These days are days of old-time prophecy.  We can scarce believe the times we are in.  Evil is called good and good is called evil and few seem to raise any alarm about it.  The great prophet Isaiah described these times as a time of woe; “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”  (Isaiah 5:20)   The Forerunner Commentary[i] sums it up; “A curse falls on those who water down standards and substitute individual preferences and ethical compromises for absolutes, leading to moral relativism and societal upset.”  And I’m not talking about the non-believers – I’m talking about Christendom.[ii]  Biblical prophecy tells us that things are going to change and change rapidly and not for the better.

I am writing about the two kinds of church that have existed side by side since the fourth century  when Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan decriminalizing Christian worship and paved the way for Christianity to become the state religion of Rome. These two churches are the corporately organized church with centralized leadership, property and denominational doctrine and the pre-existing true church of Jesus Christ – the Bride of Christ.  The former doesn’t necessarily preclude the latter nor does the latter confine itself to the physical walls or particular denominational lines of the former.

The Bride of Christ is organized spiritually (Eph. 4, 5:25-27). Christ is the head of this church and those in it eagerly await His return.   The first century church tells us a lot about such churches. They met in houses.  There was no formalized clergy-laity divide over authority or the sacrament.  House churches were often small, flexible assemblies devoted to teaching and growing people to be disciples.  We cannot turn back the clock but we can take lessons from history.  At times of great persecution the church needs to become untouchable or immune to the seductive and coercive the forces of the world.  Not to be invisible but rather to be so constituted as to be invulnerable to the very influences that the corporate church is susceptible to (such as tax exempt status and the necessity of making money to support the bricks and mortar ).

I have no wish to bash the corporate church or in anyway denigrate its historic contribution to the world.   However the corporate church is very susceptible to political and cultural influences of the world.  There are tough times coming for any corporate church that thinks it can stick handle around the political and social forces of our time and place in North America.  We will see a day where the beliefs of honest Bible believing disciples of Jesus Christ will be ‘criminalized’ again with the tacit agreement of the corporate church (Matthew 10:17).

In the Unitied States; “The campaign to stigmatize Christian institutions is also seen in the ACLU’s sudden willingness to sue Catholic hospitals and health groups for refusing to provide abortions or transgender services. It will come to Evangelical colleges that have dorm or conduct policies that reflect their convictions about marriage and sex. One can predict with near certainty that in a few years a handful of real stories of neglect or abuse will be used to create a general moral panic about religious homeschoolers.  The cumulative effect of these campaigns of legal and social harassment . . . . will be a major test of faith for Christians themselves.” [iii]  Here in Canada, Pastor Steve Long who met with our Prime Minister reports; “Sadly my last meeting with him in his office was very disappointing. He told […] me that evangelical Christians were the worst part of Canadian society.”  [iv] With this anti-Christian climate forming, we must ask; ‘how will Bible believing Christians organize themselves in a time of hatred towards them and Jesus Christ by our society?’   Will they find safety and refuge within the walls of their corporate denominational churches?

Some corporate church denominations that have bought into the secular worldly sanctioned morality and gender theories are portraying fundamentalist and charismatic churches  as ‘cultish.’ The United Church Observer, January 2019 edition, contains a story entitled; ‘Former fundamentalists describe the trauma of leaving their faith’, which  features a book which describes the ‘trauma’ a Bible believing upbringing can have on a child.   The UC Observer continues;  “Psychologist Marlene Winell . . . . is the author of Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion, and she coined the term religious trauma syndrome (RTS). Winell says its symptoms closely resemble those of post-traumatic stress disorder (such as intense fear and issues around self-worth). She’s been urging the mental health community to take it seriously for nearly 30 years.”[v]  When will the state be knocking at our doors in order to save our children from RTS?  And will the state have the blessing of the corporate ‘Christian’ church in doing so!

We have been warned of the times to come.  Jesus tells us; “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.  And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.  Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”  (Matthew 24:9-12)  Many corporate churches are lapping up the sewage of all the false prophets of today.  Contrary to God’s Word (Gen 1:27) the United Church calls out; “We are committed to being a welcoming church that is opposed to discrimination against any person on any basis, and affirm that all human beings are made in the image of God regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.” [vi] This mainline church even provides a pulpit for ministers who don’t believe in God![vii]  Why?  For the experience:  “The chairman of the West Hill church board, Randy Bowes, expressed delight at the outcome, saying Vosper was a product of the church and . . . . ‘West Hill’s non-exclusive language provides a church experience that draws participants across a wide spectrum of belief and unbelief, . . .” The United Church  isn’t only mainline apostate corporate church but it certainly is a front-runner.

And now atheists can  proudly wear the uniform  and vestments of clergy!  Godly men and women who have been ordained wear the same collar and uniform of heretics and false prophets.  People can’t tell  the real deal from clergy impostors at least as far as their outer garb is concerned.  The corporate head offices of many church denominations have been remarkably silent about this enemy infiltration into the leaders of Christendom  often believing that silence is the Godly thing.  Or perhaps, they believe silence is the only thing that will keep them from  falling into disfavor with the world.   Warren Smith questions this silence; “Why is there almost no call for spiritual discernment within the Church (except to warn believers not to be deceived into doubting their appointed Christian leaders)? Why is spiritual experience taking precedence over spiritual discernment? Why are there so few warnings about a counterfeit ‘ new gospel’  movement that maligns the person of Jesus Christ and threatens the lives of His followers? Why is ‘new revelation’ in many ministries starting to supersede God’s written Word? Why are Christians only being prepared for blessings and not for persecution? What in the world is going on?”[viii]

The apostate church will not die out.  It will grow and multiply through political power, deception and the silence of ‘faithful’ churches, clergy and laypeople.   The Bible tells us; “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”  (2 Timothy 3:1-9)  These deceivers will not fool those who follow Jesus and abide in His word; “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,  and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”  (2 Thess. 2:9)

The corporate church needs the approval of the government in order to incorporate and gain tax exempt status and the government needs the corporate church’s vote, volunteers and public agreement.    So, the fear of man in the church leaderships will allow compromise to go unchecked until the corporate church is literally  eaten up by it.  The apostle Paul continues; “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”  (v. 13)  The trend will increase until  the anti-christ comes forward to take its place at the head of it.  How many in the pews will be pulled into the ranks of an unfaithful fake religion?

Jesus gives a good indication of the numbers in the church who will be gathered up when He comes for us; “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.  Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”  (Matthew 24:40-42)  The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 is very instructive; “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,  but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’  But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. . . . ‘Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”  (v.  6-13)  We are looking here at 5 in 10 being  the Bride of Christ – which reduces to 1 in 2.

The picture is even darker in the Book of Revelation.  Of the seven churches Jesus addresses in Revelation only two of the churches are completely acceptable in His sight[ix], the church in Smyrna – a poor church (Rev. 2:9) and the church in Philadelphia – a church with ‘a little strength’ (Rev. 3:8)  Two out of seven churches is a very small fraction.  When the church is raptured what do you think will happen with those religious impostors left behind.   By that time a large corporate world religion will be in place that will cheer the installation of the anti-christ as a world leader.

The Bride of Christ is not susceptible to worldly influences  “. . . , just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”  (Ephesians 5:25-27)  It doesn’t need the world’s approval.  The true church thrives under persecution;  “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  (2 Corinthians 12:10)  The true church has no shared interest with the world for money; “No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”  (Matthew 6:24)  The true church is immune to the world’s influences and pressures.

We must remember, people in the corporate church and the world are not our enemies – this is a spiritual war (Ephesians 6:12) and ‘these things must come to pass’  (Matthew 24:5-7). There is no stopping this progression. What will be happening between now and the rapture? Jesus’ disciples will find their position in the evolving corporate church become more and more untenable– whatever the denomination may be.  As corporately organized churches cave into the forces of politics, deception and fear of man, honest disciples of Jesus will be put in situations where eventually they will have to withdraw.   Eventually, even whole church congregations may have to give up their corporate status or compromise their belief in His Word.  What will they do, where will they meet?  How will we stay on His mission for us until He returns?

But for now, we as disciples of Christ must prepare for this eventual yet imminent exit.  If anyone has a shepherd’s heart, he or she will realize the need to make a spiritually safe place for God’s children to go to.  Not to retreat from the world but to continue in His purpose (Matt. 28:19,20) And until forced to leave we must prepare to take in refugees that will be ‘church shy’ because of hurt, disillusionment and persecution while supporting the existing local church communities that we belong to.  We literally have an outreach ministry into the corporate church that must not be abandoned until the time comes when compromise makes our place in it untenable.

Withdraw to where and what? Withdraw to a church that is organized spiritually not corporately.  Every mature disciple of Christ needs to be involved in forming, supporting and linking small groups where fellowship, teaching and worship can flourish (1 Corinthians 14:26).  This needs to be done now and continue until Jesus returns for His Bride.  Small, flexible groupings will allow for the mission of Jesus to move forward; “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19,20).  That doesn’t take money, buildings, denominational doctrine  or a specialized clergy caste.  It takes commitment and the fear of the Lord and the leading of the Holy Spirit!

Where will the corporate denominational church end up?  As a concept or an idea, the corporate church will cease to exist along with every other ‘doctrine of men’ when the end comes.  As a body of people, those in the corporate church who rely upon their denomination and ‘church’ membership for salvation and not Jesus, they will end up in the lake of fire; “And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence the earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged, every one of them according to their deeds… and death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15)   What a sad ending for otherwise many good people who put their trust in men and not Jesus.

Don’t be deceived.

Endnotes

[i] https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/17760/eVerseID/17760

[ii]  Christendom or the Christian world, in the widest sense, means Christianity as a territorial phenomenon. That means: those countries where most people are Christians and because of that are part of Christendom. See: https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christendom

[iii] The Coming Test Acts Will Challenge Religious Freedom,  https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/01/test-acts-will-challenge-religious-freedom/?fbclid=IwAR38_xcA7wuKRNkZzgfc6xgblRmuROTfMCwABOAEGT1hgU_rljPt7LOIpF4

[iv] In Trudeau’s Canada, Christians are Not Welcome,  https://www.christianpost.com/voice/in-trudeaus-canada-christians-are-not-welcome.html

[v] United Church Observer,  January 2019, https://www.ucobserver.org/faith/2019/01/former_fundamentalists/

[vi] https://www.united-church.ca/community-faith/being-community/gender-and-orientation

[vii] https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/atheist-united-church-minister-keeps-her-job-heresy-trial-called-off-1.4170525

[viii] https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=22953

[ix] http://biblestudyforlife.com/seven_churches_in_revelation.htm