The Final Onslaught

The New Testament warns believers that before Jesus returns his Church will be under assault from within by deceivers, “false anointed ones,” and “false prophets,” and it does so repeatedly. Before the “Day of the Lord” begins, his disciples will be confronted by the “Man of Lawlessness,” a figure linked to the final “Apostasy,” the final great “falling away” from the true faith.

Indeed, the churches of English-speaking nations like Australia, Canada, and especially the United States of America appear to be under such an assault even now. They have been inundated with false prophets, political provocateurs, divination, mysticism, and deceptions such as the “Word of Faith” movement. The “Mystery of Lawlessness” and the “Spirit of the Antichrist” are working tirelessly among believers to prepare them for the “Lawless One.”

[Photo by Carl Jorgensen on Unsplash]

Jesus warned us to beware of the “many deceivers” who would come “in his name” and thereby “deceive many,” namely, “false prophets” and “false messiahs” who cause “lawlessness” to spread among his people. They would spread false information about the “coming of the Son of Man,” and use impressive “signs and wonders” to deceive, “if possible,” the “Elect.” Only believers who persevere through this onslaught will be saved - (Matthew 24:5, 23-27).

Likewise, in the Book of Revelation, the “False Prophet” performs “great signs” that deceive many, causing them to give their allegiance to the “Beast from the Sea” rather than the “Slain Lamb.”

Already in the first century, deceivers had infiltrated the Seven Assemblies of Asia, “false apostles,” the “Nicolaitans,” the proponents of the doctrines of “Balaam,” and the “prophetess, Jezebel,” causing some members to engage in idolatry and otherwise compromise with the surrounding pagan society.

“Mystery Babylon, the Great Whore” was attempting to destroy those early congregations from within, the same way that Satan has been attacking the Church ever since. His efforts will intensify during the last phase of the present age.

Satan does not wage “war” in Revelation against Israel or other nation-states, but on the “saints” who have the “Faith of Jesus” and his “Testimony,” and who “follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” This “war” includes the invasion of the Church by deceivers, false prophets, and clever deceptions.

The Apostle Paul was specific when writing to the Thessalonians. The “Day of the Lord” and the “arrival” of Jesus would not come until two events occurred – the “Apostasy” and the “revelation of the Man of Lawlessness.”

The term “apostasy” or ‘apostasia’ is applied consistently to apostatizing from the true faith in the Greek Scriptures. When Paul warned that this “Lawless one” would deceive those who “refuse the love of the truth,” he referred to believers who abandoned their faith commitment. This conclusion is proved by his declaration that the “truth” to which believers must cling is the “tradition you received” from him and his coworkers.

This master deceiver will “seat himself in the Sanctuary of God.” Elsewhere, Paul consistently refers to the Body of Christ as the “Sanctuary of God,” not a stone building in Jerusalem. Thus, the “Lawless One” will target the Church of Jesus Christ for deception and apostasy.

HOLD FAST TO THE TEACHINGS

Paul also warned Timothy about this coming final Apostasy. The time is approaching when “some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” In the last days, “evil men and howling imposters will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Considering what was coming, he exhorted Timothy:

• “To preach the word, and be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the SOUND DOCTRINE, but having itching ears, they will heap to themselves teachers after their lusts and will turn away their ears from the truth and turn aside to fables” – (1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 3:13, 4:1-4).

We should note Paul’s stress on “sound doctrine” as the antidote to deception, apostasy, and the lies of deceivers.

The Apostle Peter also warned of “false prophets” and “false teachers” who will disseminate false doctrines and wreak havoc in the Church before the return of Jesus - (2 Peter 2:1-3).

In his epistles, John speaks of the coming “Antichrist.” However, of more immediate concern were the “many antichrists” that were active in the churches under John’s care. The “Last Days” were underway already, and that was demonstrated by the “Spirit of Antichrist” that was at work through the deceivers disseminating false teachings among believers two thousand years ago – (1 John 2:18-22, 4:1-3).

Scripture provides a clear and consistent warning. Before the return of Jesus, the Church will experience apostasy because of its infiltration by “false prophets” and other deceivers and the unveiling of the “Man of Lawlessness.” While persecution will certainly come, the stress is on the danger posed by deceitful teachers, false prophets, and false “anointed ones” working in the Church, indeed, often from the pulpit.

The Church of Jesus Christ is neither defenseless nor without hope. The fact that Jesus and his apostles warned of these coming events indicates we can avoid deception and darkness, and we will accomplish this by heeding the teachings of Jesus and his Apostles.

As Paul assured his readers, faithful believers will not be overtaken by the “Lawless One” despite his mighty “signs and wonders” IF they “hold fast” to the APOSTOLIC TRADITION handed down by him and his fellow Apostles. That “tradition” is preserved in the Greek New Testament – (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17).

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RELATED POSTS:

• Howling Imposters - (The New Testament warns repeatedly of coming deceivers and false prophets who will cause many disciples to depart from the faith)

• The Last Hour - (The presence of false teachers in the Assembly demonstrates that the period of the Last Days is underway)

• Suffering for Him - (To follow Jesus means self-denial and a willingness to suffer for his sake, and enduring persecution is the highest honor in his kingdom)