dead Stand Before Great White Throne Judgment Seat

 The Gnostics Attack the Sabbath
Were Gnostics Really Christian?
Were Gnostics Satan's Implants into the Church?
Is Gnosticism Alive and Well in Today's Churches
Church is Israel - Israel is Church
Is the Church Israel and Israel the Church?
Is the Bride of Jesus the 144 Thousand?
Did Jesus Offer the Jews a Millennial Kingdom in His Ministry?
Will New Jerusalem Sit in Israel? How Big is It?
Christ's REAL EVERLASTING Kingdom is for ALL Believers!

The Sabbath
Is it a Sin to Observe the Sabbath?
Is There a Connection Between the Rapture and the Sabbath?
Will the Sabbath Be Observed By God's People During the Tribulation?
Who REALLY Changed the Sabbath in Early Christianity?
Un-Answered and Un-Answerable Sabbath Questions For Popular Preachers
How to Test Your Doctrine Concerning the Sabbath

Heaven
Marriage in Heaven - Millennial Kingdom?
Strange Animal/Demons the Millennium?
Why Jesus Hasn't Come to Take Us To Heaven?
Teachers of Anomia (Law Annulling)
Good Ministers Teaching Against God's 10 Commandments?
Teaching of Anomia - The Reason Jesus Hasn't Come Yet?
Pre-Trib Rapture and Sabbath
Pre-Trib Rapture and the Sabbath?

Walter C. Martin Jr.
Everlasting Gospel Ministries

These are just a few of the questions we examine in our Websites.
Thank you, Dear Reader,  for checking them. Please feel free to give us your comments and feedback if you look at our Sites.  If you send us your questions or comments, we will try to answer and add your question to these Websites. We will Not give your name or E-Mail address to ANY ONE or ANY Church Group or Denomination! Nor will we send you ANY annoying E-Mails!! It is NOT our purpose to get you to withdraw from your present Church, but to invite you to present things you learn here to your Pastor and Friends.
Let's pray that God will continue sending His Holy Spirit to guide as we prepare for Jesus to come. Thank You!
Your Brother in Christ!
Walter C. Martin Jr
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