THE SECOND FRONT WAS AGAINST WORDLY INSIDIOUS POLITICIANS
I am using the term “politicians” in the most odious sense of the word. Men and women who desired power and money primarily, and did not really care about religious truth or the people. They saw the growing size ,money and power of the church over people, and lusted after the power. Most were much more subtle than Simon Magus.
Acts 8:9-18 NKJV 9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 ... 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
His attitude was condemned by the Apostles; however many others were a lot more subtle or, once in the church, were lured into the dark-side conspiracy. Looking at some of Paul's writings reveals that he saw creeping signs of this evil infection inside the true church. How did the original apostasy succeed after the Apostles passed away? A close look at II Thessalonians 2 is revealing :
2 Thessalonians 2:2 NKJV 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.
Counterfeit documents were already a factor undermining true leadership and truth. Paul also foresaw that the apostasy of the church would not come so much by force, but from within.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV 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,
Remember one cannot fall unless he is standing. People cannot fall away from paganism, but only from the truth. Paul is predicting a fifth column movement inside the church that would eventually lead to an evil, world powerful, politician. Probably Paul thought it could take twenty years and would happen in his lifetime. Paul was not, at this time, given information about the vast size the apostate church would reach in a few centuries, nor the many centuries of human evil that were yet to come. One most obvious factor in human history is the drive by evil men for more power. Historian Lord Acton's famous statement 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely', applies to religion as well.
THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY WAS ALREADY WORKING IN PAUL'S DAY
The Apostles were finding a broader and more determined enemy than the Judaizers. Many false epistles were circulating and some were using grace as an excuse or a license to sin more. They claimed that sinning was showing appreciation for all God's grace by just using it more. This would appeal to carnality! Paul wrote in concern:
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 NKJV 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
Paul saw that a push against the law or, for sin was working all over the empire. What can keep this fifth column power play from succeeding ultimately? It is not clear but, it is possible that Paul thought leaders like him stood in the way and until they were killed or somehow taken out the way, the evil movement would be constrained. We now know it was both. The plot gained greater momentum upon the passing of the Apostles and the top leadership they trained. However, it was still stopped from its final goal by a spiritual guard rail. The spiritual restraint force is still in place. Paul knew the darkness of men's hearts when it comes to power and ego. Note what he said to his own Ephesian Elders on the beach:
Acts 20:25-28 NKJV 25 "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Paul in the tearful final goodbye to his Elders, encourages them to protect the sheep yet he knew that some would turn to the dark-side. Some wanted their own personal following for purposes of power and ego.
Acts 20:29-31 NKJV 29 "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
The Apostle's warning to them is not just about keeping out evil teachers or wolves, but to keep watch on themselves. He wants them aware of their desires for power, ego and evil. He knew evil ambitions would grab some of them and he was right! Why are some brethren easy to be deceived and to follow evil?
2Thessalonians 2:10 NKJV 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
SIGNS THAT EVIL WAS MAKING SUBSTANTIAL GAIN AT THE CENTURY END
Gradually over the years, the fifth column movement made progress inside the church. Possibly because younger members had a low Bible I.Q. Suddenly, the Apostle John, the only one left, finds himself being squeezed out.
3 John 1:9-10 NKJV 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.
Diotrephes is a perfect evil example of an odious power politician who wanted power. He could care less about the Apostle whom Jesus loved, or the truth. He had power and notice how he used it. This mad power leader cast out the true believers and those associated with the Apostle John. No doubt he had the good people shunned. He got rid of those he could not control, like most dictators. What did John recommend?
3 John 1:11-12 NKJV 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.
Therefore the true church was now the smaller GROUP, if Diotrephes' group had 400 members probably the true group meeting with Demetrius had only 30 or 40. All this occurred after 90 C.E. Things were getting worse as well, according to Jude.
Jude 1:3-4 NKJV 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ....These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you..., walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
Jude wrote the church that they must struggle and fight for the faith once delivered. Clearly evil, domineering type false leaders, were making inroads everywhere with worldly pagan compromises. Even more evidence of the power of the fifth column movement was Christ look at the seven churches of Revelations. Ephesus had won a clear victory over false apostles. Smyrna had a victory over persecution but, the Pergamon church was caught up in the false doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans which Jesus hated. Jezebel led some of the Thyatiran Church into the depths of Satan, while the Sardis Church was almost dead, spiritually. The Church at Philadelphia had a clear victory over the synagogue of Satan. The Laodicean Church was spiritually blind and unrighteous, but too proud to have any idea of its real sick spiritual condition.
The same apostasy movement destroyed and undermined the WWCG in our day. The grand climax of deception is coming in at the end of this age, soon. Pray and stay close to Christ our spiritual lives depend upon it. We must know our bibles and love the truth.
