APOSTASY (Babylon has FALLEN, has FALLEN)

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The scriptures state, “Except there come a falling away first” (2Thessalonians 2:3). The Greek word here translated “falling away” is, in the Greek, apostasy and means, defection from truth. Defection is the act of forsaking or leaving. The Apostle Paul stated, “For the mystery of iniquity does already work” (2Thessalonians 2:7). The Greek word translated “iniquity” is anomia, which means, illegality, i.e. violation of law or contempt of Divine Law.

We may say, “How can Christians be considered in violation of law or contempt of Divine Law”?  For it is written, “you are not under the law but under grace” (Romans 6:14b). And, this is true, we are not under the ordinances and rituals of the Mosaic Law for, “you also are become dead to the Law (Mosaic) by the body of Christ” (Romans 7:4).  “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace, God forbid!” (Romans 6:13).  For, “the strength of sin is the law” (1Corinthians 15:5b).  Therefore, if we are not under the law then we have been, “made free from sin (sin singular – the law of [ref:  Romans 8:2]) and should have become the servants of righteousness (Divine Law)” (Romans 6:18).

Divine Law for the Christian is not the Mosaic Law because our Lord Jesus, “blotted out the handwriting of ordinances (Mosaic Law) that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2:14). We would say, “Contempt for what law then”? Our brother James calls it, “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25 ). And the Apostle John states it this way, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that says I know him and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. He that says he abides in him ought himself also to walk, even as he (the Lord Jesus) walked” (1John 2:3-4 & verse 6) The question then becomes, “What commandments is John speaking of”?

The Lord Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments” (John 14:15), which is the same as he said in John 14:23 where we see it written, “If a man love me, he will keep my words”. This is the “perfect law of liberty”. So, let’s just set forth one commandment/word of the Lord, “and of him that takes away your goods, ask them not again”. (Luke 6:30b). If we can hear this commandment/word then, “God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).

If, on the one hand, we believe God (his word) and be strong in faith doing it God’s way, it shall be imputed to us for righteousness (References Romans 4:3, & 20-25). However, on the other hand, if we behave as the natural children of Israel did, and “rebel against the words of God, and spurn the counsel of the Most High” (Psalms 107:10-12), “believing not (having no faith in) his word” (Psalms 106:24-29, 34-43) then we have contempt for divine law. Because, “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).

Again, the Apostle Paul said, “The mystery of iniquity (contempt for divine law) does already work” (2Thessalonians 2:3 ). This “falling away” was, and is, precipitated because, “some shall depart (fall away) from the faith” (1Timothy 4:1), and “some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck” (1Timothy 1:19). When one becomes “reprobate/unapproved concerning the faith” (2Timothy 3:8), then they “resist the truth” (2Timothy 3:8) and will “not stand sound doctrine; but after their own lusts…heap to themselves teachers, to tickle their ears; and they turn away their ears from the truth, and…turn unto fables” (2Timothy 4:3-4).

This falling away has happened and is still happening, so it is up to us individually to discern, “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw yourself” (1Timothy 6:3-5).

Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen and is become the habitation of devils, the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters says the Lord Almighty. (Revelation 18:2; 2Corinthians 6:17-18).

Babylon the great IS “the great city (which) was divided into three parts” (Revelation 16:19a). Which is the entire ecumenical system: Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxism and Protestantism. These ARE the THREE PARTS into which this harlot is divided.

THIS IS THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, PREPARE YOU THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE STRAIGHT HIS PATHS. Amen