A significant parting of ways is approaching between the two kingdoms engaged in cosmic conflict on Earth. The Bible clearly states that one is either in the kingdom of Satan or in the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no alternative. You might think you are serving a different God, but this is a deception of Satan. Here's what Jesus said:
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters (Matthew 12:30)
If you are not walking with the Lord Jesus Christ, you are walking with the enemy, Satan, the arch deceiver, whom the apostle Paul called:
…The ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient (Ephesians 2:2).
God does not want you to continue walking in disobedience to the good news of Jesus Christ and His forgiveness of sin. This world is on a downward trajectory toward immorality, violence, greed, and murder. Worse still, many of God’s people are compromising their faith and being led by the ways of this world system onto a path away from true holiness, purity, and simplicity of godliness in Christ. A weak, insipid entity is presented to the world as the church, but this is not the true church. This false church follows the way of the world system. The true church consists of those who have received new life from Christ and will not compromise their faith, no matter the cost. They are like the three young Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who would not bow down to the spirit of the age, the false idols set up for them to worship:
16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).
An event will occur, signifying a parting of the ways between what the media portrays as the Church of Christ and the genuine Church of the Living God. Paul the Apostle refers to this event as the "Rebellion," or as some translations describe it, the "falling away" or the "apostasy" in yet another translation. Here’s what he wrote:
Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction (2 Thessalonians 2:3; emphasis added).
It is difficult to determine what will cause this, as it is not merely a gradual falling away from the faith of Christ. The original Greek language includes the definite article, "the rebellion," indicating a specific event. What will lead many so-called Christians to fall away? I believe it will be the imposition of a "mark" on their foreheads or right hands. Those who refuse to take this "mark" will be unable to buy or sell. The world is moving toward digital money—no cash will be accepted. All true Christians will not accept this mark and will head in the opposite direction, away from the world order that is being established (Revelation 14:9-12). The passage below provides additional details about this event that will create a divide between the false church and the true church of Christ:
16It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name (Revelation 13:16-17).
We are living in the time before this event foretold by the Holy Scriptures. I am concerned about those of you who are walking in tune with the world system. We must turn away from the spirit of the age and live for Christ. My dear friend, your eternity is at stake; give yourself wholeheartedly to Christ, and the Holy Spirit will strengthen you for the days, months, or years ahead, no matter how long we have left before the coming of the Lord.
This meditation is taken from the series The End Times found in All Studies. Click on the study: The Antichrist: How Will We Recognize Him? Keith Thomas
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