Math vs. Apostasy*

      Lately on social media, there have been more and more comments from people who say that they are leaving Christianity. Sometimes they are referred to as Deconstructionists. In giving their reasons for leaving the faith, many give reasons that have nothing to do with Christ, but rather things that have to do with men, men's doctrines and the doctrines of devils. 

     This comes as no surprise to those who are familiar with the signs of the last days as stated in scripture. Paul wrote to those believers who were being told that Jesus had already returned, or was returning momentarily: "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him (perhaps referring to the rapture of the believers), that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 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 (referring to the anti-Christ) be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thess. 2:1-4). Here, the falling away from the faith, as well as the person called the anti-Christ, are revealed as signs that must occur before the return of Christ.

     The wicked individual, the anti-Christ, will appear with the working of Satan, "with all power and signs and lying wonders." Those who are deceived by this wicked person, which will cause them to perish, are deceived because they did not receive the love of the truth that saves. Because of this unrighteousness, God will send a strong delusion that will cause them to believe the lie. (see Gen. 3:1: "Yea, hath God said...?"). However, the end of that deceiving wicked man of Satan: "...the Lord shall consume with the brightness of his coming." (see v. 5-12). In another place, scripture says that the Lord will destroy the wicked one with the sword out of His mouth, which is the Word of God.

     The falling away from the faith, or apostasy, that we are seeing today is an expected sign before the Lord's return and judgment. The reason that these people fall away from the faith is because the love of the truth that was obviously evidenced around them was not in them and their foolishness caused their hearts to be darkened with the deception (see also Rom. 1:18-22). Love the truth of Christ and hold fast to it. Jesus told us to abide in Him and His words.

      The above-mentioned anti-Christ is not limited to one individual. The Apostle John wrote: "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Spon, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father...And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming...And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he (Jesus) is pure." (1 Jn. 2:18-28 and 1 Jn. 3:1-3, excerpt).

     Jesus spoke to a group of Pharisees in the temple with the truth that they must follow Him and have the light of life. He said to them: "When ye have lift up the Son of man (speaking of His crucifixion), then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things...As he spake these words, many believed on him." (Jn. 8:24-30, excerpt). Jesus continued to speak to these new believers who had heard His words, saying, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free...Whoever committeth sin is the servant of sin...If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (v. 31-36). However, those listening to Him became offended by Jesus saying that they were not already free. They considered themselves already free because of their forefather, Abraham.  However, Jesus insisted that they must be made free by the Son, Himself. They desired to kill Jesus for saying this. Jesus pointed out that Abraham was not their father, or they would have believed Him, Jesus, because Abraham knew Jesus and saw the day of salvation in the Spirit and accepted it with joy. They were outraged and offended at His claim. Jesus said plainly to them: "Ye are of your father, the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him...for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not...He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." (v. 39-47, excerpt). They accused Jesus of being a Samaritan or of being possessed by a devil. Jesus said again: "Verily, verily I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." (v. 48-51, excerpt). Whether they abided in the truthful words of Jesus or not, would be an issue of eternal life or death for them. Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." (v. 58). Jesus was speaking the words of His Father from eternity and identifying Himself as from eternity.

     From 2 Thessalonians 2 again, Paul wrote: "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and the belief of truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or by our epistle." (2 Thess. 2:13-15). Not only are we saved and sanctified by belief in the truth, but we also obtain the glory of Jesus Christ. No wonder the truth is under such vicious attack.

     Paul wrote that the wrath of God is against all who hold (suppress) the truth in unrighteousness. They suppress the truth despite the fact that God has manifested Himself to them and showed it to them: "...when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." (Rom. 1:18-22, excerpt). The lie is chosen, not because the truth is not known, but because of their unrighteous hearts. They "changed the truth of God into a (the) lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." (v. 25).

     According to studies, and as reported in Peter Stone's book, Science Speaks, mathematical probabilities show that the unlikelihood of even just the minimum of eight of the Biblical prophecies relating to the Christ's first coming being fulfilled by one individual, in this case Jesus, is astronomical, yet He fulfilled them. He fulfilled many more than eight, which increases the unlikeliness even more. Here are just a few of the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled on His first coming:

Micah 5:2 - to be born in Bethlehem

Malachai 3:1 - John the Baptist, the messenger, is sent to prepare the way for the Messiah/Christ

Zechariah 9:9 - Jesus rides into Jerusalem on an ass/donkey and the foal of an ass/donkey 

Zechariah 11:12-13 - Thirty pieces of silver, paid to Judas by the religious leaders to betray Jesus, are returned and used to buy Potter's Field for the burial of the poor.

Zechariah 13:6 - one is asked where he received the wounds in his hands

Isaiah 53:7-9 - Servant of the LORD kept silence before His accusers (Jesus before Herod and the Religious Council), died with the wicked (between two criminals on the cross), and was buried in a rich man's grave (in the new grave of Joseph of Arimathea)

Psalm 22 (all) - including being mocked and scorned, the piercing of the hands and the feet, gambling for His garments, and asking "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

     Jesus had no control over the prophecies that involved how others who would participate in His life from His birth to His death. He could not have arranged for all of the prophecies to be fulfilled, yet the ones above and many more were fulfilled exactly by this one Man. There are even more prophecies in scripture describing Christ's second coming or return, which He will likewise perfectly fulfill. "Mathematics does not lie," as Henry David Thoreau said. Paraphrasing Galileo, he said that mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe. Do the math. The math confirms the truth, and God's Word is truth.

     Abide in the truth, abide in Jesus, and receive the salvation and glory of forgiven sins and everlasting life. 

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 7/26/26 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, which is evidence of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling, written by Dr. Stevenson, is available on Amazon.