2 Thess. 2:9-12; 1 Tim. 4:1-3: Signs: In the realm of Religion (1)

We have, on the occasion of the Sunday before the New Year, often stopped to reflect on the signs of the times, taking news items from the previous year to illustrate the Bible’s warnings about the latter days.  For a few days we are going to use the sermon preached at the beginning of this millennium, preached Dec. 31, 2000.  This is very topical.  You will see what we believe the Bible says will occupy the last days.  We believe it will give much reason to think and pray and act today.

1.     Signs in the realm of religion.

a.     An apostate Church, Mt. 24:10; 2 Thess. 2:3.

                                                 i.      Lukewarmness, Rev. 3:14-22; 2 Tim. 3:4b-5

                                              ii.      Scoffers, 2 Peter 3:3-10

                                           iii.      Great seduction in error, 2 Thess. 2:9-12

                                            iv.      False christs and prophets (cults), Mt. 24:4f, 11f, 23-26

                                               v.      Counterfeit signs/wonders/miracles, 2 Thess. 2:9-12

                                            vi.      Materialistic view of holiness, 1 Tim. 4:1-3

                                         vii.      Religion according to what people want, 2 Tim. 4:3-5

                                      viii.      World-wide ecumenical movement, Rev. 13:11-17; 17

1.     There was an article by Dennis Cone, editor of the Navigator’s Current Thoughts and Trends on seven trends in the Church to watch including …

a.     The breakdown of the family.

b.     Chinks in the armor of evolutionary theory.

c.     The expansion of the internet.

d.     Rampant materialism. “Christians immersed in the culture of instant gratification seem to have lost the will to continually battle the consumeristic mindset.”

e.     Postmodern relativism.  “When a majority of evangelical Christians believe there is no such thing as absolute truth, the Church is in trouble.”

f.      The rise (and fall) of tolerance.

g.     Our failure to discern.

Perhaps the most disconcerting trend of all is our reluctance as believers to put aside our own agendas so that we can see what God is doing and join Him in it.  We would rather discuss endlessly the degree of redness in the sky and what kind of storm it portends than to submit to the Creator of the universe and His sovereign purposes for us.  We, like the ‘wicked and adulterous generation’ of Jesus’ day, need to recognize that One greater than Jonah is among us and repent.

(In tomorrow’s post we will pick up right here and continue considering issues related to the end-time religious picture.)