IN THE QUEST FOR PEACE IN A GOD REJECTED WORLD (ISA.9:6)
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BETWEEN THE SLEEPING SHEPHERDS AND THE RAVENING WOLVES (ISA.56;10-12)
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Whenever, I make reference to sleeping shepherds, I am talking about the genuinely called servants of God,who has deviated and abandoned God's Purpose;
10. His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dogs without tongues, unable to make a sound; stretched out dreaming, loving sleep
11. Yes, the dogs are for ever looking for food; while these, the keepers of the sheep, are without wisdom: they have all gone after their pleasure, every one looking for profit; they are all the same. (Isa.56;10-11)

AND NOT those that are making no attempt at concealing their intents. These ones,by their fruits have made it clear who their master is;

12. Come, they say, I will get wine, and we will take strong drink in full measure; and tomorrow will be like today, full of pleasure. (Isa 56: 12)

While the former may be excused of lust and ignorance (but by no means exonerated,for God is wroth with them).
The latter are boldly operating with impunity,under the tutelage of their master, the devil,WHO WILL HAVE THE WORLD BELIEVE THAT THERE'S NO HEAVEN OR HELL ANYWHERE. IN OTHER WORDS,MONEY DEFINES THEIR HEAVEN OR HELL.

Indeed,ln this present age of ours,there's a fear and a deeper and far more deceptive danger lurking within our churches. From the continous reading of the book of Jude as well as 2 Peter 2, there's no believer that wouldn't be struck by the reality that in the last times there will be false prophets among the people (2 Pet. 2:1) and CERTAIN MEN CREPT in UNAWARES (Jude 4) who will do IRREPARABLE HARM to the CHURCHES.

We usually call such people apostates, people who are pretenders and not real believers yet who stay among the believers and lead them astray into much unchristian belief and activity. We have known these prophecies of Jude and Peter, but the physical manifestation of them, actually pave the way that indeed for what we already guess that,in the end times we must be seeing the very fulfillment of these predictions.

NOW,MY CONCERN IS THIS; DID ALL THESE PEOPLE REALLY CREEP IN UNAWARES? IF THEY DID CREPT IN UNAWARES,WHERE ARE GOD'S SHEPHERDS WHO OUGHT TO BE PROTECTING GOD'S FLOCK IN THEIR CARE? I SAY THIS BECAUSE HAD THEY NOT ABANDONED THEIR TRADITIONAL ROLE(GOD GIVEN MANDATE) OF FEEDING GOD'S FLOCK WITH THE RIGHT FOOD, IT WOULD BE MUCH EASIER TO DETECT AND FLUSH OUT THESE DEMONIC ENTITIES.

1. It is said, in fact, that there is among you a sin of the flesh, such as is not seen even among the Gentiles, that one of you has his father's wife.
2. And in place of feeling sorrow, you are pleased with yourselves, so that he who has done this thing has not been sent away from among you. (1Co 5: 1-2)

5. That this man is to be handed over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may have forgiveness in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6. This pride of yours is not good. Do you not see that a little leaven makes a change in all the mass?
7. Take away, then, the old leaven, so that you may be a new mass, even as you are without leaven. For Christ has been put to death as our Passover. (1Co 5: 5-7)

Apostle Paul rebuked them for allowing them to stay, because there's no way they can't be recognized by their deeds;

For even if you had ten thousand teachers in Christ, you have not more than one father: for in Christ Jesus I have given birth to you through the good news. (1Co 4: 15)

For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. (1Co 4: 2

Of course, we could call this the great apostasy that will come at the end of the age. We might call this the signs of the times. But by whatever description, Scripture often says that such times will come when the end of the age of grace is near. Paul tells Timothy, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils (1 Tim. 4:1).

In the second epistle he says again, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Tim. 3:1). And again, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” or who tickle the ears (2 Tim. 4:3).

In both the book of Jude and Second Peter, these apostates come into the churches, among God’s people, therefore before the rapture of the church, and draw away the disciples after them.

YET,SEEING ALL THESE SIGNS, GOD'S PASTORS WHO ARE CUSTODIANS OF GOD'S WORD, INSTEAD OF STAYING IN THE WORD OF GOD THAT HAS ALWAYS SUSTAINED THEM, THEY INSTEAD FELL WOEFULLY TO THE GREAT DECEPTION OF THE ALLURES OF A WORLD THEY THEMSELVES KNOW GOD HAS REJECTED AND RESERVED FOR DESTRUCTION BY FIRE;
12. Come, they say, I will get wine, and we will take strong drink in full measure; and tomorrow will be like today, full of pleasure. (Isa 56: 12)

AND THEN THEY FORGOT THIS👇

But the present heaven and the present earth have been kept for destruction by fire, which is waiting for them on the day of the judging and destruction of evil men. (2Pe 3: 7)

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; and in that day the heavens will be rolled up with a great noise, and the substance of the earth will be changed by violent heat, and the world and everything in it will be burned up. (2Pe 3: 1

I’m certainly not a date-setter nor do I believe that anything yet has to happen before the rapture may occur, but I can still believe that these verses speak of a phenomenon that is happening in our day and age. Or I might say it this way, that even if this isn’t THE end of the age, the same things are happening now in our churches that will happen when THE end of the age comes. Either way it is not very pleasant to see the effects of apostasy on the Lord’s churches.

The Lord had very stern words for the churches at Pergamos and Thyatira for allowing teachers to come in and destroy the flock like Balaam allowed Balak to “cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols and to commit fornication” (Rev. 2:14), or like Jezebel who seduced Israel to do the same (2:2. If our shoe fits the description of Jude and Peter we will have to wear it also. Jude wanted to write of the common salvation (Jude 3) but this danger is so destructive that he was led by the Holy Spirit to change his subject matter and deal with this error. He urged the believers to “earnestly contend for the faith” and not just sit by and let this cancer progress.

But I wonder, at the end of the age, if we will let the disease go or if we will purge it from our bodies. Will the true believers be removed and the apostate church be left to the antichrist? Will the true church remain faithful to the end? Time will tell.
By His Grace and Mercy,when we return,we will be talking of some of the characteristics of apostasy...which we are already seeing. GOD IS NOT A MAN THAT HE SHOULD LIE. My prayer has always been*God protect Your Own from the fury of the evil one as he knows,that he is eventually about to reap the unpleasant fruits of the coup he attempted in heaven and the eternal bitter consequences.
Amen🙏🙇!