The Falling Away ( has it already begun? ) - 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12

 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

(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, (4) who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

  2 Thessalonians 2:7-12

(7) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. (8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. (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.
New King James Version 

**

I always thought of the "falling away" as a large scale and sudden "Event".

Now I realize it is usually a slow process over many years.

And we may already be in the process of "falling away".

We have certainly seen the beliefs, morals, and standards of society ( the whole world ) going "backwards" in our lifetime.

Rejecting all the basic principles found in the Bible.

It's been going on for over 150 years, but seems to be picking up speed in the last decade or two.

And because this change is happening "slowly", it is easy to miss the significance of each little change.

And I've said it before and will repeat here,

the KEY to understanding spiritual "reality" is to study God's word ( daily ).

Otherwise, you can easily become "acclimated" to the ways of the world.

Not realizing your thoughts and view of reality have been distorted by repeatedly hearing the false messages in the world.

--

Saved by Grace,

Andrew Cross

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, 

but exhorting one another, 

and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25

YouTube channel = We belong to the Day

How to Rejoice in the LORD Always

We are encouraged repeatedly in the Bible

 to Rejoice in the Lord.

And you'll find this translated as 

Rejoice, 

Exult, 

Celebrate, 

filled with joy,

full of joy, 

be glad, 

and some would say simply "Be Happy".

And Paul included, "Again I say Rejoice" in Philippians 4:4

So, I started asking --

"How exactly does one "rejoice" in the LORD?

These 3 ways came to my mind.

* First is by focusing on God's amazing creation. 

And just how intelligent and powerful He truly is ( compared to us ).

* Second is by remembering all the great things he has done for you in the past 

and others you know personally in your life,

Or by reflecting on 

the many great things God has done for people throughout the ages, 

as recorded in the Bible.

* Thirdly, by thinking upon the many promises we find His Word 

and what He tells us is in store for us in the future, 

because we are part of His family now.

1 )

His amazing Creation that is all around us... 

You just need to take the time to look at nature 

- put down your smartphone and take a walk outside.

See the birds gliding through the air 

-sometimes in formation. 

Fish "breathing" in the water.

Bees going from Flower to Flower.

Consider the unique aspects of LIFE 

- air,

water,

sunlight, 

The whole the chain of life 

- plants sprouting from seeds 

and all amazing diversification in the animal kingdom. 

And how all of creation is interdependent.

Consider the creation of LIFE 

- a miracle modern science can not even begin to duplicate.

We see variety in nature as only a master builder or an artist could create.

And the very fact that most LIFE requires both Male and Female to reproduce 

should END any foolish thoughts of evolution 

and random chance 

being the source of our amazing planet Earth.

So, please.... 

spend some time IN NATURE, 

and observe its wonders. 

You might find yourself Rejoicing in the Lord.

2 )

And when you are in a quiet place 

- start remembering ( and maybe writing down ) 

the times in your life when you saw 

or felt God working directly on your behalf.

I have several times in my life 

where I called out to the Lord for specific help in situations that were overwhelming me,

And I got answers or assistance quickly 

- and a couple times INSTANTANEOUSLY! 

You can likely think of a time or two that you sensed God working on your behalf.

And if you have never called upon the name of the Lord

- Try asking Him directly for help.

He will hear you.

He may not give you an immediate response 

or things may not turn out as you had been hoping,

but if you have truly put a matter into His hands, 

and asked for His help, 

you can rest assured 

the resulting conclusion of the matter will be the very best

- even if you don't see it at first.

A good place to start reviewing the many times 

the Lord has acted on the behalf of others, 

would be Hebrews Chapter 11.

Starting there, you can look up the events 

behind the various people listed as examples for us to consider 

- to help us strength our personal "faith" in God.

Hebrews 11:32-34

And what more shall I say? 

Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, 

Barak, 

Samson, 

Jephthah, 

David, 

Samuel, 

and the prophets, 

who through faith conquered kingdoms, 

administered justice,

and gained what was promised; 

who shut the mouths of lions, 

quenched the raging fire, 

and escaped the edge of the sword; 

who gained strength from weakness, 

became mighty in battle, 

and put foreign armies to flight.

3 )

And my favorite thing that excites me the most is,

THE FUTURE 

That is where our minds really need to be focused.

Not in all the "temporary" things we see around us.

The world around us is a mess, 

but it will be "fixed" by Jesus when He returns.

Keep in mind,

Philippians 3:20,21 

For our citizenship is in heaven, 

from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

who will transform the body of our lowly condition 

into conformity with His glorious body, 

by the exertion of the power that He has 

even to subject all things to Himself.

**

Now those things should give you cause to REJOICE ( again I say Rejoice ).. sorry, I just love saying that :)

Once again, 

we find the thoughts that we allow to fill our  minds 

will greatly influence 

how we "feel" about the things in our lives.

Knowing ( believing ) in a God who loves you, 

and who has provided a way to restore fellowship with you,

By His Grace 

- through simple Faith 

- His work 

- Not yours.

should give you plenty of reason to have Hope. 

And we can Rejoice in this Hope.

And I leave you with these verses: 

Psalm 118:24 ( NASB )

This is the day which the LORD has made;

Let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it.

Psalm 28:7 ( Amplified translation )

The LORD is my strength 

and my [impenetrable] shield; 

My heart trusts [with unwavering confidence] in Him,

and I am helped; 

Therefore my heart greatly rejoices

( celebrates ), 

And with my song I shall thank Him 

and praise Him.

And since I can't sing very good,

Check out this great SONG to help you REJOICE in the LORD,

"Jesus Is Coming Back" 

Jordan Feliz (Official Music Video)

https://youtu.be/pPo4wuQolTQ

Also you can view a

Video of this Blog Post = https://youtu.be/k7B_ObnB9MA

--

Saved by Grace,

Andrew Cross

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, 

but exhorting one another, 

and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25

YouTube channel = We belong to the Day

Hell A Final Word

Reading "Hell A Final Word" by Edward William Fudge has answered all the questions I had about hell,

and the punishment awaiting those who are lost ( not saved by grace through faith ).

It all makes a lot more sense to me now that I understand the lost will "perish" and face "death" ( as opposed to the everlasting life believers receive ).

See John 3:16 and Romans 6:23. 

The lake of fire "destroys" them and this is the second death.

Only Satan and his angels can "exist" in the lake of fire ( which was prepared for them ).

But you better let Edward Fudge explain it all to you.

I know most of you don't want to read the 500+ page book ( The Fire That Consumes ) that he wrote on the subject,

but you might be interested in the video presentation.

I found this, and a whole lot more on www.edwardfudge.com

Check it out,

https://edwardfudge.com/category/videos/the-fire-thatconsumes/

It would be better if you hear it straight from him,

instead of my lame attempts to repeat it.

He spent over 30 years teaching what God had shown him,

so he is pretty good at explaining what the Bible says on the subject of hell,

and explaining where the common misconceptions originated.

--

Saved by Grace,

Andrew Cross

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, 

but exhorting one another, 

and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25

YouTube channel = We belong to the Day

Rejoicing in Hope!

What we think about or focus our mind on will affect how we feel.

If feelings of despair or hopelessness come over you,

you need to redirect your thoughts.

As a child of God you have many reasons to have hope.

And the best way to remember them 

is to spend more time reading your Bible.

Paul tells us in Romans 15:4

"For whatever was written in earlier times 

was written for our instruction, 

so that through perseverance 

and the encouragement of the Scriptures 

we might have hope."

Our hope, or what we are expecting, 

should cause us to rejoice.

Romans 12:12 says "Rejoicing in hope..."

We are encouraged to rejoice, or be happy.

Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4

"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!"

Here are a few verses that give me encouragement,

and a greater sense of "hope".

Romans 8:24-25

For in hope we have been saved, 

but hope that is seen is not hope;

for who hopes for what he already sees? 

But if we hope for what we do not see, 

with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. 

Philippians 3:20

For our citizenship is in heaven, 

from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, 

the Lord Jesus Christ; 

Colossians 3:1-2

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, 

keep seeking the things above, 

where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on the things above, 

not on the things that are on earth. 

II Corinthians 4:16, 18

Therefore we do not lose heart, 

but though our outer man is decaying, 

yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 

while we look not at the things which are seen, 

but at the things which are not seen; 

for the things which are seen are temporal, 

but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

I Thessalonians 5:8

But since we are of the day, 

let us be sober ( or self controlled ), 

having put on the breastplate of faith and love, 

and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 

And one more encouragement to have hope and not despair

from  Romans 8:31

"What then shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who is against us?

So, when you find yourself feeling out of sorts....

Start thinking about the Eternal things,

and 

stop fretting about the temporary things, 

because they soon will be gone.

And of course you should always tell your Father how you feel, 

and what is troubling you,

He can give you peace. 

He is just waiting to hear from you......

Give Him a call, His line is never busy.

--

Saved by Grace,

Andrew Cross

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, 

but exhorting one another, 

and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25

YouTube channel = We belong to the Day

My reaction to: End Time Thoughts and Theories : Summary of My Current Understanding

Dear Nelson,

Well...... I finally had time to watch the 35 minute video.

End Time Thoughts and Theories : Summary of My Current Understanding

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHBiAUl4Jzo

It was like watching a movie.

And the visuals make listening to 90% Scripture readings entertaining.

I think this should be shown everywhere Christians meet and have an interest in this topic.

I've never seen or read anything as comprehensive as this "work".

I must give God the credit. 

He was truly behind this work ( and still is ).

You really should have waited until you finished it ( and presented it to me ) before asking for additional funds.

The finished product justifies your request.

I'm guessing you've never done an animation / narration that long and involved before.

I am "moved" to send an additional one time "gift" of thanks for creating this video.

It truly presents the overview, 

and important points that God has put in my heart for the years of study of the topic.

And I was happy to see that what is presented in this message ( written in 2011 )  is still 99% the same as what I believe / understand to be true about both Salvation and the End Times.

Thank you my friend ( and partner ).

--

Saved by Grace,

Andrew Cross

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, 

but exhorting one another, 

and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25

YouTube channel = We belong to the Day

The Final Warnings of the Apostles Paul, Peter, John and Jude

The Final Warnings of the apostle Paul,

that are recorded for us in his second letter to Timothy.

Please take a few moments to consider what you can learn from these warnings.

From 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 4:3,4 and then 2:22-26

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

The Final Warnings of the apostle Peter

that are recorded for us in the 2nd letter of Peter.

From 2 Peter 2:1-3, 12-14, 18-19, 3:3,4, 17,18

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, 13suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, 14having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children;

For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, 19promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. 

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

The Final Warnings of the apostle John

that are recorded for us in the 2nd letter of John.

2 John 7 - 11

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

The Final Warnings of the apostle Jude

that are recorded for us in the letter of Jude.

Jude 3,4, 12, 16 - 25

Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted;

These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.
17But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18that they were saying to you, "In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts." 19These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. 20But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

These warnings, I believe, could be applied to many of the popular and charismatic preachers you have seen on TV.

And now all over Youtube and the Internet.

They twist the Word and distort the facts,

while claiming to be speaking the truth in God's name.

I urge you to EXAMINE these teachers closely.

Are they True believers?

Are they sharing the true Gospel?

Salvation by grace through faith alone in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross?

Or some other message involving "works" of any kind?

Are they sharing their message to instruct and encourage people,

or is it all part of a show to get donations?

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you discernment.

And spend as much time as you can in the Word.

Reading and rereading, until it becomes a part of your daily thoughts.

The better you understand the truth found in the Bible, the easier it becomes to spot a counterfeit message.

--

Saved by Grace,

Andrew Cross

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, 

but exhorting one another, 

and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25

YouTube channel = We belong to the Day

The Trinity - how Three can equal One

God's design of the physical universe shows us how 3 can equal 1.

To understand the concept of the Trinity ( Father, Son, and Holy Spirit )

we can look to our natural world.

All matter can exist in 3 forms.

Take H2O for example.

We know it as WATER ( its liquid form ),

as ICE ( its solid form ),

and CLOUDS ( its vapor or gaseous form ).

All three are WATER.

God's design of the physical universe can help us to understand

how the one true God is manifested as the Father, the Son,

and the Holy Spirit, yet is still One.

Video version of this text = https://youtu.be/I5yqsc5Puss

--

Saved by Grace,

Andrew Cross

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, 

but exhorting one another, 

and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25

YouTube channel = We belong to the Day