Adherence to Christianity is declining in many first world countries today. Christian persecution by sword is increasing elsewhere. It has become increasingly fashionable to hold Christianity in derision on this great mecca known as the internet. Counterfeit pharmakeia-addled spirituality permeates our social and emotional human diaphragm. My own generation (Millennial) has an observably decreased presence in Sunday worship activities due in no small measure to other worldly distractions, ineffectual teachers and empty self-indulgent promises. The pews are filled with snowbirds whilst the youth are barely seen. If over 80% of Christians in your average Church are seniors themselves, then where exactly is the new generation that's supposed to spring up to replace them, as has traditionally been the case for centuries?
This decline is so noticeably dramatic in my mind when I contrast the state of churches today to the state of churches from hundreds of years ago. What does the future hold in store for so many congregations, so many of which can reliably be expected to grow anemic in the not too distant future due to staggering lack of engagement by succeeding generations? Is this concern being addressed by Church leadership adequately, acknowledged properly, or is it being brushed off? My own take on it is that we are truly witnessing a harbinger of that great falling spoken of in 2 Thes 2 at this very present time.
The purpose of thread is to ask this question: Is that Great Falling Away as spoken of in scripture not already well underway at this present time in history? Or will this prophecy only be fulfilled when Christians are being systematically beheaded/killed across Europe, Canada, Australia, the United States, et al., sanctioned by their own governments? (futurist interpretation of tribulation)
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 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, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped[....]
[Apologies for disturbing content]
This decline is so noticeably dramatic in my mind when I contrast the state of churches today to the state of churches from hundreds of years ago. What does the future hold in store for so many congregations, so many of which can reliably be expected to grow anemic in the not too distant future due to staggering lack of engagement by succeeding generations? Is this concern being addressed by Church leadership adequately, acknowledged properly, or is it being brushed off? My own take on it is that we are truly witnessing a harbinger of that great falling spoken of in 2 Thes 2 at this very present time.
The purpose of thread is to ask this question: Is that Great Falling Away as spoken of in scripture not already well underway at this present time in history? Or will this prophecy only be fulfilled when Christians are being systematically beheaded/killed across Europe, Canada, Australia, the United States, et al., sanctioned by their own governments? (futurist interpretation of tribulation)
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 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, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped[....]
[Apologies for disturbing content]