I truly believe we are in the end of time as we know it, and I have written several times in my letters to the Church, about the “rapture” or catching away of the Church of Jesus Christ. Today I want to look at this fascinating subject once again, and look at five scriptures that talk about the removal of God’s people. These scriptures are out of Matthew, Luke, 1 Corinthians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Two are spoken by Jesus, and the other three are from Paul’s letters.
I do believe we are in this time of history that these writers wrote about over two thousand years ago, and the Holy Spirit is trying to get His Church back in line with the book of Acts. When we are together as one, and need each other to survive and also thrive. This is what the home church movement was all about in my opinion. Getting back to our roots, coming together as one in the Lord.
We have been visiting several local churches in our area here in Kentucky. Very large buildings, but only a handful of people sit in the pews. Where are the rest of the Christians at? Will I ever find one that fits my needs? I seriously doubt it, but we need fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. All of us do, that’s how our Father designed us.
God never wanted a structural institution, large buildings, or making the Church a business; it was always to be a living organism, one that is able to light up the path of darkness, and allow His creation to find their way home again.
Who or what is holding the anti-christ of the book of Revelation back? I want to start off this rapture question with 2 Thessalonians 2:2-7. If you read it you will find it’s all about the anti-christ, and the rapture of the Church. Someone is holding this entity back, many have tried to be this person throughout history, but all have failed. Satan is in the dark just like everyone else, only God knows who this person will be.
We have been taught for generations that this scripture is talking about the people of God, Christians, backsliding and leaving the church. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! If you read verses 3&7 you will see that Paul is talking about the only entity that is able to stop the plans of the devil. Who is this entity or person he is talking about? It’s not the Holy Spirit as we are sometimes taught, though He could do that and more. But who else then? Jesus gave the authority to His Church, you and I, and all the ones that believe on Him.
There are a lot of scripture that informs us that we have dominion on this earth, we all have the Holy Spirit within us when we get saved, through and by Him, we are in this position of authority. Once we are removed then this evil entity that Paul is talking about, will be able to do his part as allowed by God. Here are a few scriptures that tells us who we are now, Matthew 16:19, 18:18, 28:18, Mark 16:17-18, Ephesians 6:12, James 4:7, 1 John 4:4, and more.
If you will read verses 3&6 together, you will see who is holding back this enemy of God. Verse 3-“let no man deceive you by any means; for that day will not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” Someone is holding him back. Verse 6-“ and now you know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.” Not the people who leave the church but someone else.
The key word of verse 3 are the words “falling away.” The church has always misunderstood this scripture, but not all, in my opinion. Let’s look to Mr Strongs Concordance.
Falling- 646- apostasia = deflection from truth, falling away the same as 647-apostasion = something separative, divorce, (the word apostasion as neutral of a presumed adjective from a derivative of 868- aphistemi. Now let’s look at the word aphistemi or 868= to remove, to instigate, to revolt, to desist, desert, etc., depart, draw away, refrain, withdraw self. Wow! And we think the English language is so good. Really?
Strange notes Mr Strong writes? No wonder the organized church takes this view of what Paul is talking about as being the falling away of the Church. Poppycock! When you read Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians he is trying to reassure them that they are not to be troubled, or worried about their future. He even ends with the words “comfort your hearts” in verse 17. Does this sound like the Church is about to lose?
Now reread these few paragraphs again, with the understanding that we are the ones who are in charge, which we are, by command of the Lord. We have the dominion through Jesus our Lord as He gave it to the Church (Ephesians 1:20-23), and we are the ones who have to be removed by God before this arch enemy of God is allowed to do his thing for 7 short years, before he will be removed from the earth for 1000 years. Now let’s look at those 2 words, Remove and Depart, that Mr Strong uses in his definition of aphistemi.
Paul thought that his explanation was more than enough for his readers to understand what he meant. It is only by the ignorance of the church that has allowed men of God to misconstrue the obvious meaning of what he really meant.
It’s not deflection from truth or forsaking the gospel, but rather the removal or departure of the Church as a whole, that allows the anti-christ to come forward and deceive the people left behind after the Church has been removed by God. Not the removal of the Holy Spirit, but the blood bought Church of Jesus Christ.
This is what the letter is all about to these people of God. Never before in all of Church history has this ever happened before. A world without the influence of the real Church. Holy Spirit will still be here ready to save all those millions that will be martyred for daring to believe God is still God, and refuses to bow their knee to this anti-christ. Yes, it will cost them their lives (Revelation 14) but they will be saved by faith just like those in the Church age were, and still are being saved by faith.
I will close this out by reminding each of you, that you will make it, just don’t give up. Next week we will continue this look at the Rapture as we study Gods word together.
In His Service As Kilted Priest
The Kilted Priest 