Introduction and Prayer
Let us give thanks to the Lord and begin with the time He allows us this day to expose ourselves before His word. Brother, let us pray.
Lord, we give thanks for this time, Father, that You allow us in Your grace and in Your mercy. Because it is a prophetic time where You today, through Your Holy Spirit, are establishing word that warns us about the things we must face. Before Your presence we are; we commend this time into Your hands. We surrender our ears, our eyes, our heart so that our life, Lord, may walk according to Your grace and mercy. In the name of Jesus we give thanks, amen.
Base Text and Purpose of the Study
Brothers, let us open Second Thessalonians chapter 2 to have a first reading from verse 1 to verse 3. For several weeks we have been studying this important topic which is about apostasy. The reason we study this topic is because it is necessary that we understand not only what apostasy is, but what it will consist of, so that we may be kept by the power of the Holy Spirit and be able to face what in due time each of us must face.
Let us read chapter 2, verses 1 to 3: “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.”
The Order of Prophetic Events
This text is important that each of us understand it and that it not be only today that we read it, but that we be constantly studying it. Although we have said it and will repeat it as many times as necessary, we can lose sight of the real order of events.
This text warns us that before the second coming of Jesus Christ two events will appear that are extremely determinant for every man and woman of God:
- First event: The apostasy
- Second event: The manifestation of the antichrist
These two events will appear in this specific order: first the apostasy, then the antichrist, before the coming of Jesus Christ. Let us not believe that much time will pass between one and the other, as we have been accustomed to years passing between prophetic events.
How will it happen? As soon as apostasy manifests in power—because apostasy already exists, but has not manifested in power—immediately the antichrist will manifest. Both events will be interacting with each other, and subsequently the second coming of Jesus Christ will come.
The Global Nature of Apostasy
This is important that we have clear, brothers. I call them events because they will be interacting with each other and will manifest in the entire world. This is a work that encompasses the entire world.
Do you remember when we studied in Wednesday’s teachings Deuteronomy chapter 5 about the 10 commandments and their relation to the 10 plagues of God upon Egypt? The first 9 plagues affected only the Egyptians. The Hebrews were in their territory as if nothing was happening. However, the tenth plague affected both Egyptians and Hebrews, and there appears the Passover lamb as the way God used to prevent the firstborn of the Hebrews from dying.
I make this point so we understand that apostasy is a satanic move that will affect everyone equally: believers and unbelievers, encompassing the entire world.
From now we can see that we cannot say “nothing will happen to me,” “nothing will happen to me,” “I am kept by the blood of Jesus Christ.” Let us be very careful because all this will encompass the entire world.
Three Biblical Definitions of Apostasy
In Second Thessalonians chapter 2 there are three definitions that the apostle, by the Spirit of God, gives about apostasy:
- Verse 7: “Mystery of lawlessness”
- Verse 9: “Operation of Satan”
- Verse 11: “Operation of error”
These definitions that the Spirit of God delivers to us through the mouth of the apostle Paul help us understand what apostasy is.
Divine Permission for Apostasy
Verse 11 teaches us something important: apostasy has God’s permission. Listen well: apostasy has God’s permission. This permission is given to touch those who at a certain moment formed part of or form part of the body of Christ.
God gives permission only when the enemy wants to touch those who are within the body of Christ. If they are outside, the enemy does not need to ask permission because they are already part of the kingdom of darkness. Observe verse 11: “And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.” Here we see that apostasy has God’s permission, although in verse 9 it is defined as Satan’s operation.
Verse 11 declares that it will touch people who today form part of the body of Christ, and this should alarm us. We present this teaching not only to bring knowledge, but above all to establish that no one is exempt. If we do not follow the instructions that the Lord gives, no one is exempt.
The Only Way of Liberation
Returning to the tenth plague: God said “at midnight the destroyer will come.” The destroyer will pass; if he finds the doorposts painted with the lamb’s blood, he will pass by. If the door is not painted with the lamb’s blood, the destroyer will enter.
With this we understand that there is permission from God over apostasy to touch men and women who today are within the body of Christ. The only way to free ourselves from what is going to happen is by following the instructions that the Spirit of God will give us.
As we approach the time, the Spirit of God will reveal to us things we do not see now, so that we can follow His instructions regarding apostasy.
Apostasy: Beyond Doctrine
Many of us have believed that apostasy deals only with doctrine: that it will attack with false doctrine or that false doctrine will be introduced to the church. This has been our idea until today.
However, the things that have been happening show that apostasy is mixing with political aspects, financial aspects, health aspects, and many areas of our daily environment.
A few days ago the entire world was moved by the assassination of a believing man in the United States, not only because he was a believer, but because his activity had mixed with politics. We see that political elements are mixing with religion. From this event, we will see similar cases repeated in different countries in the coming days, because precedents are established that project into different levels of societies.
Religious situations are mixed with politics and with economic situations. There are doctrines being established today that not only affect the United States, but the entire world: economic and financial questions that will govern people’s way of life regardless of where they are found. There are health elements mixing with religion.
Unfortunately, many men and women of God do not investigate why they have to submit to this series of situations. With this we realize that apostasy will affect all aspects of social life without exception.
The Deception of “Peace and Safety”
There is a word that has called my attention greatly that the Lord has been showing me. Let us go to First Thessalonians chapter 5:
“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.”
The apostle speaks mainly about the coming of Jesus. We already saw in the second epistle that before His coming apostasy manifests and the son of perdition. Both will be interacting, establishing a network over the entire world.
Apostasy is described in these verses as an environment of peace and tranquility. It will present itself with an appearance of attraction, of benefit, of good things for humanity. It will be a move established in the entire world that will present peace and safety, the best for people’s well-being.
However, verse 4 says that the brothers are not in darkness so that day should overtake them as a thief. If we do not work to establish the truth of the Gospel in our lives, we will be dragged by apostasy.
The Importance of Revealed Word
In Second Thessalonians we saw it was “an operation of error” that God sends. This means that if we do not work to establish the truth of the Gospel in our lives, we will be dragged by apostasy.
The Lord has been delivering revelation teaching to us during these times. It is not about sermons that enter through the ear and are pleasant, but about a word that opens our eyes.
The crucial question is: for the space of these years, how much revealed word that God has delivered to us have we been willing to submit to? It may be that the word pleases, teaches, exhorts and makes us think, but how many are we willing to enter into this process of obedience?
If we have been exposed to revealed word but have not entered into that word nor have trusted in the Lord, acting like Peter who tested Jesus saying “if it is You, command me to come to You on the water,” then we are exposing ourselves to apostasy reaching and enveloping us.
The Meaning of “Overtake”
“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.” The word “overtake” means: that it take you by surprise, that it assault you by surprise, that it catch you without your realizing and then carry you away entangled.
“We Who Remain”
In First Thessalonians 4:17 it says: “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
“We who remain” means “we who survive”: those who after having passed through that situation were not dragged away or taken. This presents an important alert message because we still do not understand what we are exposed to.
We preserve traits of a religious gospel: “guard yourself from sin, mainly from moral sins; if you guard yourself from that you are well.” But we are exposing ourselves to a demonic force that will come upon the face of the earth like a wave, like a tsunami, and will completely drag away many people.
The Days of Noah: A Prophetic Analogy
This word tells us that there will be some who will survive some event. We are not talking about rapture, because we have studied that the lifting up of the Church is at the coming of Jesus Christ, not before.
Let us go to Matthew 24:37-42: “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”
These verses present scenarios about the theme of apostasy. The problem is not the coming of Jesus Christ, but “we who remain”: those who can survive the event of apostasy.
Many people interpret these verses as rapture, but they do not speak of rapture. To understand it, we must comprehend how the days of Noah were.
I am speaking of men and women of God who are living hypnotized, sleeping. For many, the Lord manifests when they are in church or in meetings related to God’s word, but when they are in business, at work, or in daily routine, they do not understand that they also continue being before the Lord’s presence.
We never separate ourselves from the Lord’s presence, regardless of where we go or are. That lack of consciousness about how I should act when I am not in the meeting or in a church is what many times has led us to make pacts with darkness.
Who Was Taken and Who Remained
“And did not know until the flood came and took them all away.” Let us answer: who was taken? Those of the antediluvian population. Who took them? The flood. Who remained? Eight people: Noah, his wife, his sons and his sons’ wives.
Applying this analogy to verse 40: “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.” Who will take him? Apostasy. It takes for destruction, death and disappearance. The other will be left: “we who remain,” as the word clearly says.
Apostasy is a strong move, a tsunami that will fall, envelop and drag away many people.
The Family Reach of Apostasy
“Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.” This means these people are family members, they have first degree consanguinity. However, in the same family one will be taken by apostasy and the other will be left.
This means you cannot put your heart in the family member. You cannot for love of your family compromise your convictions in the Lord. It is a decision: for the Lord or for the world, but we cannot live under ambivalence.
The Great Tribulation
Matthew 24:21 says: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Apostasy involves all aspects. It is not only about false doctrine, but it is interacting with all aspects of human life: political, religious, financial, commercial, health.
How to Be Freed: The Importance of Obedience
How do we free ourselves from all this? By following the instruction. If until this moment we have had problems subjecting ourselves to the word that has been revealed to us, we are candidates for apostasy to drag us away.
Not because you form part of this ministry or are receiving these teachings will you be exempt from apostasy. I have to say it and cover my responsibility. If before revealed word you have problems subjecting yourself, submitting and walking with it, you are becoming a candidate for apostasy to drag you away.
We free ourselves by submitting to the word. As Matthew 7 says: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” But he who hears the word and does not do it, when the same events come, the house falls.
Let us not be thinking only about “I have not sinned” or “I have kept myself from sin,” because that is the religious gospel to which we were once exposed. The Lord has opened us and allowed us to enter a gospel of revelation, but it is not to fill our minds with knowledge, but so that each one can say: “Yes, Lord, here I am, send me.” If I have to suffer, endure, or give something up, I have no problems because following You or being before Your presence is much better than what I can receive in return.
The Call to Decision
It is important that each one make decisions. Do not postpone decisions. Your decisions have to be firm and decisive. Do not for a bowl of lentils sell your birthright or your convictions.
If they have to fire you, let them fire you. If you have to suffer, you suffer. If you have to endure, you endure. But maintain yourself in what the Lord has revealed to you. It is better that you be told “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things” than that one day they tell you “You wicked and lazy servant, you knew but did not do it. Cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Let us make decisions and put our hand to the plow. Let us not look back nor at what we leave behind. In the same family one will be taken by apostasy, the other will be left. You cannot put your heart in the family member nor for love of your family compromise your convictions in the Lord.
The Reconstruction of the Altar
In 1 Kings 18:30 it says: “Then Elijah said to all the people, ‘Come near to me.’ So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.”
The Lord is calling us to reconstruct our altar. If the altar is torn down, destroyed, if we have not paid attention to it and have neglected our spiritual life… It is not sin—you have not fallen into sin, you have guarded yourself from what you look at—but if in you there has not been a love for the Lord, if love is placed in other things and you have not felt that fire, that passion for the Lord, this day we have to repair the Lord’s altar in each of our lives.
Not to think, meditate, or ask ourselves what to do, but to make decisions. What is coming is near; we are already seeing it. What we see frightens us. How much more when it is in total magnitude. “Those days will be such as has not been, nor ever shall be” of much tribulation, because the satanic manifestation in the environments will be very strong.
He who makes decisions is the one who will be able, despite the pain and suffering, to say: “Lord, here I am, I trust in You.”
Final Prayer
Eternal Father ours, who are in heaven, I give You thanks, Lord, because You expose us to a hard and strong word, a necessary word. I give You thanks because You have called all of us, chosen and placed us. But I find, Father, that of three whom You called, one hid the talent because he was afraid. You, Father, teach me that even in places of much revelation there can be those who do not want to walk.
Eternal God, tonight we are before Your presence. You have spoken to us and instructed us. May each one, Father, be able to put his hand to the plow and not look back. May it be established that You have raised each one as watchman, prophets in their land, to establish order in the Kingdom of heaven upon earth, Father, in the name of Jesus.
Lord, Father, that it is not of him who runs nor of him who wills, but of him on whom You have mercy, I ask You for mercy, O God. Mercy, Father, so that we all may walk, Lord, toward the prize of the high calling in Jesus Christ, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
