The Great Falling Away

2 Thessalonians 2:3  Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, I am asked frequently why my emphasis has been on Israel and the last days, and I usually repond, "because I don't hear much about these two issues which are critical for preparing for the last days." In another version, it talks about "the great falling away" which is another spin on what this version uses as rebellion, but in either case what the Apostle Paul is saying is, the last days will be days of great change. The morals and values of Christianity will be under assault, and people who hold to those values and Biblical principles will be seen as out of step with reality and with the culture. I have made it a habit of asking pastors and Christian leaders where their eschatology  (the study of the last days) lies, and many will say because it's so controversial they avoid the theme.  Or their understanding of the last days is all about the church, and Israel doesn't play a role.  Personally, we should be talking about the coming of the Lord more, and the world events as they are lining up to what the Bible says would happen prior to His return.  When I watch the preachers on TV, or go to church, I find a missing element in our Biblical discipleship. That missing piece consumes 1/3 of the Bible, and is what we call the "The Blessed Hope" of the church. How can such an important topic be ignored, or misrepresented?  Here is one reason.  We are culturally "me centered" and everything we do is about hoping to improve our lifestyle, or our quality of living.  Everything from our entitlements to our rights, are all centered upon the individual. Our churches have picked up on this and many times we are talking about how to improve our lifestyles by adding Jesus, or a spiritual component to our everyday lives. Christian discipleship does not include prophecy, or Biblical end times, but rather, how do I cope with life.  I am not opposing the "how to live out a godly life in an ungodly world theme" but I think we need to be balanced in how we are growing in our discipleship.   It's no different than going to a gym to work out, and all you do is exercise and build muscles in your legs.  You will eventually look like a frog with big legs, but no upper body strength or muscle.   This is why my emphasis is on preparing your heart and your life on the issues that are to come, so that when they come, we aren't wondering what happened.   Remember, Jesus told us this: Matthew 24:37  As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EV3I3u2Ez0 The characteristics of Noah's day: 1. Living ungodly lives 2. Unaware of God My warning is simple, tell your preacher to start preaching once a month on prophecy and the Blessed Hope of His return.  Tell him to teach the church what is to come, and how do we prepare for it?  Remind him of Ezekiel 33, and the blood of those the watchman fails to warn, will be upon his head.  Preacher your job is not to be culturally relevant, your job is to be Biblically relevant, and persuasive in teaching the whole Bible.  We need to pray for our preachers, it is not easy to be one today. Pray for the congregations that demand their preacher grow their church over being Biblcially prophetic.  Preachers are cowards, and congregations are greedy. This is only the beginning of the great falling away.  There I said it, and its my opinion, and I am sticking to it.  Keeping it honest and truthful....K