Hello Doves,

 

There are some believers that believe the apostasy of the church comes when those who miss the Rapture, having taken the mark of the beast rather than die for Christ. This event most likely will take place sometime toward the end of the tribulation period.  Obviously those who believe this apostasy comes after the Rapture believe it is still to come, but what does scripture teach? 

 

In Daniel it reads: "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance (powerful, mighty, strong, greedy), and understanding dark sentences (duplicitous is speech), shall stand up" (Dan. 8: 23). 

 

The Hebrew word for "transgressors" is pasha, which means to break away from just authority. The angel giving Daniel understanding of future events to come spoke of the "transgressors."  So who represents those of just authority, this being future from Daniel's perspective?  It's the Church no doubt.  And sadly, scripture says that they will commit apostasy (forsake the truth).

 

What's interesting is that the Apostle Paul told the elders of the church of Ephesus before his departing:

 

"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20: 29-30). 

 

The above verse seemingly tells us that heretical teachings was prevalent, even in Paul's time, as he knew that after his departure these heretical teachings would be on the rise, leading many away from the truth to believe a lie, which I believe is one of the reasons that caused Paul to contend for the faith.  It seems Paul knew that the percentage of true believers would decrease, as false believers would increase after his departure, as the percentage of false believers to true believers would become greater through subsequent generations, and then, at some point in time, a generation would come where most of the church would believe these false doctrines, that come of men, and when the church comes to the full in believing this false doctrine (determined by God alone), then a "king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences shall stand up."

 

Now, I don't know about you, but after reading the book of Daniel, especially chapters 7, 8, and 11, it is very convincing to me that this "king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences" has stood up already, as these three chapters in Daniel correspond exactly to BHO actions. If all this is true, which I believe it is, then the apostate church has already come to the full already, this being witnessed by that "king" standing up when he did, and is not something to occur later.

 

The phrase, "come to the full," implies that there is no more room.  An analogy of this phrase, "when the transgressors have come to the full," is like having a cup being filled with (whatever ?), and over time it steadily gets more full, until it comes to the full, having reached its limit.  Sadly, this phrase is speaking of the apostate church.  I believe God is telling us that the apostate church has come to the full already for not believing the true doctrine of Christ.  In 2 Tim. 4: 3 it says, "The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine." Again, I believe the time has come, this being witnessed by the king of fierce countenance having stood up, this being our signal that this apostasy has come to the full.

 

If this is true, that the church has come to the full already, then what is the fate of those believers that miss the Rapture, and why did they miss the Rapture?  According to scripture is says,

 

"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thess. 2: 9-12).

 

Receiving not the truth is more than having never accepted Christ into the heart. It is also rejecting His requirements of us preserving ourselves holy: body, soul, and spirit (1 Thess. 5: 23).

 

I believe it now beckons us to ask the same question that Pontius Pilate asked, "and what's the truth?" 

 

The truth is knowing and doing the doctrine of Christ, which teaches us to completely repent of our sins (the sins of the flesh; 1 Cor. 6; 9-10; Gal. 5; 19-21).  Since Jesus Christ went to the cross to be our atoning sacrifice, He has every expectation of us that "name the name of Christ to depart from iniquity" (2 Tim. 2: 19).

 

I believe the time has come, and has been for a few years already, that the apostate church has come to the full!  If you have accepted Christ, it's time right now for you to put on your strength and truly repent from your sins. If you are still giving into the sins of the flesh scripture says that "whosoever does such things WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5: 21).

 

Whether you believe the Rapture is imminent or not, we still know it's coming, for scripture says so. He is only coming for a Bride that is faithful and without spot or blemish, therefore it's of utmost importance to be ready, having repented from doing the sins of the flesh! 

 

Please do not take my word for it, but since that man of sin, the son of perdition is here now, tells us the apostate church has come to the full already, which leaves me to believe that the time of the Gentile church has come to a close, for in God's eyes He has determined that most of Christendom has come to the full for not believing the truth, this being witnessed by that "king" standing up (I personally believe this came on Jan. 20, 2009, when BHO officially became king, and not when he was elected on Nov. 4, 2008, or Oct. 29, 2008,  for Bush was still in office, but I don't know for sure). 

 

Thankfully, God tells us that a remnant of true believers will come to Christ (Jews and Gentiles), even after the indignation. These remnant will come to Christ through the Two Witnesses and the 144,000, them being empowered by the Holy Spirit. Amen! 

 

I hope you see just how close we are to the coming of Christ.

 

If you have His Seed abiding in you, allow Him to grow that Seed in you so to increase and strengthen your inner man and inner woman, which is done by being doers of the word, the doctrine of Christ.

 

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Eph. 6: 10).

 

In Christ,

Greg