The Apostasy

Dear Brethren,

There has been an apostasy.  Tragically, some of those who once professed the True Faith have fallen away.   How did it happen?  Could the apostasy still be going on?  We want to say, "No. It could not happen to me."  But, make no mistake about it, our Christianity is increasingly in jeopardy.  Deception is everywhere - and it is growing stronger.  How many of God's true saints will survive until Jesus Christ returns?

"For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matthew 24:24)

The "very elect" - that's God's saints - that's us!  There is a danger in thinking that it is impossible for us to be deceived.   Being smug will cause us to believe that we are able to spot every false prophet or twisted doctrine that comes along.  Let's not be so sure.  "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." (2Corinthians 11:14)

What then can we do?  John tells us to put them to the test.  "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1John 4:1)

The next obvious question is, how do we try the spirits?  They have to be measured against the Scriptures - God's Word.  We have to be Biblically grounded and living pure, undefiled Christianity.  We have to be diligently preparing now for every onslaught that will come.  Yes, we can expect God to strengthen us if we are His - but we must do our part.  Individually, we must each be able to defend every core belief against constant barrage.  "The Spirit of truth... will guide you into all Truth." (John 6:13)

Right now, in a most subtle attack, the Messiahship of Jesus Christ is being denied.  The Friday to Sunday scenario for the burial of Jesus declares that He is not the Messiah!  How so?  By denying the one sign that Jesus gave which proves He is the Messiah.  That Messiah defining sign is the "sign of Jonah".  Some people will say that this subject is not that big of a deal.  Brethren, it is only the very elect  who will be able to distinguish between Christ and the false christ. 

"And when the people were gathered thick together, [Jesus ] began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation."  Luke 11:29-30

What did Jesus mean by the "sign of Jonah?  "Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." (Jonah 1:17)

The sign that Jesus gave proving His Messiahship was the three days and three nights He was in the tomb.  If Jesus was not in the Tomb for three days and three nights, a full 72 hours - He is not the prophesied Messiah.  This deceived world teaches that Jesus was in the Tomb from Friday evening until Sunday morning sunrise  - only 36 hours.  That is only half the amount of time required by the sign of Jonah!  Is it possible to prove from the Scriptures that Jesus was in the grave for exactly three days and three nights -  as He said he would be?

Yes.  The Scriptural record shows that Jesus was raised on the third day, at the completion of the three days, and when the three days and three nights were fulfilled.  The record shows that Jesus was not in the grave less than three days and three nights.  It also shows that Jesus was not in the grave more than three days and three nights - but exactly three days and three nights.

"From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." (Matthew 16:21)

"For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day." (Mark 9:31)

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (John 2:19)

"Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days [ are completed ] I will rise again." (Matthew 27:63)

"And [Jesus] began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again."  (Mark 8:31)

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians explaining that Jesus did, in fact, fulfill the Scriptural prophecies concerning the sign of Jonah and Jesus Christ's resurrection.  "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."  (1Corinthians 15:3-4)

Let's read what Jesus Christ said about His time in the tomb - proving that, indeed, He is the Messiah.

"[Jesus] answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  (Matthew 12:39-40)

Brethren, we know that this world is deceived, but an even greater deception is beginning to thrive with a fervor.  We are warned that in the end-time this deception will attempt to invade the very Church of God if it were possible, deceiving the very elect.  We need to awaken to what is happening all around us.

"Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." (Romans 13:11)

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Sermon:

"The Child With No Name"