So this is sad in so many ways, to have spent so much of his life in study of scriptures but to never have understood who Jesus is and have a real relationship with Him. While in looking this article and story up more, I came across a page on FB called Friendly Atheist, because they posted this article and were congratulating him on his newfound enlightenment. :wacko: I read several posts on the page and my heart became very sad for them. Many of them have been hurt in church, as many of us have, because churches are full of sinful human people and I get that but they abandoned faith because of this which is heartbreaking.. I must live under a rock because I never heard of him .... My take is those who depart from the faith ... never were saved to begin with so they are showing their true colors now ... its part of the global apostasy signs of the end of the age. The fact that him and others are bragging about their anti God beliefs ... sounds like they already made up their minds and want to persuade many others to join them ... they will believe the strong delusion and will worship the AC. II Thess 2:10-11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: II Thess 2:3-4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. per Gotquestion.org The Greek word translated “rebellion” or “falling away” in verse 3 is apostasia, from which we get the English word apostasy. It refers to a general defection from the true God, the Bible, and the Christian faith. Every age has its defectors, but the falling away at the end times will be complete and worldwide. The whole planet will be in rebellion against God and Christ. Every coup requires a leader, and into this global apostasy will step the Antichrist. We believe this takes place after the church has been raptured from the earth. - Fair Use - I had not actually heard of him either, lol ....just saw the article posted in one of the five dove letters, and I agree Geri, it's part of the apostasy and also a part of the pressure that is currently on the church in general. Some people will never be able to handle not being part of the "popular group" or having to endure the name calling, ostracizing and the all our attack that Christians are starting to face. We are certainly not in the majority any more....and being called homophobic, transphobic, gullible, simple minded, racist, zenophobic and the most popular ones of "narrow minded, judgmental hypocrites". It will only get worse, which is why we are told to put on the armor....we are gonna need it. Its all part of the great falling away and Paul wrote about it: 2 Thessalonians 2:3 It's sad to me yet exciting at the same time - excitement coming from the fact that we're so near to the Rapture, sad in that so many are turning away. This article adds credence to the message of 2 Thess 2:3: https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx Fair use, educational purposes only. We're going home... where the streets are golden... yes, thankfully we are going home!! and I have to finish the song Todd...... we're going home, where the streets are golden and every chain is broken....oh I want to go, oh I want to go home where every fear is gone, Im in Your open arms...where I belong...Home.. Blinded eyes will finally see, the dead will rise on the shores of eternity, the trump will sound, the angels will sing.."hallelujah, hallelujah...I am going home :yahoo: :flyup: Interesting verse! I always believed we would not know the AC! Yet Israel has crowned a fake messiah and as we witness a falling away of many not enduring till the very end! Hmmm Many in the church have not forsaken Christ but are not sober minded, enduring sound doctrine, nor looking for His appearing! This is also a part of falling away! TR So sad...trading a glorious future eternity for the baubles of a temporary temporal existence. Again, delayed gratification and the big picture are no longer normal axioms of life! I was under the impression that 2 Thess 2:3 is the Second Coming of Christ, not the Rapture. It is covered here: https://www.gotquestions.org/difference-Rapture-Second-Coming.html It's my opinion that many people are offended by something that happened at church or with church people, and that turns them away from Christianity. I feel that offence is one of Satan's greatest weapons, something that we have to be aware of and defend our hearts against. Notice how these days everybody is offended by everything.
Others on the page are full of science, arrogance and hatred for the people of God and this also made me sad because they are soo deceived and everlearning but never coming to the Truth....will the Rapture even convince some of these? I wonder....but we should pray collectively for them, and if you have the nerve, go to the page and engage in the conversation....fair warning though, it is full on warfare there, not for the timid....lol but prayers either way that some that converse will be successful in planting seeds and leading some to Christ. Time is short siblings.....Dad's about to send Jesus to come collect us to go HOME! :flyup:
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
The New King James Version
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
TR
