THE LAST DAYS APOSTASY OF THE CHURCH Andy Woods Andy Woods - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

THE LAST DAYS APOSTASY OF THE CHURCH Andy Woods Andy Woods

Definition of Apostasy apos = away from = away from  apos hist ē mi ē mi = to stand = to stand  hist  Apostasy Apostasy = to stand away = to stand away from from  Apostasy Apostasy = a departure = a departure from known (or previously from known (or previously embraced) truth embraced) truth

Ten Characteristics of Apostasy Sign of the last days Sign of the last days 1) 1) A massive NT subject A massive NT subject 2) 2) Impacts every major Impacts every major 3) 3) doctrine doctrine Primarily internal Primarily internal 4) 4) Knows no limits Knows no limits 5) 5)

Ten Characteristics of Apostasy Can happen quickly 6) Satanically energized 7) Destructive 8) Makes life difficult for the 9) man of God 10) Impacts those who have not taken preventive measures taken preventive measures

Apostasy is a Sign of the Last Days  2 2 Tim Tim 3:1 3:1- -“But “But know this, know this, , that in the last days that in the last days perilous times will come perilous times will come.” .”  2 Tim 3:13 2 Tim 3:13- -“But evil men “But evil men and imposters and imposters will grow will grow worse and worse , , worse and worse d d deceiving and being deceiving and being i i i i d b i d b i deceived” (Italics mine). deceived” (Italics mine).

Matthew 13 Parables The The Sower Sower: : Preaching Preaching of the gospel of the gospel with various with various results results

Matthew 13 Parables Matthew 13 Parables Wheat & Tares: Wheat & Tares: Wheat & Tares: Wheat & Tares: Difficult to distinguish Difficult to distinguish iffi iffi l l di i di i i h i h between the saved and the between the saved and the unsaved within professing unsaved within professing unsaved within professing unsaved within professing Christendom Christendom

M tth Matthew 13 Parables 13 P bl The Mustard Seed: The Mustard Seed: Christendom will experience great numerical Christendom will experience great numerical p p g g and geographical expansion from a humble and geographical expansion from a humble beginning beginning

M tth Matthew 13 Parables 13 P bl Yeast in the Dough: Yeast in the Dough: Christendom will experience internal corruption Christendom will experience internal corruption throughout the age throughout the age

M tth Matthew 13 Parables 13 P bl The Hidden Treasure: The Hidden Treasure: Israel Israel will remain in unbelief only to be will remain in unbelief only to be converted at the age’s converted at the age’s conclusion conclusion

Matthew 13 Parables The Pearl of Great Price: The Pearl of Great Price: The The Lord will gain a treasure from among the Lord will gain a treasure from among the Gentiles Gentiles

Matthew 13 Parables Matthew 13 Parables The Dragnet: The Dragnet: The The coexistence of the righteous and the wicked coexistence of the righteous and the wicked only to be separated at the age’s only to be separated at the age’s conclusion conclusion

Matthew 13 Parables The The Householder: Householder: NT NT truths truths must be considered alongside OT must be considered alongside OT g revelation revelation to to comprehend the totality of God’s comprehend the totality of God’s kingdom agenda kingdom agenda

Apostasy is A Massive NT Subject A t i A M i NT S bj t Gospels (Matt 13) ( (Matt 13) ( ) )  Gospels p p church (Acts (Acts 20:29 20:29– –31 31) )  Early Early church  Pauline Pauline letters letters (Rom (Rom 16:17 ( 16:17–18 18; ; Gal Gal 1:6 1:6– –9; 2 ; 2 Cor Cor 11:1 11:1– –15 15; Philip 3:2, ; Philip 3:2, 18 18–19 19; Col 2:8; 1 Tim 4; 2 Tim 3 ; Col 2:8; 1 Tim 4; 2 Tim 3– –4; 4; Titus 1:10) Titus 1:10) letters (Heb (Heb 2:1 2:1– –4 4; ;  General General letters 2 2 Pet 2 Pet 2– –3; Jude; 1 John 3; Jude; 1 John 4:1 4:1– –6 6) ) Revelation (2 (2–3) 3)  Revelation

Apostasy Impacts Every Major Apostasy Impacts Every Major Doctrine  The faith (1 Tim 4:1) The faith (1 Tim 4:1)   God (Jude 4) God (Jude 4)   Christ and His death (2 Pet 2:1) Christ and His death (2 Pet 2:1)   Christ’s return (2 Pet Christ’s return (2 Pet 3:3 3:3– –4)   Sound doctrine (2 Tim Sound doctrine (2 Tim 4:3 4:3– –4)   Resurrection (2 Tim Resurrection (2 Tim 2:16 ( 2:16–18 18) )   God as creator (2 Pet 3:5) God as creator (2 Pet 3:5) 

Apostasy is Internal Apostasy is Internal Acts Acts 20:29 20:29- - “For I know this, that after For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves my departure savage wolves will come in among you , not , not will come in among you ill ill i i sparing the sparing the flock flock. Also . Also from from among yourselves men will among yourselves men will men will men will among yourselves among yourselves rise up, speaking perverse rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the things, to draw away the g , g , y y disciples after disciples after themselves” themselves” (Italics added). (Italics added).

Apostasy is Internal Jude Jude 4 4- -“ “For certain men For certain men have have crept in unnoticed , who long , who long crept in unnoticed ago were marked out ago were marked out for for this this condemnation, ungodly men, condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our who turn the grace of our who turn the grace of our who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and deny the only Lord God and deny the only Lord God and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” our Lord Jesus Christ” (Italics added). (Italics added).

Apostasy Knows No Limits Aaron ( Aaron (Exod Aaron ( Aaron (Exod Exod 32:1 Exod 32:1 32:1–10 32:1 10 10) 10) Jonathan (Judges 18:30) J Jonathan (Judges 18:30) J th th (J d (J d 18 30) 18 30) Ephesus (Rev Ephesus (Rev 2:4 2:4– –5 5) )

Apostasy Knows No Limits Apostasy Knows No Limits “Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly “Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well the main end of his life and pressed to consider well the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal studies is to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal lif (J h 17 3) lif (J h 17 3) life (John 17:3) and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom life (John 17:3) and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom d th d th f f t l t l Ch i t i th b tt Ch i t i th b tt as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning And seeing the Lord only learning And seeing the Lord only giveth learning. And seeing the Lord only learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth giveth wisdom, let giveth wisdom let wisdom let wisdom, let everyone seriously set himself by prayer in secret to everyone seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seek it of Him (Prov. 2, 3). Everyone shall exercise seek it of Him (Prov. 2, 3). Everyone shall exercise ( ( ) ) y y himself in reading the Scriptures twice a day that he himself in reading the Scriptures twice a day that he shall be ready to give such an account of his proficiency shall be ready to give such an account of his proficiency therein.” therein.” h h i ” i ” Rules of Harvard in 1636; quoted in David Barton, Original Intent , 81

Beckwith Francis

Apostasy Can Happen Quickly Gal 1:6 Gal 1:6- -“I “I marvel marvel that you are that you are turning away turning away so soon from Him from Him so soon who called you in the grace of who called you in the grace of who called you in the grace of who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.” Christ, to a different gospel.” Exod Exod 32:8 32:8- -“They have turned aside “They have turned aside quickly quickly out of the way which I have out of the way which I have commanded them” (Italics mine; commanded them” (Italics mine; see also see also Exod Exod 24:18). 24:18).

Apostasy is Satanically Energized Apostasy is Satanically Energized 2 2 Cor Cor 11:3 11:3-“ “But I fear, lest somehow, But I fear, lest somehow, as the as the serpent serpent deceived Eve by his deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted by from the simplicity that corrupted by from the simplicity that corrupted by from the simplicity that corrupted by from the simplicity that is in Christ.” is in Christ.” 1 Tim 4:1 1 Tim 4:1- -“Now the Spirit expressly “Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will says that in the latter times some will d depart from the faith giving heed to d depart from the faith giving heed to f f h f i h i i h f i h i i h h d d deceiving spirits and doctrines of deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons ” (Italics mine demons (Italics mine ” (Italics mine). (Italics mine). ). ). demons demons