To every one of us, the events that happen in our own lifetime are full of interest. Some of those events affect us and others apparently do not. What happens on the other side of the world generally does not excite our interest. We notice much more what happens closer to us.
The truth of the Lord's coming has been known and taught largely in Christendom for about 150 years. We know on the authority of God's Word that the Lord Jesus will first come for His people and that a little later He will come back with us to reign over the earth. Between His coming for His own and His coming with them, there are many judgments to take place and there will be signs of His coming in power and glory. Surely even now there are events that are in preparation for those things that will take place during that time that is called the tribulation.
We do not want to make too much of what any of us may see in our own short lifetime. Yet we should consider what is happening in view of how it may relate to Christ and His glory.
A short time ago we called attention to some of the events amongst the nations that are in the Middle East. Now, let us consider another thing. It is what the Bible calls a falling away. Abandoning what one believed in, as a faith, is the definition of apostasy as given in Webster's dictionary. Quite likely you have known or heard of someone who has done this. Truth that was once known and professed is given up. Why is it so? Is this a sign of the times in which we live?
We find something about this in 2 Thess. 2:33Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thessalonians 2:3). We quote: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." In the Spanish Bible in this verse "falling away" is translated "apostasy." They both mean the same thing. From this scripture we learn clearly that before a certain day there is a falling away, that is, a giving up of truth once professed. The day spoken of here is the day of "the Christ" or "the Lord." It is the time when God will begin to manifest the lordship of Christ.
One of the truths that is today given up by some in Christendom is the rapture, the Lord's coming for the Church. This truth has been commonly known and taught in Christendom for many years. Reports have come to us from both Canada and the United States of rather prominent persons who have given up this truth.
The "rapture" as we speak of it comes from 1 Thess. 4:1717Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17), and the very word can be used in place of caught up. It is so translated in some Bibles. "Shall be caught up" or "shall be raptured" is the definite statement. Do we believe it or do we not? It is the Word of God.
It is sad to hear of some, who certainly should know better, questioning or denying this wonderful "blessed hope." See Titus 2:1313Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13). Peter writes of our time, saying, "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming?" 2 Pet. 3:3, 43Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:3‑4).
Another thing that is being denied is the clear teaching of dispensations. In Eph. 1 we read of "the dispensation of the fullness of times." That particular dispensation is coming and will be when God gathers together all things in Christ and to His glory both in heaven and in earth. The "times" in the above expression refers to other dispensations as, the law before the cross and grace in this present period. When we are "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:1515Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)) we will understand and wonderfully rejoice in the order in God's Word and clearly see different dispensations.
Are we not in the last days? Little by little it seems that truth once known or professed is being given up or abandoned.
For Christians there is an exhortation that is very specific when we see the day of apostasy approaching. It is Heb. 10:24, 2524And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24‑25). "Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." The next verse speaks of willful sin after having received the knowledge of the truth. This is falling away or apostasy. So then we see that the exhortation of assembling of ourselves together is given especially because of seeing the day of apostasy getting nearer.