THE FALLING AWAY
If you watch our services by streaming on our webpage or Facebook or if you attend in person, you have probably wondered why I have talked about apostasy so much lately. Apostasy is one of the major signs that the Great Tribulation is near, and before the Great Tribulation, the church will be raptured, and if you have heard the Gospel and rejected it at the time of the Rapture your fate will have been sealed.
Read these verses.
2 Thessalonians 2: 1 - 3
1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 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. 3 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,
Apostasy is being exposed to the gospel truth, being drawn to accept Jesus, and falling away or rejecting that truth. It is reaching epidemic proportions in our society. People are turning their backs on the Gospel, and it is the least talked about sign of God’s coming judgment, but it might be the most important sign.
Statistically, it is alarming to consider the rapid increase of apostasy in America. When Gallup first started tracking church attendance in 1937, 73% of those surveyed said they were members of a local church. In 2020, the last time Gallup polled for this data, only 47% of those surveyed said they were members of a local church. Of those that attend to church as members, the statistics reveal a gap that is very disheartening.
66% of a congregation is made up of people born before 1946.
58% are baby boomers born from 1950-1964.
50% come from Generation X which is those born between 1965 - 1980.
36% come from Millennials, the first internet generation, who were born between 1981-1996.
Church membership declines for each generation. Statistically, you can see the apostasy. Continuing this trend would mean that within 30 years there would be no dominant religion in America.
These numbers are troubling because it shows apostasy in full effect. These younger generations were fully exposed to the gospel, yet they have turned their backs, statistically. The latest Gallup poll also revealed that people are more apt to mix and match religious traditions to create their own religion, but the Bible says that Jesus Christ is the Way. I have been amazed at the number of Protestant Evangelical denominations this year, and maybe it is just because this is the first time I have paid attention to it, participating in Ash Wednesday ceremonies. Dear friend, I do not need anyone smudging a cross on my forehead to acknowledge sin because Jesus Christ acknowledged my sin and nailed it to the Cross. People are mixing and matching, and it is a sign of apostasy.
85% of all followers of Christ accept Christ before they finish college which is typically 21-24 years of age. Dear friend, statistically and biblically, Christ is on the verge of calling His church home. If you have not accepted Him, the hour for you to do so is at hand. If you have any questions about getting saved, reach out to me through email, Messenger, or beechgrovebruceville.org.
These statistics are troubling, but they prove once again that God’s Word is inspired because almost 2,000 years ago, Paul told the Thessalonians that the falling away would occur before the Man or Perdition, the Antichrist, comes on the scene, and we see that falling away happening today. My desire and prayer for you is to get saved before it is too late, and if you have heard the gospel and you reject it, when the Antichrist appears, you will not accept the gospel because you will believe the lies of the Antichrist.
2 Thessalonians 2: 9-12
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
If you reject the truth, you will fall for the lie. My desire is that you call on the name of Jesus in the name of truth and accept Him today as your personal Savior.
If I can be of any assistance, please reach out to me. I will be glad to visit you and talk with you about what it means to accept Christ as your Savior. As always, comments are welcome.