The Last Days Apostasy of the Church - Part 3 added!

[jessicas0778]

By Andy Woods

Many other topics would be more pleasant to write about rather than the last days apostasy of the church. It would be far easier to talk about the positive topic of God’s love rather than something as negative as apostasy. Yet, this subject must be broached since it is part of God’s message in the Bible. In fact, this series will contend that it is impossible to understand God’s plan for the end times without understanding what Scripture reveals about the last days apostasy of the church.

Let’s begin with a definition of apostasy. The English word apostasy is derived from two Greek words. The first word is the preposition apo, which means “away from.” The second word is the verb histēmi, which means, “to stand.” Thus, apostasy means, “to stand away from.” Apostasy refers to a departure from known or previously embraced truth. The subject of apostasy has little to do with the condition of the unsaved world, which has always rejected divine truth and therefore has nothing from which to depart. Rather, apostasy pertains to the spiritual temperature within God’s church. While some might think that apostasy relates to some external factor such as whether the economy is up or down, the subject of biblical apostasy relates to internal church conditions.

Because comprehension of what Scripture reveals concerning apostasy is critical toward completely understanding God’s end-time program, this series will develop several general characteristics of apostasy. They include the following: apostasy is a sign of the last days, is warned against repeatedly in the New Testament, impacts every major doctrine, is internal, knows no limits in terms of who becomes involved in it, can happen quickly, is satanically energized, is destructive, makes life difficult for the man of God, and can be guarded against.

A Sign of the Last Days

Apostasy is a sign of the last days of the church. When we speak of the signs of the end, many subjects come to mind such as the return of the Jews to their land or the trend toward one-world government. However, these kinds of signs concern God’s futureprogram for Israel rather than the church. Apostasy is another sign, often taking place right under our noses, which we fail to recognize as a sign of the end. Apostasy is the specific scriptural sign given indicating that the church is nearing the completion of her earthly mission.

Second Timothy 3:1 says,

   “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.”

Paul’s words to Timothy here are important since this letter represents Paul’s last will and testament. Because they were given just prior to the apostle’s death (2 Tim 4:6), they represent a time in his life when he was most serious. Also, this book, along with 1 Tim and Titus, is a pastoral epistle designed to give young Timothy apostolic guidance regarding how to pastor God’s church. Here, Paul does not predict a last days revival but rather the coming of dangerous times. Later on in the same chapter Paul explains,

   “But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim 3:13; italics added).

Thus, Paul in this final letter seems to be anticipating an increasing drifting away from truth throughout the church age.

The prediction of growing apostasy throughout the present age can also be seen in the eight Matthew 13 parables. In Matt 12, it is apparent that Israel was going to reject her king and His offer of the kingdom. Israel’s religious leaders had even attributed Christ’s miracles to Satan (Matt 12:24). Thus, in Matt 13, Christ through the use of eight parables outlines the course of a new intervening age to elapse in between Israel’s rejection of the king and when she will accept Him in the future. This new age represents truth unrevealed in prior revelation (Matt 13:16-17). While encompassing the church age (which exists in between the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2 and the rapture), this new era extends beyond it as well. It begins with Israel’s formal rejection of Christ’s kingdom offer (prior to Acts 2) and ends when Israel accepts her king (after the rapture). When taken together, these eight parables describe the course of this new era.

The parable of the sower teaches that the gospel will be preached throughout the new age with various results depending upon how the hearer’s heart has been prepared (13:1-9, 18-23). The parable of the wheat and the tares teaches that it will be difficult to distinguish between the saved and the unsaved throughout professing Christendom and a separation between them will not transpire until the age’s conclusion (13:24-30, 36-43). The parable of the mustard seed teaches that Christendom will experience great numerical and geographic expansion from a humble beginning (13:31-32). The parable of the leaven working its way through the meal teaches that professing Christendom will experience increasing moral and doctrinal corruption as the age progresses (13:33).

This parable is the most important in terms of predicting increasing apostasy throughout the present age. Unfortunately, many interpreters miss this crucial point by interpreting the leaven as something good rather than evil. Walvoord explains:

   What does the leaven represent? Postmillenarians and amillenarians…usually assume dogmatically that leaven cannot represent evil in the parable, although it is universally used to represent evil in both the Old and New Testaments…It is more evident than ever in the last third of the twentieth century that the gospel has not permeated the world and that evil tends to permeate the entire professing church, which is exactly what Matthew 13 teaches. In the Old Testament leaven is consistently used to represent evil…Inthe New Testament , leaven was used by Christ of the externalism of the Pharisees, of the unbelief of the Sadducees, and of the worldliness of the Herodians, and in general of evil doctrine (Mt 16:6-12; Mk 8:14-21). In Paul’s letters, likewise, leaven represents evil, as in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 and Galatians 5:7-10. In the parable, the meal represents that which is good…The professing church, however, is permeated by evil doctrine, externalism, unbelief, and worldliness, which tends to inflatethe church and make it larger in appearance, even as the leaven inflates the dough but actually adds nothing of real worth. The history ofthe church has all too accurately fulfilled this anticipation, and the professing church in the world, large and powerful though it may be, is permeated by the leaven of evil which will be judged in the oven of divine judgment atthe end of the age…To some extent, evil will extend even to…the body of true believers in the church as well as those that come to Christ after the rapture…even true believers fall far short of perfection and can embrace to some extent worldliness, externalism, and bad doctrine.1

Toussaint similarly notes:

   The discussion revolves around the significance of the word “leaven” (zymē). Many contend that leaven is used here in a good sense and pictures the spread of the gospel throughout the earth. Others state that the word represents evil and is used to illustrate the growth of evil within the group which professes to inherit the kingdom. This latter interpretation has the stronger support. It is consistent with the doctrine of Scripture concerning the evil character ofthe end of the church age and the tribulation (1 Timothy 4; 2 Timothy 3; Jude; 2 Peter 3; Revelation 6–19). One of the greatest supports for the interpretation that leaven speaks of evil is the use of the word in Scripture. Invariably leaven pictures sin (Exodus 12; Leviticus 2:11; 6:17; 10:12; Matthew 16:12; Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; Galatians 5:9). Finally the verb used here, “to hide”…is very unusual if leaven represents good. It is a much more fitting word if leaven is to have a sinister effect. This is similarto the idea in the parable of the wheat and the darnel. The way the woman hides the leaven in the meal parallels very closely the manner in which the enemy sowed darnel by night. This parable reveals the fact that evil will run its course and dominate the new age. But it also indicates that when theprogram of evil has been fulfilled, the kingdom will come. 2

The parable of the hidden treasure teaches that national Israel (Exodus 19:5) will remain in unbelief only to be converted at the age’s conclusion (13:44). The pearl of great price teaches that the Lord will gain a treasure from among the Gentiles throughout the interadvent age (13:45-46). The parable of the dragnet teaches the same message as the wheat and tares or the co-existence of good and evil only to be separated at the age’s conclusion (13:47-50). The parable of the householder depicting the man bringing both new and old treasures from his house teaches that these parables describing fresh and new truths about the course of the present age must be considered alongside what prior revelation teaches about the future kingdom in order to understand God’s total program (13:51-52).

Thus, the present age represents a period when the gospel is preached resulting in the salvation of some. However, a counterfeit sowing will also take place. Despite God’s work throughout the church age, Christendom will experience an increasing doctrinal and moral corruption. Therefore, the teaching concerning the increasing apostasy of the church can be found not only in Paul’s final letter but also in the Matthew 13 parables.

This teaching on the apostasy of the church does not mean that God cannot sovereignly send refreshing waves of revival and reformation, as He has done at various times. However, these refreshing seasons are not the norm but rather occur only intermittently throughout church history. Also, a proper understanding of apostasy represents a worldview that is diametrically opposed to “kingdom now” theology, which is the idea that the church will gradually Christianize the world thereby ushering in long-term cultural progress. The only way “kingdom-now” theology can be defended from Scripture is to ignore what the New Testament predicts concerning the apostasy of the church.

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[Just A Clay Pot]

[vincentwansink]

 Eagerly awaiting Part 2.

[jessicas0778]

The Last Days Apostasy of the Church - Part 2

By Andy Woods

Apostasy must be understood in order to comprehend the last days scenario. This series of articles is dedicated toward tracing the general characteristics of apostasy. In the previous article, apostasy was defined as a movement within Christ’s church representing a departure from known truth. There, it was also established that apostasy is the central sign revealed in Scripture signaling the near completion of the church’s earthly mission (2 Tim 3:1, 13; Matt 13:33).

A Massive New Testament Subject

Another point to understand about apostasy is that it represents a massive New Testament subject. Surprisingly, apostasy is one of the most frequently mentioned subjects in all of the New Testament. In fact, it is difficult to read much of the New Testament before encountering warnings concerning apostasy. For example, such warnings are found in the Gospels (Matt 13), Acts (Acts 20:29-31), the Pauline letters (Rom 16:17-18; Gal 1:6-9; 2 Cor 11:1-15; Philip 3:2, 18-19; Col 2:8; 1 Tim 4; 2 Tim 3–4; Titus 1:10), and the general epistles (Heb 2:1-4; 2 Pet 2–3; Jude; 1 John 4:1-6).1 The early chapters of the Apocalypse also reveal the reality of apostasy. Revelation 2–3 describes seven letters to seven churches in Asia Minor. Five of these seven churches are in need of rebuke from Christ due to their apostate condition.

Interestingly, entire New Testament books were written solely for the purpose of warning believers concerning apostasy. Galatians was written in order to warn against the Judaizers. Colossians was written for the purpose of warning Christians about the Colossian heresy. Hebrews was written to keep the audience from leaving the full revelation of Christ and lapsing backwards into Judaism. Both Jude and 2 Peter were written as warnings concerning apostasy.

Sadly, despite the abundance of New Testament material dealing with the subject of apostasy, very few modern Christians have ever heard a sermon on apostasy from their local church. Perhaps the reason for this omission has to do with the subject’s negativity. Because apostasy is not a positive subject, many preachers avoid it. It is far easier for pastors to talk about something positive, practical, or relevant than it is to warn of the inherent dangers associated with apostasy.

Apostasy Concerns Every Major Doctrine

Yet another point to understand is that warnings against apostasy pertain to every major doctrine. What will the apostates deny? Is there any doctrine that will be left off the “chopping block”? Are there any doctrines that are so essential to the heart of Christianity and considered so precious that no apostate would dare deny them? The answer is a resounding “no!” The New Testament reveals that apostates will deny “the faith” (1 Tim 4:1). Notice the definite article in front of the word faith. In other words, the apostates will even deny the very faith of Christianity. Apostates will also deny God (Jude 4). 2 Peter 2:1 predicts a denial of both Christ and His atoning death when it says, “denying the master who bought them.” The apostates will also deny “sound doctrine” (2 Tim 4:3).

They will similarly deny God’s role in creation (2 Pet 3:5). The verb thelō, which means to “wish” or “desire,”2 in this verse expresses the apostates’ desire to push God out of their thinking when contemplating creation. The NKJV well captures this idea when it translates 2 Pet 3:5 as follows:

   “For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water” (italics added).

Not only will the apostates deny God’s role in creation, but they will also deny His future return. 2 Peter 3:4 records the apostates asking, “Where is the promise of His coming?” Despite the fact that the return of Christ is embraced by virtually all of Christendom’s creeds and confessions, Scripture predicts that the apostates will even deny this important doctrine. We are seeing this prophecy being fulfilled today with the resurgence of preterism, which takes prophecies that have traditionally been understood as futuristic and instead argues for their historic or past fulfillment. Full preterists even go so far as to say that there is no such thing as a future Second Coming since all Bible prophecy has been fulfilled in the past.3

The New Testament predicts that the apostates will even tamper with the doctrine of the resurrection. One would think that at least this doctrine would be off limits since Christianity collapses if Christ has not been resurrected. Paul explained,

   “and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain” (1 Cor 15:14).

However, Paul elsewhere explained that the apostates would have little respect even for the resurrection and its implication. He noted,

   “Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some” (2 Tim 2:17-18, italics added).

Thus, the preceding discussion indicates that there are no doctrinal “sacred cows” as far as the apostates are concerned. The New Testament predicts that everything that can be denied will be denied.

An Internal Matter

Another characteristic of apostasy is that it is primarily internal. Toward the end of his third missionary journey, Paul made a stop at Miletus, which is an Asia Minor seaport near Ephesus. It is there that he had the opportunity to address the elders of the church at Ephesus. In this magnificent address as recorded in Acts 20:18-35, Paul unfolded grand ecclesiologic principles designed to govern the ministries of the Ephesian elders as they attempted to shepherd Christ’s church at Ephesus. In this discourse, Paul also sounded the alarm concerning apostasy. Apparently, Paul was serious about this subject since he had warned the Ephesian elders about it both day and night, with tears, for a period of three years (Acts 20:31).

As Paul depicted the characteristics of apostasy, he also noted its internal character. He said,

   “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30; italics added).

Jude also noted the internal character of apostasy. He explained,

   “For certain persons have crept in unnoticed” (Jude 4, italics added).

Thus, these verses indicate that apostasy is not something that takes place outside of the four walls of the church. Rather, it is a reality that takes place within her midst. When one looks for apostasy, he should not look for it in the unsaved world. Instead he should look for it behind pulpits, in Christian publications, and even in Christian schools.

Apostasy Knows No Limits

Another characteristic of apostasy is that it knows no limits. The very people or groups that one would initially think would not be involved in apostasy are sometimes the very ones “leading the charge” into apostasy. For example, Exodus 32:1-10 indicates that while Moses was on Mount Sinai for a 40-day period receiving God’s Law, the children of Israel at the base of Mount Sinai quickly apostatized by constructing a golden calf. What is most shocking about this event is that the ringleader of this apostasy was none other than the high priest Aaron. Similarly, Judges 17–18 records a wandering Levite who helped introduce the first instance of idolatry into the land of Israel after the conquest under Joshua. This idolatry was first introduced into a household and then an entire tribe (Dan). Again, what is startling about this story is that the Levite responsible for these actions was none other than Jonathan, who was the son of Gershom or the grandson of Moses (Judges 18:30).

A New Testament example of apostasy is found in Rev 2:4-5 where Christ charged the church at Ephesus with having left its first love. Apparently, this sin represented a severe departure in Christ’s eyes since He threatened to take away from the Ephesians their lampstand or sphere of influence unless they returned to Him. It is again surprising to observe that it was none other than the church of Ephesus involved in this departure. Paul founded the church at Ephesus on his third missionary journey during a three-year stay in Ephesus. Ephesus had been the recipient of the ministries of Apollos, Priscilla and Aquila, Timothy, and even John.4 Ephesus also had three letters addressed to her. Each of these letters eventually became part of the New Testament canon (Eph, 1–2 Tim). Yet, despite this solid theological foundation, Ephesus eventually departed from Christ. In sum, one would never have guessed that Aaron, Jonathan, and Ephesus would have ever been involved in apostasy. Yet these are the very ones who led in the area of apostasy.

Therefore, no one is immune from apostasy. This fact is evidenced by the following rules given at the foundation of a well-known Christian school.

   Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3) and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisdom, let everyone seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seek it of Him (Prov. 2, 3). Everyone shall exercise himself in reading the Scriptures twice a day that he shall be ready to give such an account of his proficiency therein.5

Most people are amazed to learn that these were the rules of Harvard given at the school’s inception in 1636. Yet, spiritually speaking, the Harvard of today is quite different from the early Harvard. Over time, Harvard apostatized from its Christian roots. When founded, any prediction of the eventual drifting of the school from its biblical foundation would probably have been looked at as a gross overstatement. Yet such a departure is what has happened. Thus, as demonstrated through the examples of Jonathan, Aaron, Ephesus, and Harvard, apostasy knows no limits.

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[crazy-cajun]

Wow, not that I did not know this, for I have read before about this particular sign by several authors. It is just that it has reminded me of the world I see around me all day every day.  Thanks Jess for bringing it out again. In a world drowning in its own immoral and sinful mire, we are subject to get caught in the undertow if we are not dilligent to be carefull at all times. I know for me I grow more and more reclusive when I am out on the street. I hear conversations that make me cringe and language that make what I used to used in the military before being save seem tame. But what gets me most are those symbols I see on cars that indicate the driver and other members are Christians, and their driving attitude is horrible. They cut people off, their scour when the look at other drivers, and the worst of all I have seen them use handicap parking illegally then get all defensive when they are called on it. Of course we all know in some churches this kind of behavior goes on all the time. It reminds me of that old song, "Mississipi Squirrel Revival," by Ray Stevens.

Not to take away from the importance of this post but so not everyone sits around wondering about the song.

                       

[jessicas0778]

By Andy Woods
SpiritandTruth.org

Apostasy is an important yet often neglected subject when attempting to comprehend what the Bible teaches about the end times. Thus, this series of articles is dedicated toward tracing ten general, biblical characteristics of apostasy. In the previous articles, apostasy was defined as a movement within Christ’s church representing a departure from known truth. It was also established that apostasy is the central sign revealed in Scripture signaling the near completion of the church’s earthly mission. It was also shown that warnings against apostasy consume much of the New Testament and that these New Testament warnings relate to virtually all of Christianity’s most cherished doctrines. Apostasy is also a phenomenon that occurs internally withinthe church and even is led by individuals or groups considered the least likely candidates to depart from truth. This article will attempt to develop two more characteristics of apostasy: its speed and satanic influence.

Apostasy Can Happen Quickly

Another characteristic of apostasy is the speed or haste in which it can transpire. Apostasy need not take several generations to occur. Galatians 1:6 says, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel” (italics added). When Paul wrote to the Galatians, he expressed shock or surprise on two grounds. First, he was astonished at how quickly his readers had deserted the truth that he had imparted to them. Second, he was amazed that the Galatians had parted company with him on the very gospel itself. They did not disagree with Paul on some tangential or minor issue but rather on the core nature of the gospel, which represents the heart of Christianity.

A natural question arises. How long of a period of time elapsed in between Paul’s initial contact with the Galatians and when Paul addressed them in his letter? Most modern New Testament scholars hold to what is called the Southern Galatian Theory. According to this view, Paul evangelized and planted churches within the area of Southern Galatia (modern-day Turkey) on his first missionary journey around A.D. 48. He then wrote to these same churches upon his return to Syrian Antioch after the conclusion of his first missionary journey. Therefore, Paul wrote to these same churches about one year after his original contact with them. Paul penned the letter out of concern that the new Galatian believers had shifted theologically. Although they had experienced salvation through faith alone in Christ alone, they had begun to embrace the false teachings of the Judaizers that sanctification could be achieved through a mixture of faith in addition to obedience to the Mosaic Law (Gal. 3:3). Paul spends the entire letter to the Galatians seeking to rescue them from this error. The important point to recognize here is that the very churches that had heard Paul preach and even saw his miracles (Gal. 3:5; Acts 14:3, 8-11) had departed dramatically from critical Pauline gospel principles within a short duration of time consisting of about one year. Thus, the speed at which apostasy can occur cannot be overstated.

In the previous article, reference was made to the golden calf incident (Exod. 32:1-10). There, Israel while encamped at the base of Mount Sinai apostatized from God at the very moment Moses was atop Mount Sinai receiving God’s Law. As in the case of the Galatians, this turning away from God did not represent a departure over some minor issue. Rather, it represented apostasy from the fundamental issue of monotheism. When God brought this issue to the attention of Moses on Sinai, He made reference to the speed at which Israel had apostatized. Exodus 32:8 says, “They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I have commanded them” (italics added). Apparently, Moses had been on Sinai for only 40-days (Exod. 24:18) and it was during this short time period that Israel apostatized on the fundamental issue of the true knowledge of God. Again, the speed at which apostasy can occur should be noted. While it took the Galatians about a year to depart from the core principles of the gospel, it took Israel only 40 days to depart from God by lapsing into idolatry.

The speed in which apostasy can take place also finds illustration in Christ’s words to the church at Ephesus. The previous article noted Christ’s rebuke to the Ephesian church, which had forsaken its first love (Rev. 2:4-5). Again, the foundational nature of this departure deserves notice. Like the Galatians who had left the core principles of the gospel and Israel who had forsaken monotheism, the Ephesians had allowed other pursuits to eclipse their initial love and devotion to Christ. Interestingly, Paul had earlier addressedthe church at Ephesus around A.D. 60. Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians was written from Rome during his first Roman imprisonment and constituted the first of his four “prison letters.”1 The letter to the Ephesians fails to reveal any clue of a major defection taking place within the church. Yet when Christ addressed the same church in Rev. 2:1-7, the church looked entirely different since it had abandoned its first love. While, as mentioned above, Paul wrote to the Ephesians in A.D. 60, it is traditionally believed that John on Patmos received and recorded the vision that subsequently became known as the Book of Revelation in A.D. 95.2 Thus, within just three and a half decades (from A.D. 60 to A.D. 95), the church at Ephesus had departed on the foundational issue of love and devotion to Christ. In sum, while it took the Galatians one year to abandon the gospel and Israel 40 days to abandon monotheism, it took Ephesus less than four decades to neglect its first love. All of these biblical examples illustrate the speed in which apostasy can occur.

The rapid speed in which apostasy can occur was first driven home to me as a new believer. I became a Christian in 1983 through a homeBible study affiliated with a Bible teaching church. This wonderful church then nourished me in my newfound relationship with Christ during most of my high school years. I then temporarily leftthe church for a few years in order to attend college and graduate school in another area. Upon my return to the church just a few years later, I found an entirely different church due to an interim change in ministry philosophy. No longer was theBible taught except in a highly selective fashion. Concepts such as the realities of sin, hell, and the exclusivity and blood of Christ were omitted fromthe church ’s teaching ministry all in the name of not wanting to offend the unchurched. God used this experience to open my eyes not only to the reality of apostasy but also to the speed in which it can occur even in spiritual environments once considered fundamental and secure.

Apostasy Is Satanically Energized

Who ultimately is behind apostasy? The following verses divulge Satan as the true culprit. 2 Corinthians 11:3 says, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his own craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (italics added). Here, Paul expresses concern that just as Satan led Eve away from God’s simple command not to eat from the forbidden tree, Satan might similarly lead the Corinthians into apostasy. 1 Timothy 4:1 similarly notes, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (italics added). The adverb “expressly” indicates the Spirit’s earnest desire to convey an important truth. This important spiritual reality is that demons are the ultimate source of power behind the last days apostasy of the church.

Do men or Satan cause apostasy? The answer to this question is “yes” since both alternatives are true. Satan places ideas into the minds of fallen men typically in positions of ecclesiastical influence in order to push the church further into apostasy. Satan even uses believers in order to accomplish this endeavor. Satan’s ability to use carnal believers, or those who cater to their sinnature , is apparent from the following passages. Christ rebuked Peter for giving verbal expressions to satanic thoughts. Christ’s rebuke occurred when Peter attempted to persuade Christ not to die on the cross (Matt. 16:23). Later, Peter noted that Satan had filled the hearts of Ananias and Sapphira thereby prompting them to lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4). It seems evident that Ananias and Sapphira were believers since their sudden deaths struck fear into the hearts of the rest of the church (Acts 5:11). Such fear probably would not have overtaken the church had Ananias and Sapphira been unbelievers. The early church likely reasoned that if two of their own could be severely disciplined by God then the rest of the church could be similarly disciplined. Also, Paul exhorted the Ephesian believers not to harbor bitterness and instead to forgive. Otherwise they would give Satan a place of influence in their lives (Eph. 4:26-27). Thus, these passages all seem to indicate that Satan has an ability to negatively influence the lives of carnal believers.

Why would Satan want to use Christians in spheres of influence within the church to cause the church to depart from truth? Satan’s ambition has always been to push the church into apostasy so as to get it off message and outside of her divine purpose. Once the church becomes something that God never intended she quickly loses her effectiveness in the world. God’s purpose for the church is threefold: to glorify God (Eph. 3:21), to edify the saints (Eph. 4:11-16), and to accomplish worldwide evangelization and disciple making (Mark 16:15; Matt. 28:18-20). The church operates with power only to the extent that she functions within her divine design. Once the church moves outside of these divinely designed guidelines she loses her power and effectiveness. This reality explains why Satan is the ultimate cause of apostasy. If Satan through apostasy can cause the church to take on tasks that God never delegated to her or become something that God never designed her to be then he will have crippled the church in accomplishing her earthly mission.

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