Deceived Christians and the Rapture

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 1 Timothy 4:1

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:3-5

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. 2 Corinthians 11:3 & 4

For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:7

In my forty plus years as a Christian I cannot say "I have never been deceived." No matter how well you guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, deceiver's look for a way they can make a breech and then enter.

Some the deceptions I had been exposed to was:

• Chrisitianized Paganism
• Neo-evangelicalism
• Ecumenicism
• Conditional Perseverance
• Legalism
• King James Onlyism

The first four came early in my Christian life before and after my new birth. They were already part of what my parents believed as nominal Christians. On T.V. and radio Billy Graham was on right along with Oral Roberts and Herbert Armstrong.

The next two came after ten years as a Christian.

From these experiences I can tell you, at the time, I did not believe I was deceived. I was so sure that I was being taught from the Bible about these that they were right. Through the lens of these teachings I believed this is what was in the Bible.

I have learned this about deceivers, they prey on a Christian's ignorance and exploit it to their advantage.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. Acts 20:30

It took continual study of the Bible, prayer, and God bringing the unadulterated truth for me to recognize the deception, to change my mind about how I was thinking, and submitting my understanding to God's Spirit and word.

I am better equipped to discern and expose deception and the deceiver's who promote them. I can sympathize and be patient with Christians who are deceived and yet do not recognize that they are having their rewards diminished, the gospel of their salvation corrupted and their crowns being stolen.

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Revelation 3:11

Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. >>Watch out<< that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 2 John 1:7 & 8

If we are the terminal generation of Christians to be taken up in the rapture...what will happen to the Christian who is deceived?

The first thing that will happen is that the apostate Christian will be left behind and the genuine Christian will be taken up. It will be a surprise to both of them.

For the apostate they will be surprised to find out that they were lied to and that they accepted a false gospel that did not save them. Some, know what will follow after the rapture will get right with the Lord. Others will be be taken in by the strong delusion and follow the man of sin - Thessalonians 2:11 & 12

For the deceive Christian they will be surprised by the knowledge of truth in an instant and loose the confidence in the false doctrines they held and be ashamed at Jesus' appearing. They will have their eyes opened and see the truth they had been blinded from seeing - 1 John 2:28

Second, the deceived Christian will know where they have laid up their treasures.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

They will feel like their heart is being torn apart as their worldly possessions, position, and praise is left behind. They will come to Jesus with the knowledge that they did not gather treasures in heaven.

Third, they will feel unworthy to be raptured. As the purity of the Holy Spirit fills them, their life devoted to false teachers and their doctrine will stand out in sharp relief in their mind. They will recall warnings that they ignored and the truth of the Bible they had spurned.

Fourth they will know they will have no other souls going up in the rapture into heaven with them.

For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 1 Thessalonians 2:19

Other Christians will not crown their work of ministry when Jesus comes. When they stand at the Bema Seat they cannot turn to another Christian and ask "Are you one of my crowns?" Being deceived, they preached the gospel of works righteousness by the law, self-esteem, baptism, sacramentalism, Churchianity, the "name it and claim it" prosperity gospel, decisionalism, ect. They will weep being alone before Jesus' throne. They will weep for the souls they lead to hell instead of faith in Jesus. (Matthew 7:15-23 ; 23:15)

But these tears will be wiped away later on...

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Rev. 21:4

God wants joy in His presence ever more.

Lastly they will know they will face the Bema Seat of Christ.

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:9 & 10

They will know that while they were deceived, they missed the goal of pleasing God. They will be conscience that their motives for Christ were bad because they followed a different Jesus, another gospel by a different spirit taught by false teachers. (2 Corinthians 11:1-4, 12-15). They will face the prospect that they will have few, if any rewards or have any crowns given. They will fear God as a disapproving parent and not who He really is, the one who saved them by His grace through the offering of His Son for their salvation.

If (his works is) burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:15).

As we head further into these last days...with the increase in apostasy in the Church has the adverse affect of increasing deceived Christians. You can open the Bible and show them the teachers they are following are false and that they are being lied to. But they do not know know they are deceived and will not appreciate or welcome your warnings. They will be content with what they believe as the truth and despise you has a Pharisee, judgmental, a spiritual bigot, that you are the one deceived for believing in the pretribulation rapture, and that it is un-Christ like to confront them.

It is only at the rapture that true Christianity will be divided from the apostate. God in His grace will rapture the deceived Christian to preserve that ever testimony in Christ that is left. What J. Vernon McGee said is true:

"At the time when the Lord Jesus comes to take the church out of the world, He will bring plenty of grace with Him."

What to do?

Take the test:

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?

If you pass the test, then return to you first love and serve the Lord in truth.

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. Revelation 2:2-5

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:19 & 20