The Great Apostasy

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friend of

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I've noticed that younger generations have far less engagement with the churches I've attended recently. I look around and see the pews packed with older folks, but youth seem to be a rare sight. Is this a sign of the times? In a few more decades, churches are foreseeably set to lose a sizable percentage of attendees if younger generations don't engage and pick up where our parents and grandparents left off.

Are we living in the time of great apostasy spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 ?

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 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


Or am I wrong? Discuss if you please
 
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Heb 13:8

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The "falling away" is multi layered and can describe nonbelievers falling away and also rapture of believers.

NASB Translation
apostasy (1), forsake (1).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
falling away, apostacy
Feminine of the same as apostasion; defection from truth (properly, the state) ("apostasy") -- falling away, forsake.

Isa 42:16 I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.

2 Cor 4:7-12 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Heb 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
 
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bbyrd009

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well imo you are not wrong per se, but see how this "day of great apostasy" has been effectively removed from "today" without ever exactly saying that, and then imo go and reflect on "today" NT, Bible Search: today NT, where it might be seen that some dialectic phrasing is being employed there in the Thess Quote
 
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I've noticed that younger generations have far less engagement with the churches I've attended recently. I look around and see the pews packed with older folks, but youth seem to be a rare sight. Is this a sign of the times? In a few more decades, churches are foreseeably set to lose a sizable percentage of attendees if younger generations don't engage and pick up where our parents and grandparents left off.

Are we living in the time of great apostasy spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 ?

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 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


Or am I wrong? Discuss if you please
We are in the end times. Churches are apostate. We are living in "the falling away". The man of sin, the son of perdition, is to be revealed. Tribulation is coming; to some it has already begun.
 

Nancy

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I've noticed that younger generations have far less engagement with the churches I've attended recently. I look around and see the pews packed with older folks, but youth seem to be a rare sight. Is this a sign of the times? In a few more decades, churches are foreseeably set to lose a sizable percentage of attendees if younger generations don't engage and pick up where our parents and grandparents left off.

Are we living in the time of great apostasy spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 ?

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 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


Or am I wrong? Discuss if you please

Hello @friend of ,
"I've noticed that younger generations have far less engagement with the churches I've attended recently. I look around and see the pews packed with older folks, but youth seem to be a rare sight. Is this a sign of the times? In a few more decades, churches are foreseeably set to lose a sizable percentage of attendees if younger generations don't engage and pick up where our parents and grandparents left off."

This could also have something to do with location?
I can only speak from what I am now experiencing within my local bodies and where I now attend are many young people...more so than older folks. My "other" Church-lol-has many elderly but also has a ton of children, there are lot's of generations there and the youth ministry in both places is awesome. Idk, I suppose it is different all over with demographics?
 

ScottA

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I've noticed that younger generations have far less engagement with the churches I've attended recently. I look around and see the pews packed with older folks, but youth seem to be a rare sight. Is this a sign of the times? In a few more decades, churches are foreseeably set to lose a sizable percentage of attendees if younger generations don't engage and pick up where our parents and grandparents left off.

Are we living in the time of great apostasy spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 ?

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 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


Or am I wrong? Discuss if you please
There is a lot in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 that is misunderstood. Because of this, most assume it to be a prophecy of some future end times mass event...and it's not.
  • Notice in verse 1 that he is speaking to them as "brethren", appealing as if to each one ("ye") individually. And he says "by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Which is an indication it is not in the future, but that he was referring to Jesus' coming...which had just occurred.
  • Then he confirms the timing as being "at hand" (then).
  • Then the big misunderstanding comes after first not getting the time correct, to go on to assume that there is only one "man of sin"...and there is - but his name is not Satan...it was Adam. And "all in Adam die" because all are "men of sin." Which goes back to what Paul told the Corinthians about what happens after the man of sin is reveal in each of us, saying that Christ comes to "each in his own order."
  • The reference to being "revealed" then, does not refer to the future of Satan, but to each person as they are naturally made manifest in the world...by being born...in the flesh.
Thus, Paul was appealing to them as brothers in Christ and reassuring them that they need not be shaken, that since Christ had come things were now (then) in the works, and that the natural man simply comes first and not to get ahead of themselves, that they need not be concerned that they missed anything. First the natural, then the spiritual.
 
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Episkopos

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Are we living in the time of great apostasy spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 ?

Without a doubt!

The modern churches have lowered holiness into a sinful holiness....and have claimed righteousness for themselves by denying it to all others who don't believe in their doctrinal interpretations.

But in so doing they have not only subverted holiness...but righteousness as well.

A true faith would not do this lowering of the standards of God. Nor would it set itself up as a judge of the world.

When Jesus returns will He find true faith in the churches?
 

Nancy

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Without a doubt!

The modern churches have lowered holiness into a sinful holiness....and have claimed righteousness for themselves by denying it to all others who don't believe in their doctrinal interpretations.

But in so doing they have not only subverted holiness...but righteousness as well.

A true faith would not do this lowering of the standards of God. Nor would it set itself up as a judge of the world.

When Jesus returns will He find true faith in the churches?

"When Jesus returns will He find true faith in the churches?"
My guess would be, very little.
 
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Enoch111

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I've noticed that younger generations have far less engagement with the churches I've attended recently.
The absence of young people from churches may or may not be an indication of apostasy. There are far more serious issues within Christendom which confirm that we are indeed living during the Great Apostasy. It began to influence churches in the 19th century, and now it is evident all over.

All the more reason for genuine Christians to focus on Scripture and retain a good understanding of Gospel truth, engaging in serious Gospel outreach, and ensuring that Bible truth is not replaced by false doctrine.
Abandoning modern Bible versions and holding fast to the Authorized Version (KJV) can make all the difference.
 

Hidden In Him

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I've noticed that younger generations have far less engagement with the churches I've attended recently. I look around and see the pews packed with older folks, but youth seem to be a rare sight. Is this a sign of the times? In a few more decades, churches are foreseeably set to lose a sizable percentage of attendees if younger generations don't engage and pick up where our parents and grandparents left off.

Are we living in the time of great apostasy spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 ?

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 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

Or am I wrong? Discuss if you please

Greetings Friend Of! How are you, my brother!

Looks like you got several different answers. I am not one who interprets ἀποστασία as "the great falling away." I believe it should be translated out literally as "the apostasy," as it is referring to when many will apostatize from the faith and betray Christ as a result of persecution specifically (Matthew 24:9-10).

But as for the youth, yes. It looks bleak. I believe we are eventually going to enter into a time when Christianity suffers great humiliation in the earth. Thankfully it won't last forever.
 
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ScottA

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Are we living in the time of great apostasy spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 ?
As long as sinners are born into the world, it is greatly against the righteousness of God - that is the "falling away" (of the fallen), of which Paul spoke. Again, the misunderstanding is that apostasy, A.K.A. sin, has not always been since the fall, and that one sin is greater than another. That is just the talk of men.
 

friend of

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Because of this, most assume it to be a prophecy of some future end times mass event...and it's not.

Well, I'm a futurist. The way I see it, in order for your idealist view to function, the son of perdition would need to have been revealed already.

- but his name is not Satan...it was Adam

Adam is not the son of perdition. Adam did not exult himself above God, nor did he sit on Gods throne and claim to be God.
 

friend of

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This could also have something to do with location?

I suppose. I'm from Canada so we have less population density. The city I live in has probably the most churches per capita in all of my province though.
 
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friend of

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The reference to being "revealed" then, does not refer to the future of Satan, but to each person as they are naturally made manifest in the world...by being born...in the flesh.

A falling away does not need to precede before a Christian can come to the realization that they are dead in their flesh and sin. Falling away means to depart from the faith, but when a Christian realizes how depraved their flesh nature is and how much they depend on Christ for sanctified and mortification of the flesh, this actually brings them closer to Jesus.
 

ScottA

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Well, I'm a futurist. The way I see it, in order for your idealist view to function, the son of perdition would need to have been revealed already.

Adam is not the son of perdition. Adam did not exult himself above God, nor did he sit on Gods throne and claim to be God.
Jesus referred to the leaders in Israel as being "of their father the devil." So, now for you to argue that the son of perdition has not been revealed already, or that they are not the sons of Adam's sin...is simply not true.

You should question your whole position.
 

ScottA

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A falling away does not need to precede before a Christian can come to the realization that they are dead in their flesh and sin. Falling away means to depart from the faith, but when a Christian realizes how depraved their flesh nature is and how much they depend on Christ for sanctified and mortification of the flesh, this actually brings them closer to Jesus.
That is not the falling a way.

The falling away and the departure, is the separation from God, which is to be born in the flesh ("As a star falling from heaven."). For this very reason Jesus preached that men "must be born again of the spirit of God."
 
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Dave L

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I've noticed that younger generations have far less engagement with the churches I've attended recently. I look around and see the pews packed with older folks, but youth seem to be a rare sight. Is this a sign of the times? In a few more decades, churches are foreseeably set to lose a sizable percentage of attendees if younger generations don't engage and pick up where our parents and grandparents left off.

Are we living in the time of great apostasy spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 ?

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 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


Or am I wrong? Discuss if you please
In Revelation 20 (it covers the entire New Covenant era), Satan is loosed just before the end, to deceive the nations as he did before the world-wide gospel era. So I think we are seeing that now. Called the post Christian era.