THE GREAT APOSTATE

By Gavin Aleogho

The Lord Jesus Christ warned us to, “Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them” Luke 21:8. It is important to note that this scripture is still being fulfilled at our very eyes. The question then is this, “are you a victim unknowingly”?

The warning that we should be careful that “no man deceives us” is spelt out on several places in the New Testament, ranging from the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Apostles (Matthew 24:4, Mark 13:5, Ephesians 5:6).

“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,” 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

2 Thessalonians 2:3, speaks of the “falling away” otherwise known as the “Great Apostate” which will be experienced in our days before the return of Christ. The “Great Apostate” speaks of believers’ defection from the truth, falling away, forsaking or departing from the way because of the level of deception which will be propagated by the antichrist (the devil) and his agents.

The question to you then is this, “are you being deceived unknowingly” Or, “have you departed from the faith unknowingly”?

You might say no, but before you exonerate yourself from this, you must understand what the “the faith” means.

Jude 1:3 speaks of “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints”. It is the pure and undiluted doctrine which was handed over to us whose foundation is on the finished work of Jesus Christ. Are you still sticking to this pure gospel? I am not asking if your Church is still sticking to the pure gospel. I am asking you as an individual, because on that final day, before the Judgment Seat of God, it will be an individual thing and not a denominational or corporate thing.

It is important for the present Church of Jesus Christ not to take lightly this warning that was given by the Lord Himself. For the great deception is already going on presently. Many Disciples of Christ are being deceived by those that claim to be Christ or of Christ.

It will be an irony, having started well, if we become prey to these agents of darkness. We must be on our guard, fully equipped with the belt of truth which will help us to discern deceptions.