“Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, ‘Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’
“And Aaron said to them, ‘Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.’
“So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron.
“And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’” (Exodus 32:1-4).
In Jonathan Cahn’s message entitled “Days of the Golden Calf,” he draws a parallel between ancient Israel and America. Ancient Israel departed from her faith in God (despite all His demonstrated power) when Moses, their leader, did not return off the mountaintop when they expected him to come. Because of Moses’ delay, Israel’s faith in God faltered. Israel turned to another religious leader, Aaron, and asked him to make them idols to worship. Aaron did, and the golden calf was born.
In a similar fashion, Cahn tells, America began as a godly nation whose Biblical principles included a belief in the return of Christ one day. But just as Israel departed from faith after Moses was delayed in his return, so too, America has departed from her faith in God and built herself idols instead. She has become a post-Christian nation.
But what happens to the church when Jesus does not return when most are expecting? What happens to the church when Jesus “is delayed” like Moses was?
The answer is found in Exodus: “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”
What happens is what the Bible refers to as “the great apostasy.” The great apostasy is a departing from one’s original point of faith, to embrace another belief:
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving (“seducing”) spirits and doctrines of demons,” (1 Timothy 4:1).
After two thousand years, many Christians are starting to depart from Biblical teachings concerning Jesus & His return. Instead, they are spinning false teachings. One is Dominionism or Kingdom Now theology: a powerful & overcoming church will take over all the world systems, become rich, and save entire nations— presenting them to Jesus at His return.
Still other Christians are expecting Jesus to return at any moment to rescue them before the coming storm of end times hits.
“And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
“But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and now allowed his house to be broken into.
“Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect,” (Luke 12:38-40).
In the end times, some will begin to question the reality of Christ’s return when— according to their prevailing theology — Jesus’ return is “delayed.” They will respond just as ancient Israel responded, and fashion for themselves a golden calf instead. Or should I say a golden man.
The mark of the Antichrist will be 666. This number is used only one other place in the Bible:
“Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold,” (1 Kings 10:14).
Deceived by false teachers and their willful ignorance, many today are placing their faith in man to restore order on earth, bring peace to the Middle East, help Israel build her temple, and safeguard everyone’s wealth. But as the church starts to undergo persecution, there are those who will abandon their faith when Jesus’ return is “delayed.”
If you think this danger is an exaggeration, consider the following passage:
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming,” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8).
Throughout the ages, the spirit of lawlessness has been under restraint by God. But in the end times, God’s divine restraint is lifted— allowing for the full revelation of the man of sin, Antichrist.
Some ministers teach that it is the rapture or physical removal of the church which allows for Antichrist to come into his fullness. But that is an assumption not proven out in scripture. The Bible speaks of an apostasy taking place and the removal of Divine restraint. It does not say “she” (the church) is removed. It says “he.”
Both Paul and the Thessalonians understood that at some point, a “falling away” or apostasy would occur, with the cessation of the restraining power of the Holy Spirit (“He” is taken out of the way”). In the end times, an apostasy takes place. Divine restraint is lifted, and Satan’s antichrist is unleashed upon the world stage.
The question is, whose apostasy (“defection”) is it? The world’s? They already lie in darkness. The Jews? They rejected Christ 2000 years ago.
It is a weakened church who apostasizes. Read 1 Timothy 4:1 again:
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith (“be led away or seduced”), giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”
Today, the church is at the blindest period of her existence, rivaling the first century Jewish leaders who failed to recognize the coming of their own Messiah! For starters, much of the church is basically ignoring the lateness of the hour. Jesus said, “Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times,” (Matthew 16:3).
What are some signs of the times that many in the church are ignoring?
- The resurrection of the nation of Israel from the dead.
- The miraculous recovery of east Jerusalem & the Temple Mount during the 1967 war.
- All the preparations for the Third Temple that are in place— including priests, Sanhedrin, red heifer, altars, blueprints, cornerstones, furniture, & utensils, as well as the practice of actual animal sacrifices.
- The rising spirit of anti-Semitic persecution throughout the world.
- The rising spirit of Christian persecution throughout the world.
- The growing use of a banking computer chip inserted within one’s hand.
- Growing interdependence of global banking and political powers.
- Increasing global pressure to broker a Middle East settlement as the storm clouds of a major war threaten.
- Increasing sexual perversions.
- Increasing violence in society.
- And the existence of a Laodicean church that is so rich & increased with goods that it has need of nothing.
Millions of believers are woefully unprepared for the greatest challenge in church history.
“All these are the beginning of sorrows. 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 24:8-12).
When, not if, the church steps over into end times, many may be shocked and dismayed that they are indeed facing Antichrist and his persecutions. Satan can and will use this dismay to bring doubt and attacks on our faith (which we must “contend for”). Some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons; to false christs and false prophets.
We cannot endure what’s to come without the unvarnished truth of the Word of God and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. He was given at Pentecost to a church that was getting ready to undergo intense persecution. We desperately need that same One’s empowerment today with a serious return to the study of scripture!
Church, wake up and prepare!
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