The Apostasy - Millenia old?

 2 Thess. 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. [from www.biblegateway.com]

The great apostasy, which Rabbi Paul told us would happen before the coming of the Torah-less one! You say, "Chris, you are being so extreme calling the Antichrist the Torah-less one!"  Am I?  In English Bibles, the word translated to denote God's revelation of His ways and His character to man was translated as Law in the English language, to convey the depth and overarching supremacy of Yhwh's commands and their reach within and throughout creation.

But today that meaning has been lost.  In our lands of laws and rights, or lack thereof, we have come to see the Biblical word Law in a negative light, and so much so that a key Christians motto is "Christ has set me free from the Law!"  Let me suggest that the reason this is so is because Christians were separated from the Jews and therefore no longer understand the context of the Biblical authors in which they wrote.  The Biblical authors, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote out of a Hebraic theological context.

So many of us, who discuss the importance of interpreting scripture "in context" and "knowing the context" are missing the very deepest, and first and foremost context of all, the Hebraic worldview of the children of Abraham!  

 This issue is of first relevance when we come to the description of the arch-rebel against Yhwh, who has been working throughout all of human history to create an army of rebels, and destroy the Elohim's creation, and steal his praise (Is. 14:13-14).  Rabbi Paul describes him as the (as conveyed in the English text) the "lawless one."  I already dealt with this in a previous post.  To the mind of a Jewish rabbi (a "Hebrew of Hebrews" Phil. 3:5), certainly this meant "Torah-less one"  that is, one without and opposed to the revealed will of Yhwh Elohim.  

Now today the church says, "I am not under the Torah!  I have been set free from the Torah!"  Is this not the spirit of the Antichrist already, the son of perdition?  So we see that the spirit of the Antichrist is already in the Church, and most of "the Church" is ready for , and indeed, already under, the great deception!

So this brings us to the title of our post.  The apostasy, the great falling away... did it recently begin historically, as America banned bibles from school in the 60s, and the country saw a massive increase in sexual immorality and crime?  Or did it begin with the advent of human science ('knowledge'), discovering all it could learn about reality apart from the revealed will of the Creator?  Or did it begin, and this is what I think, when Christians were separated from their Jewish brethren in Messiah, and from the tribes and customs of the teachings of the Torah?

For what is the greata falling away supposed to mean?  Falling away from the ways of Yahweh, and from sound doctrine?  In the minds of the Hebrew authors of scripture, what denotes sound doctrine (2 Tim. 4:3)?  The Tanakh, the Torah.  

2 Tim. 4:3 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, (emphasis mine)

This is the Bible Adonai Yeshua used.  And again, He affirms it in John 17:17 when He says, "Yhwh, sanctify them by Your truth, Your Word is Truth."  

As Christians, followers of Messiah, we find ourselves in a bind.  We claim to follow the Truth, the person of Messiah Yeshua, who claims to be the Word in the flesh (Jn. 1:14), but yet we also claim to be free of the "Law," the Torah, found in the Tanakh, which Yeshua believed to be the Truth!  And what part of scripture is most often contested and rejected or so poorly taught in Christian churches today?  It's what Christians know as the Old Testament, which is really the Former Testament, or Covenant (that's still very much in force and validity, except where Messiah satisfied its requirements for our justification (Rom. 3:23-25).

So I propose, the great falling away did not begin only recently historically, but began ages ago... as the apostle John said: 1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 

Go back, and read your Bibles anew with this new understanding, that Yeshua came to reveal to us the Tanakh, and the Torah (the instruction)!  We were not set free from Elohim's instruction (His Torah), but only from the curse of the Torah (for disobedience, the torah of sin and death).  Apply this understanding to your Bible study, and you will find a whole NEW BIBLE, one you have most likely never seen before!!!

Beth Moore Prophesies a Coming 'Outpouring,' Warns of 'Scoffers

This is a concerning, taletelling sign reposted with permission from Donotbesurprised.com on Beth Moore's revelation of an "ecumenical" outpouring of unity... at the expense of Truth???  Truth is, through Contemplative Prayer (repackaged Eastern Meditation) she has opened herself to deceiving spirits and demons, disguising themselves as angels of righteousness.

Beth Moore Prophesies a Coming 'Outpouring,' Warns of 'Scoffers'

In a January 2014 blog post entitled, "A New Year, A New Time," popular Southern Baptist Bible teacher Beth Moore shared the following alleged God-given revelation:

In mid-November of 2012, God dropped a word so convicting on my heart through another teacher’s lesson that my face instantly burned. . . . This was the word:

"Stop sowing over and over in the exact same field."

I wasn’t looking for it. I didn’t ask for it. I was happy where I was. Like many of you, I like things to stay the same. I loved my circle of relationships and the familiar places I got to serve. I’ve never lost a passion for those places and have often wept with thanksgiving to God for the privilege of walking through some of the same doors again and again. I have a history of long relationships and staying put and that’s how I like things. But I knew God was talking to me. It burned like a branding iron. 

Every single day for nearly 14 months, that same word has reverberated in my soul and troubled my feet. . . .

Fast forward 12 months exactly to the most recent November. A year after hearing from God so clearly about sowing further than the field that I’d loved and served in for so long, I had a very disturbing dream. I can count the significant dreams I’ve had through the decades on one hand so I’m not prone to look for messages in my sleep to keep from having to actually pray and read the Bible. That God can speak through dreams is clear in our own Bibles, of course, but for many of us it is unusual. I don’t feel the release right now to describe the dream though I may someday. What I do feel is a strong compelling to share with you what I knew beyond a doubt it meant. I believe that I can either be obedient to God in the faith walk He is setting before me or He will take my voice. I do not feel that it was a rebuke. I felt that it was a warning.

(Source, emphasis added)

At the time, Do Not Be Surprised emphasized the danger of Moore's claims to receiving direct, personal revelation from God. What was not emphasized at that time was the content of the revelation.

Moore's post goes on to say:

I was saved in childhood but I was 18 years old the first time I ever had a vivid encounter with God and it accompanied my calling. . . .

38 years have come and gone since that day I received my calling. 

And I have rarely – if ever – received clearer orders from God.  

I share this with you because I love and esteem you so much and want you to know that I haven’t lost my footing or had a dramatic change in my theology as I tread into a wider perimeter than I’ve served before. . . .

We must all be willing to exceed denominational boundaries. Revival is at stake. Nearsightedness will trip us and disunity will slay us in the perilous days to come. We can prioritize our denominations over the Scriptures if we want to but we will shrivel up and die on the vine if we do. 

We who are called to teach must teach the Scriptures even if – and especially when – they differ from our long-held stance. That we will answer for. 

These are days for bravery. 

To avail ourselves to the Holy Spirit and a fresh work of Christ in our midst, our healthy fear of God must far exceed our fear of man. I say this with tremendous love. Those who refuse to rock the boat when Jesus is tossing the waves in their faces will never know the thrill of the water beneath their feet. . . .

Change is on the horizon and certainly not only where I live and serve. The winds of the Holy Spirit are picking up. We can dig our feet in the ground and demand to stay right where we are. We can toil to maintain things just as they have been for years. And we can be left out of a coming awakening that could one day be recorded in the annals of Christian history.

(Source, emphasis added)

What is this "awakening," this "fresh work of Christ," this "revival," this "wind"? Whatever it is, Moore spoke of it again recently at James Robison's Awaken conference. Below is a short clip from Moore's teaching at that event:


The full teaching can be viewed here, at the Life Today website. The astute viewer will notice that the message Moore is sharing allegedly was given to her directly by God, thus it cannot be questioned lest we question the Lord Himself.

Below is a partial transcript of some of the more troubling portions of Beth Moore's message. The transcript also is available here, at the Life Today website.

As we cry out for a downpour and I'm going to tell you something, I believe its coming. You know why? Because I believe the truth is we are thirsty. . . .

I believe that God placed it on my heart to tell you that as it comes, and it will if we'll own our thirst, it will, if we'll be willing to stop telling him what it has to look like, it's coming, it's coming. But we must be prepared in advance for scoffers. I will say that again. We must be prepared in advance for scoffers. I want you to look at one another and say, "Be prepared for scoffers."

And here's the thing. The unbelieving world scoffing is not going to bother us that much. We're used to them thinking that we are idiots. Can we just own that one? We're used to it. Of course, they think that. We've got that one down. That's not what's going to bother us so much. What's going to bother us, and I believe God is saying, "Get prepared for it so you know in advance it is coming" so when it does happen you're not all disturbed and all rocked by it because it is going to come from some in our own Christian realm -- our own brothers and sisters.

We're going to have people that are honestly going to want to debate and argue with us about awakening and downpours. What do you want here? They're going to say, that's not the way it should look. You know what, dude? I'm just asking you, are you thirsty? Are you hungry? I can't think of the way to the semantics to get it like you want it. But I will say to you, I'm just thirsty and I'm hungry. 

But there will be scoffers and they will be the far bigger threat, the one within our own brothers and sisters, our own family of God -- far, far more demoralizing. And yes, it will come from bullies, and yes, it will come from the mean-spirited.

What God began to show me is that it would not just come from the mean-spirited it will also come from people who are just genuinely concerned about us. . . .

The scoffers, I believe that God put on my heart, please test the spirit, pray and see if this is confirmed to you in prayer and in the study of the word. I believe that he placed it on my heart that the scoffers will have an alternative answer for everything; An alternative for every single thing we see, there will be an alternative. They will not see it as the hand of God, an alternate answer. Unity will be called defection. Brokenness will be called instability. Grace will be called compromise. And the genuinely prophetic will be called false teaching. You see if this does not happen. And because of those things, defection, instability, compromise, and false teaching, because those things will be simultaneously in effect, you and I, who are believing God for a vivid downpour of his spirit and recognize it as it comes, we will have to be taking the risk of being lumped in with the ones that really are defecting, unstable, compromising, and false. And it will be hard for us because we don't want to be mixed-up with them.

(Source)

The similarities between this teaching and Moore's January blog post are obvious: the calls for unity, revival and outpouring dominate. Note the gravity of what Beth Moore is saying here—and remember that she is claiming that these concepts were given to her by God.

"Be prepared for scoffers." And these scoffers, says Beth, are literally a threat. In other words, the scoffers will be enemies of these chosen ones who are open and available to receive whatever outpouring Beth is describing. These will be "bullies" and will be "mean-spirited."

But what if these "bullies" or even the poor, confused souls who are simply "concerned" about Moore and others like her, are trustworthy ministers of the gospel? What if the "scoffers" are men who have proven to be faithful teachers of God's Word? Are we to cast these men aside if they dare question such an "outpouring" of the Spirit? Or should we take their warnings into consideration?

"Unity," says Moore, "will be called defection." Reader, are you aware that these sentiments of "unity" are the same as those expressed by Pope Francis?

"Grace will be called compromise." If this "grace" is extended toward false teachers and false teaching then, yes, it is compromise. Unity at the expense of truth? Never!

Screenshot: YouTube

"And the genuinely prophetic will be called false teaching." How are we to distinguish the "genuinely prophetic"? By taking the self-proclaimed prophet at his or her own word? The true Church is not in need of a "prophetic word" because the Bible has already warned of what is to come. Jesus Himself warned of false Christs and false prophets in the last days (Matt 24:3, 4,11), and He warned that they would rise to fame with displays of miraculous signs and wonders.

For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. (Matt 24:24–25)

When we hear Beth Moore preparing people for an "outpouring" and a "downpour," the specifics of which still remain vague, and when we hear her warning her followers that they must be prepared for "scoffers" and "bullies" and enemies of this "revival" and this "unity" one cannot help but think of Paul's promise of a great coming delusion in 2 Thessalonians 2. Where is the evidence of such a "downpour" in Scripture? Where is the clarion call to forsake truth for unity? These things are not in Scripture, yet they are common elements found in the teachings of many dangerous leaders today. Such things are common themes among the Word-Faith, NAR, and even among the Roman Catholics. Beth Moore may have received this message from an outside source, but that source was not God. Oh, she is being used by God, yes, but not for the purposes which many would claim.

Beth Moore is an extremely influential woman. She has written numerous books and Bible studies. Her ministry, Living Proof, hosts the Living Proof Live conferences each year. Additionally, she participates in such gatherings as Louie Giglio's Passion conferences and Hillsong's Colour conference. She is the darling of LifeWay, the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. Women's ministries at churches across the country, even churches considered to be biblically and doctrinally solid, rely on Moore's studies to train their women.

The claims, concepts and 'prophecy' Moore has taught at Robison's Awaken conference will not go unnoticed. Her words will not go unheeded by the many who blindly follow after her. The fact that Beth Moore has demonstrated time and again that she cannot even properly handle Scripture will continue to be ignored by those who perceive her words to be without error. And if she has received these words from God, then they must be without error, mustn't they? "Thus saith the Lord . . . by way of Beth Moore."

Friends, it is no new or surprising fact that we are witnessing a growing deception among those who claim to know Christ. As experiences trump the truth of Scripture, the deception darkens. Many men and women have been put in place to lead and pave this road of deception. We ought not be surprised that such leaders would claim a personal word from the Lord, but should these prophetic words be trusted?

Thus saith the Lord . . . in the Bible that we already hold in our hands. No more needs to be added to this Word. Friends, it is time to banish the book of Beth Moore, for it is this writer's opinion that this woman does not speak for our God.

*As a final note, the reader is strongly encouraged to listen to apologist Chris Rosebrough's review of Beth Moore's teaching. Rosebrough's commentary can be accessed here.

HT: Pirate Christian Radio

photo credit: ROSS HONG KONG via photopin cc, text added

Further Reading
Why Beth Moore and Not Me?
Beth Moore's 'Twelfth Month Redemption'
Beth Moore's 'Sabbath Moment' Playdate with God

Should We Love and Be Kind to Others At the Cost of Doctrine?

The other day I saw where a sister posted something online, no doubt with good intentions. She said in her post, not her exact words, but something to this extent: to not worry about doctrines but to just be loving and and kind and talk about faith. 

She doesn't realize it, but this is a slap to the Protestant faith and the millions who paid with their lives for the TRUTH. If we didn't stand for true DOCTRINE informing our beliefs and kindness and faithfulness and gentleness and love for one another, then we'd all still be in bondage to that Apostate Whore, Mother of All Harlots, the Roman Catholic Church. Men laid down their lives for Truth. Pilgrims left their homelands to settle North America, so they could live the Truth, and follow the dictates of their Conscious.

What is more, that is against the entire teaching of the New Testament!!! Paul's instructions to his younger protege Timothy is filled with admonitions for guarding True Doctrine for the preservation of the Church and the Extension of the Faith to all peoples!

1 Timothy 1:6-8 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. 8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 

They did not understand the law! The were not familiar with Scripture's teachings, and their work became profitless, making people feel warm and fuzzy, but leading people to hell!

1 Timothy 1:9-11 9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. 

Romans 12:2 do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 
And children, remember, if anyone tells you that doctrine is unessential and should be minimized, or not spoken about, that person is anti-Christ and anathema to God!

After Paul tells Timothy that prayers for all people should be made, he says: 1 Timothy 2:3-4  3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,  4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

God Himself desires that people  come to the knowledge of the Truth!  When we keep quite on Doctrines, we are not able to lead people to a knowledge of the Truth.

1 Timothy 3:2   2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach... and the qualities they are to have continues, but this last one cited says they should be able to teach!  This implies two things.  First, that they are knowledge of the Truth themselves, they understand it and guard it in their own hearts, and two that others either of the faith, or those coming to faith, and learning the principles and facts of this glorious, wonderful new truth that they have been blinded from by the evil one.

This de-emphasis of Doctrine in the last day would be one of the conditions preparing the way for the coming of the Lawless One!

1 Timothy 4:1-2  But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,  2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron...

Why do they fall away from the faith?  Because they do not understand it in its fullness!

1 Timothy 4:7-8  7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;  8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

1 Timothy 4:16   16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

The Apostle Paul's admonition to Timothy is, don't just be kind and serving to everyone, patient with their wrong beliefs, he says pay attention to yourself and your teaching!!!  Perserver in this!  If you do, you will ensure salvation both for yourself, and for those who hear you.

Can that be any more clear?  Though having good intentions for Christians not to waste time on fruitless arguments (which Paul briefly addresses, in the context of teaching correct doctrine 1 Tim 1:3-4) our faith and the salvation of our hearers is dependent on our having correct belief!


1 John 2:18-26 18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. 26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.

The Real Tragedy is Not When Truth is Censored by the Government or Liberal Media But By "Christian" Media

The Real Tragedy is Not When Truth is Censored by the Government or Liberal Media But By "Christian" Media


Jude 1:3-4 ³ 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. ⁴ For 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.

Reformed and Baptist: the third wave - Reformation21 Blog

Reformed and Baptist: the third wave - Reformation21 Blog

This is an excellent article on the Particular or Reformed Baptists and their arising in England in the 1630s... and how they saw themselves as the third wave of Reformers of the Church.  I am proud to be descended from this line of godly men in though and conviction... but of late I am wondering if they reformed the church enough?  Was not the early Church Jewish in origin, and they held to the feasts and ordinances of Judaism in the "New Covenant," recognizing that they were fulfilled in Messiah.

I am not prepared to, nor do I have the time to go into this in full detail, but you may notice this appearing more in my blog in the future, being driven to despair over the falling away of many in my demomination, and the theological compromise being promoted and taught by leadership, that ha Adonai has used in turning me to the faith of Messianic Judaism.  I can still rightly retain my convictions held as as a Particular or Reformed Baptist, but enjoy more fullness in my faith, and understand more of the mysteries and prophecies of the feasts and within the very life of Judaism.  And no, this is not trying to be justified under the Torah.  Its recognition that only Messiah could fulfill the Torah.  We know that no one is justified by observing the Torah, but through faith in Yeshua the Messiah (Gal 2:16).