Is this the great falling away?

[JTC]

Has anyone researched the Black Death of 500 yrs ago, I did? Back then approximately 30,000 people died possibly in Europe alone. That plague lasted several yrs and although it was caused by bacteria that was before antibiotics. You can be sure some people thought that was the end of the world as well. I thought the end was here twice in my 40 yrs as a believer so I'm slow to push the panic button. Nevertheless, eventually it will be the end, but when. Suppose that instead of looking at disasters we consider the Father's master plan. Granted we don't exactly know the Father's master plan but we have a few hints. One is the great commission that Jesus gave us before He left. Jesus thought that was super important. Another hint is how often God uses the phrase of The Nations in His word. I always considered the nations to be another way of saying the people, but maybe not. Apparently some 70 nations were scattered after the tower of Babel incident and God wants these nations redeemed. Another way of looking at this is to think Jesus won't be back until God gets His quota filled of saved souls. Since Jesus said that few of every generation actually inherits eternal life the Earth may have to go on for a lot longer. My point is instead of looking at disasters we should be looking at how many people get saved.

[Fidei Defensor]

2 hours ago, Mantis said:

Yeah I know what you mean. I think most of these people don’t read the Bible. They just let their preacher “teach” them.

Which is odd because we have nore access to the Bible than ever in history. You can download dozens of apps, get 20 USD or less Bibles or read Bible Websites. 

In the Reformation peopls died and burned at the stake over resding the Bible in english (James Bainmam) and for publishing it in English (William Tyndale). Now we have bo burning stakes and the Bible for many collects dust on a shelf. 

Sigh. 

[Sower]

49 minutes ago, Fidei Defensor said:

Which is odd because we have nore access to the Bible than ever in history. You can download dozens of apps, get 20 USD or less Bibles or read Bible Websites. 

In the Reformation peopls died and burned at the stake over resding the Bible in english (James Bainmam) and for publishing it in English (William Tyndale). Now we have bo burning stakes and the Bible for many collects dust on a shelf. 

Sigh. 

I go to thrift stores, flea markets and used book stores to buy bibles.
I get them for pennies on the dollar. Shelves are full of them, most like new.
Try to give them away when sharing the word.

[Fidei Defensor]

13 minutes ago, Sower said:

I go to thrift stores, flea markets and used book stores to buy bibles.
I get them for pennies on the dollar. Shelves are full of them, most like new.
Try to give them away when sharing the word.

Awesome! 

I found ESV paper backs for sale at 5.00 USD. Which is good for new. 

[Mantis]

3 hours ago, JTC said:

Has anyone researched the Black Death of 500 yrs ago, I did? Back then approximately 30,000 people died possibly in Europe alone. That plague lasted several yrs and although it was caused by bacteria that was before antibiotics. You can be sure some people thought that was the end of the world as well. I thought the end was here twice in my 40 yrs as a believer so I'm slow to push the panic button. Nevertheless, eventually it will be the end, but when. Suppose that instead of looking at disasters we consider the Father's master plan. Granted we don't exactly know the Father's master plan but we have a few hints. One is the great commission that Jesus gave us before He left. Jesus thought that was super important. Another hint is how often God uses the phrase of The Nations in His word. I always considered the nations to be another way of saying the people, but maybe not. Apparently some 70 nations were scattered after the tower of Babel incident and God wants these nations redeemed. Another way of looking at this is to think Jesus won't be back until God gets His quota filled of saved souls. Since Jesus said that few of every generation actually inherits eternal life the Earth may have to go on for a lot longer. My point is instead of looking at disasters we should be looking at how many people get saved.

Yeah I hear ya. Thats probably a good way to look at this.

[Mantis]

2 hours ago, Fidei Defensor said:

Which is odd because we have nore access to the Bible than ever in history. You can download dozens of apps, get 20 USD or less Bibles or read Bible Websites. 

In the Reformation peopls died and burned at the stake over resding the Bible in english (James Bainmam) and for publishing it in English (William Tyndale). Now we have bo burning stakes and the Bible for many collects dust on a shelf. 

Sigh. 

I think it is the culture of instant gratification. Thats a big book when all you do is watch four minute youtube videos! Short attention spans. I think the birth of the internet has done more harm than good. Social media makes us less social.

[Fidei Defensor]

13 minutes ago, Mantis said:

I think it is the culture of instant gratification. Thats a big book when all you do is watch four minute youtube videos! Short attention spans. I think the birth of the internet has done more harm than good. Social media makes us less social.

I see the internet as a double edged sword, on one hand it allows us to chat right now, look up Bible verses, commentaries and etc, on the other side is the dark web, and as you said a insta-culture that expects to learn something in 3-7mins. 

[Logostician]

I have been thinking about those verses as well.  I do not think we are even in the leading edge of the tribulation because nobody strong enough or persuasive enough has emerged who fits the bill of the Antichrist.  But I do beleive we are in flat spin descent into that time, and Jesus will return soon.  And as the chaos accelerates the Antichrist will emerge.  The stage will be set for him to say "Don't worry, I can fix all of this.  Just follow me."  I beleive the rapture occurs before the great tribulation, but we may still catch a glimpse of this son of Satan before he leads countless souls into the lake of fire.

I know people in the Dayton (Calvary Chapel) NV church that just lost the Supreme Court case to have attendance in churches given  consideration at least equal to casinos.  I've been to their church and know them.  Jesus will judge them with righteousness, unlike our Supreme Court.  They are Christian soldiers.  But most Christians are rolling over/falling away, disbanding their churches with little or no resistance.

Riots in cities are being allowed to continue, and even encouraged by leftist "leaders" at the state and local level.  Basic awareness of right and wrong is disappearing.  We are returning to the state of the world prior to the great flood of Noah's time, when the world was filled with violence.  Servants of Satan are seeking to disband police forces, as they have disbanded churches.  They are also seeking to destroy our culture through destruction of historical monuments and historical truth itself.  I beleive this is more than a cycle.  It may not be a freefall yet.  But it soon will be.  And it will fulfill the word of God.  But we will live forever with Jesus.

These are dire times when the Church needs to be reaching out to as many lost souls as possible, rather than aquiesing to its own suicide, by going into hiding.  Satan has but short time, but so do the unsaved who will soon perish in the absence of a strong and fearless Church.  The fields are white and ripe for harvest.

God is watching us.  Jesus gave everything, including his life, for his church.  Many martyrs have died in his name.  What will we give?  Will we serve Jesus or hide?  Jesus will take us at the time of his choosing.  Until then, the primary purpose of the time we have left in this world is to serve him.

[JohnD]

The great falling away can apply to the take over by the Roman Empire through Emperor Constantine.

Many prophecies have double fulfillments.

The ultimate falling away however is when the Beast demands absolute allegiance and renouncing

of one's faith in Jesus Christ... 

only those who were never saved in the first place could comply...

[johnthebaptist]

On 7/25/2020 at 9:45 AM, Mantis said:

I believe this is the beginning of the falling away mentioned in 2 thes 2:1-3. I don’t think we will ever be able to worship and gather like we once did. Jesus will come soon.

If you are referring to the coronavirus, sooner or later we should have a vaccine, I think, and then things should get back to normal.