| Sorry I didn't reply earlier... had to chew on this for a day. First let me reclarify what we are arguing about here... It is my belief that the church will grow stronger in the last days before the rapture... not weaker. There is a common misconception based upon an errant translation of 2 Thes. 2:3... "...that day will not come unless the falling away comes first" (some versions say apostacy, which is a mis-translation of the mis-translation). The correct translation is found in the Hebrew Names version which uses the word 'departure' (or rapture) which of course lines up with verse 7 which mentions the rapture again as the removal of the Holy Spirit from the earth (giving free reign to the anti-christ) And, of course, since the Holy Spirit indwells us, and the Lord would never leave us nor forsake us, we who have the Holy Spirit will depart with Him. How does this relate? God's Church does not become apostate as a sign of the end times according to this verse... Of course if you believe the mis-translation, then you would have to conclude just the opposite... which leads me to my original challenge: Show me a confirming prophetic indication that God's Church (not many individuals) becomes apostate... you wont find one. I do not see evidence that there is any laodican period... only a city of Laodicea Now to what I was chewing on for a day... Consider what we are REALLY arguing about; What prompts God to end the age of Grace and begin the age of judgment? Is it the failure of His own children? or is it the sin of the Godless? When does God decide He has had enough, and begins the great tribulation? Of course nobody knows when, but we should know why... because He has done it before. Who is the judgment against? The saved or the lost? I submit that the judgment is against the lost... for His own children escape judgment through the Blood Of Christ. Now... about who is really winning the soles... is it christians? the church as a whole? or is it the Holy Spirit? If God really loves ALL men, then wouldn't He increase His efforts in EVERY way possible to reach the lost before He drops the hatchet? I would think so. I seriously doubt that God would give up on the lost because His bride has grown lukewarm. I certainly understand and identify with your sentiment regarding the state of the Church. It is certainly not all that God would like it to be. Our complacency and idleness I'm sure is very frustrating to God. This is one of the reasons we will begin seeing signs and wonders... the beginning of birth pains... the beginnings of the end. These events WILL awaken a sleeping church, and the result will be revival and cleansing. Will it be that noticeable to the world? Probably not. Will it be noticeable to christians? Some are already noticing. Bottom line... It's not about what the christians are or are not doing... it's about what the Holy Spirit is doing. |