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Great Apostasy
Christians will betray each other: And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. (mat 24:10) [Compare to next quote that there will be a Great Falling-Away". Jesus continues that this will be a time of "great tribulation". False Christs Will arise and lead astray "even the elect" of Christianity (js)] see
Will come a Great Falling Away: Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come] , except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2th 2:3). Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. (2th 2:15) ["A great falling-away of those who profess to be Christians" will characterize Christianity before Christ returns. Paul then says to "Hold fast" to what was taught by him (js)] see
Christians will be asleep and dead: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (1th 4:15) see
Caught up together in the air: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1th 4:17) [The Greek word "Harpazo" translated as "caught up" (js)] see
To be aroused from sleep Now?: And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed. (rom 13:11) [Is this physical sleep here, or is it symbolic? (js)] see
As those who are alive from the dead: Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. (rom 6:13) [I. E. start acting like you are alive. Even though these Jewish people were alive, Paul considered them dead. When they recognized Jesus as the Messiah, they were "like dead people coming back to life" (js)] see
Let the dead bury the dead: Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. (luk 9:60) [Taken literally, this does not make sense. It is to be taken spiritually, like any other "hidden mystery" in the Bible (js)] see
Awake sleeper, arise from the dead: Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (eph 5:14) [Taken literally, this also does not make sense. It is to be taken spiritually (js)] see
Gospel preached to those dead: For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1pe 4:6) [Peter wanted them to wake up to the fact that the Messiah had already come and for them to start living the live that Jesus wanted them to live (js)] see
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