The great apostasy

[evangelist6589]

Reading a book by Mark Hitchcock on this topic as I write. According to him this means a falling away in the church. Perhaps the progressive christians (a oxymoron) and the word of faith false prophets are an example of apostate Christianity. Does anyone have any insight on this topic? I have mailed out many letters confronting apostates and had many conversations but to no avail as they have not repented of their false teachings.

 

[Yeshua1]

Reading a book by Mark Hitchcock on this topic as I write. According to him this means a falling away in the church. Perhaps the progressive christians (a oxymoron) and the word of faith false prophets are an example of apostate Christianity. Does anyone have any insight on this topic? I have mailed out many letters confronting apostates and had many conversations but to no avail as they have not repented of their false teachings.

There has always been some false teachers within the church, started way back during time of apostles!

 

[HankD]

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

HankD

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Reading a book by Mark Hitchcock on this topic as I write. According to him this means a falling away in the church.

I think this refers to 2 Thessalonians 2:3, which refers to a 'falling away' [Greek apostasia] and the arising of the 'man of sin.' I find this section of the letter very difficult to interpret to my own satisfaction. I'm inclined to believe that the 'falling away' happened very quickly (cf. Acts 20:28-31) as evidenced by the doctrinal vagaries of most of the Church Fathers. The Puritans were in no doubt that the 'man of sin' was the Papacy. Nero, Napoleon and Donald Trump have been other suggestions.

I am inclined to think that undue speculation over these things is not helpful. I think we should follow the command of our Lord in Mark 13:33 and 'take heed, watch and pray.'

 

[HankD]

A fall begins and then gains momentum. - 32 feet per second per second - if I remember correctly - then (without the coefficient of friction) reaches about 17,000 MPH - again guessing from decades ago.

The fact is that a fall begins and if not interrupted keeps increasing in momentum.

The falling away began in the apostolic age (which has been recorded in the inspired scripture) and continues to this very day getting worse and worse until the Lord returns to take care of business which seems eminent.

HankD

 

[Dr. Bob]

I have known some whom I would call apostate, but they, of course, would never label themselves such.

A mark of apostasy seems to include inability to see your own positions/views as apostate.

 

[scanner]

"This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes."
2 Tim. 1:15

The church was in apostasy before Paul died and it has not improved with time. So, the mystery of iniquity was already at full throttle by the time we showed up on earth.

Peter says, "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."
2 Peter 3:14-18

Where does the expression, "Robbing Peter to pay Paul," come from? Explanations abound and seem reasonable. My opinion ignores secular or religious history and has to do with the two apostles and why would anyone feel that Peter was being robbed to benefit Paul.

Peter didn't feel Paul was robbing him because he knew things were changing and acknowledged that some believers were not understanding what was going on.

I always tell new believers to read the book of Acts first. I know most people say read the gospel of John first but that is something that can wait. The book of Acts is strategically placed in the Bible. If you went from John to Romans you would be confused. You would have no idea of who Paul is and why is he calling himself the apostle of the Gentiles, (Rm. 11:13)? Plus, why is Paul writing all these epistles and taking on Peter and James?

Paul and Peter had their differences; we can read it in Galatians chapter two but Peter agreed with Paul when it was all said and done. Today, we are basically left with the those who Peter warned us about; the unlearned; the unstable and the followers of Phygellus and Hermogenes.

Is it all cut and dried today as far as who's who in terms of apostasy? Not a chance. Things are all mixed up. That's why we have this verse, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15

So here we are in the middle of apostasy working out our salvation with fear and trembling but pressing toward the mark anyway.
No way we can do this without the word of God and the Spirit of God giving us understanding.