Cedric Fisher: "earnestly contending for the faith."

Sound the alarm in God’s holy mountain 

I meet many people who are clueless about the great apostasy. That is equivalent to being unaware of a deadly pandemic that daily takes the lives of thousands. However, as one individual said as he brushed away my attempts to warn him, “All I know is I’m saved. I don’t worry about anything else.”

Okay, but would he allow his friends and family to venture into an area where a pandemic was the most intense without warning them? Probably not. Why do professing Christians refuse to warn people about a very infectious and deadly apostasy? By all indications, they believe that it is not a valid concern. I understand that such individuals do not wish to dwell on the negative and appear as a doomsayer. They want to be positive, upbeat and do what is necessary to avoid rejection. However, Closing their eyes, ears, and minds to its strength and aggression is foolish.

The responsibility to inform and warn people has been relegated to a few websites, blogs, and Social Media pages. Some popular Christian periodicals occasionally mention the evil deeds of a famed apostate, but stop well short of declaring those deeds sinful or the individual as an apostate. They conduct conferences, write books, produce television programs, and otherwise entice people to be religious, which is no more effective against rapidly spreading apostasy than voting every two years to prevent decay of morality and common sense integrity in our society.

The general belief is that Christianity is simply going through a bad period, or worse, that it is simply the woes of transition—the change of control from the old generation to the new. There is some merit in that conclusion, but there is more to it than a classic power struggle. God’s word declares that there is a generation that is unrighteousness and unqualified to be in control.

“There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” – Proverbs 30:12

The Apostle Paul describes such a generation as the apostate generation. He indicates that they rejected God-ordained authority as young people.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5

It is a description of the generation(s) in control or coming into control of a large portion of Christianity. Many older professing Christians that have remained in leadership are capitulating to their philosophy, heresy, and moral degradation, to remain relevant. That leads to a shaky compromise where the leadership that knows better waffles and wiggles out of the responsibility of exposing error and presenting the truth. They are fearful of losing their positions, of being forced to retire with less than full benefits, and being reduced to a pew warmer.  An example is when I mentioned the apostasy to an elderly pastor friend, he replied, “I try to stay out of that conflict—I’m just trying to make it to retirement.”

He is doing as most of his peers, attempting to avoid being replaced by a younger man (or woman). In the process, he is teaching his congregation that ignorance and apathy is the proper reaction. Truthfully, staying relevant with the apostasy is full, unconditional surrender, and defeat.

Of course, if people believe that there is no great danger, that the younger generation is merely bringing their methods and the older generations are reluctant to yield to change, why should they be concerned. As Steven Furtick said in his infamous “Hey Haters” diatribe against the older generations, it is time for them to butt out. He arrogantly declares something to the effect, “We’ve got it now, we’re in control”

His video presents a visual of Paul’s prophetic warning in 2 Timothy 3 about the last day’s generation. It is markedly different than a mere changing of the guard. The generation rapidly coming into power have divorced Christianity from historical continuity. They have rejected or are rejecting everything that the present generations believed even to the extent of reinterpreting the Scriptures. Some of them are distorting biblical truth to the extent they believe that Christ Jesus sinner, which denies that He is the “Spotless Lamb of God.” One young false prophet declared that Christ Jesus apologized to him and asked his forgiveness.

The fact is that the older generations are responsible for the aberrant generations Christianity. The younger generations were bored with the older generation’s meetings. Most churches had been reduced to form void of vial substance from the Holy Spirit. So they gave them their own young and inexperienced pastors and even built them their buildings filled with games and music of the world system, and lowered or changed the standards of true Christianity. Is it any wonder that they would choose that model instead of the old dead and dry model that the older generations agree was insufficient and unhelpful for them?

So the apostasy was not birthed by the generations that are coming into control. They cannot be apostate since they cannot depart from what they have never been. They never had a genuine experience with God and thus have no spiritual birthdays. The older generations never imparted their knowledge to them by example and priority because they had become lukewarm and spiritually lifeless. They sent them off to discover a form of Christianity that they were comfortable with. Consequently, age-segregation produced millions of biological Christians via the “youth ministry” paradigm that led them to the entrance of a new direction. That direction is New Christianity, which is the logical progression of the apostasy of the older generations. The fact is the younger generations do not recognize it as the progression of the older generation’s apostasy. They view it as a God-ordained way that they must blaze for the generations to follow.

They should be warned by God’s Remnant in the hope that some of them will turn away from the deception before God shuts the door. In my opinion, there is not much time left. When the great darkness falls it will not be identified as darkness but as the long-sought-for solution to division and violence. The concept of wickedness will be changed by acceptance and decriminalization. The world system and Christianity will be inundated with a swarm of vile individuals. The diabolical party will begin, but the Second Coming of Christ will bring it to a swift end.

There is no middle ground in the war against God and righteousness. Either we present ourselves as completely opposed to the apostasy or we are compromising to avoid discomfort and rejection. I think that we have reached, or maybe passed, the point where professing Christians must identify themselves as opposed to the apostasy. If not, they will eventually be identified as apostates. What a tragedy it would be to stumble at this point so close to receiving “the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls.” (1 Peter 1:9)

20 Comments

  1. Nancy

    Cedric, I am blessed by your commentaries and that is why I continue to read them. HOWEVER, whenever you write about what is occurring in these last of the last days concerning the condition of the Church, your position against a pre-trib rapture of the body of Christ and that one can lose their salvation is a dead-end in my books. Your position is absolutely based on hopelessness and what man has to do to endure not only to the end but to get others on board with the same mindset – “Hey folks, you need to receive the gift of salvation, but I hate to break it to you, you will be going through the coming 7 year Tribulation period (the worst period of time in the history of mankind) and BTW, you can also lose your salvation to boot.” Good luck with that one! On the other hand, a pre-trib rapture and once saved always saved is based on pure grace by God Almighty…a sovereign God and there is nothing that man can add to any of this. Your position is completely works based; the other position is completely grace based.

    Most professing Christians aren’t even saved so, with all due respect, your expectations are unrealistic and will only bring about disappointment as to why the Church isn’t doing enough in these last days. The majority of Christendom will merge within the one world religion. In fact, it has already started.

    In this context concerning apostasy and the last days, when I read your commentaries and those who follow your site and comment regularly who are in complete agreement with your position, I see ‘legalism’ rearing its ugly head – it seems to be all about man’s responsibility to make the world a better place. That will NEVER happen because this world and mankind is ‘fallen’. And though many may start out with good intentions, power will always corrupt. Again, your expectations are unreasonable concerning the church at large in this fallen world. What is happening in the world now is bigger than all of us. It is Biblical! The stage is being set for the coming 70th Week of Daniel. Nothing can stop what is occurring; HOWEVER, we still have time to share the gospel and that gospel is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. It is completely based on grace and there is nothing we can add to what Christ Jesus accomplished on the cross. NOTHING! It is Christ Jesus who saves, NOT us!!!! It is Christ Jesus/God – whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8:30. Those who are His, He will keep them to the end. LORD Jesus accomplished it all and no one whom he has saved will ever fall from salvation. They are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph. 1:13) and this cannot be reversed.

    So, this leads me to our Blessed Hope. You see there is hope for those who are truely in Christ Jesus. When I read commentaries like this one, it always leads to the failure of man and a state of hopelessness because it takes God out of the equation, i.e., His sovereignty concerning His will and purpose.

    I know that I am going to get bashed on your site by your regular commenters, but so be it (go ahead, I can handle it). I thank Christ Jesus for His grace and that we are no longer in bondage to ‘legalism’. That’s why I have complete peace concerning the condition of this world and the state of Christianity. The body of Christ will be a remnant; and I for one look so forward to the coming of our Blessed Hope. 1 Thess. 4:18, “Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.” I’m taking this truth to the bank. All glory to our Heavenly Father through Christ Jesus!

    Blessings to you, Cedric, and to your ministry.

    • C.H. Fisher

      I hope no one “bashes” you, Nancy. If they do, I will not approve their post. You have the right to disagree with me, but you misunderstand what I believe. The strawman positions you present, such as, “there is nothing we can add to what Christ Jesus accomplished on the cross,” is not helpful to understanding my position. I have never advocated adding to the Atonement by Christ. What I have presented is straight from God’s word, e.g., that Christian can apostatize. Apostasy is departure from the faith. One cannot depart from where he or she has not been. Further, although one cannot add to what Christ did on the cross, one can certainly “count the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insult the Spirit of grace.” (Hebrews 10:29) What proponents of OSAS do is conflate the work of Christ with the responsibility of mankind. Thus, one can accept Him as Savior, but deny Him as Lord. He is both and one must believe that fact in his or her heart and repent over every success of the flesh, Satan, or the world system, that dilutes that belief with sin. But if OSAS is true, why repent?

      I am certainly not a legalist or one who believes mankind can make the world a better place by our own might and ingenuity. We cannot even do anything about the present apostasy except to warn people and even that falls short of being effective. However, there is a reason why the apostasy occurred. It was not God’s will that it should occur, but mankind’s failure to be faithful. If one believes in OSAS, it does not matter if he or she is unfaithful, or as Charles Stanley insists, even if they become unbelievers.

      People can debate (argue) about he merits of the doctrine, call it the grace of God and His sovereign will, but the fruit of it speaks otherwise. There is no doubt that Calvinism, Reformed Theology, and Unconditional Eternal Security (OSAS) has fomented a spirit of antinomianism in Christianity. Labelling people as legalists, or positing the other accusation, work-based salvation, does nothing to validate those doctrines. There is nothing in OSAS that can prevent the type of apostasy it has caused.

      I properly believe in God grace as His word declares it, and not as men have distorted it. I believe in salvation as His word presents it, not as Luther, Calvin, Stanley, or for that matter, Augustine, declares it. I do not intend to debate the matter here because I do not have the time, and because the track record of debates is that they are a fruitless waste of time. One thing is for certain, whatever we wrongly believe it had better not contribute to the damnation of souls.

      Concerning that point I have checked and rechecked my beliefs often and will continue to do so until I depart this life. To this very minute I do not know of anyone that I have ministered over four decades that has taken what I preach and teach and become an apostate. The same cannot be said for Mr. Stanley’s ministry. He can only deny that returning to the wallowing in the mire is actually wallowing, and that the mire is actually mire.

      • Linda

        Perfect response Cedric!

        I get so tired of these tired old arguments about OSAS and pre trib, both of which are false and you are correct. They rail against any whisper of repentance and loyalty and obedience, falsely dubbing it all as ‘legalism’ and ‘works salvation’ and they put themselves in grave danger by doing so.

    • Edwin

      I like what you wrote thank you Nancy

    • Steven Garren

      Amen Nancy! I agree completely with the pre-trib rapture as held by the early church and that salvation is everlasting life as Jesus said. How many times can a person lose what is eternal? The primary meaning of the word apostasy is “removal” as it was rendered in Bible translations prior to the KJV. Most of the Church is already in heaven. I can’t understand why some people want to portray Jesus as beating to a pulp the remainder of his bride before the marriage. Who would want to marry such a bridegroom? It is His personal wrath that will be poured out on the earth. I’m looking for Jesus, not the Antichrist!

      • C.H. Fisher

        Interpreting Apostasy as “removal” is a heresy, which as I recollect was first committed by Thomas Ice. He cleverly framed it in the form of a question, and individuals blindly followed his implication. The primary meaning,(Greek) apostasía, is; defection from truth, a falling away, apostasy; in the Bible namely, from the true religion, to forsake one’s faith. There is not even a hint that it means removal, such as in “caught up” (Greek: harpazō), for which the word “rapture” is substituted. There is no Greek word for “pre,” thus “pre” pertaining to “caught up” is not resident in the Bible. No honest theologian would interpret “apostasía” as removal. Ice only did so because he is bereft of a defense for his heresy.

        • Phil

          I’m Pretrib. and these people are wrong! Period! The meaning for Apostasy is as you stated. Just like OSAS missings words like “IF”(conditional statement), the Pretrib. people miss a lot words(or make up meanings as they go). But one could say the same for Mid/prewrath & Post Tribbers. There’s several words for Rapture(caught up) like, Blessed Hope, the Mercy, the changing, the rescue,etc.. There’s three Raptures in the future BTW. The Rapture of the Church, rapture of the two witnesses, and the 144,000(Rev. 14). BTW the 144,000 are/is the manchild (Rev. 12). I grew up in the AOG and never agreed with the pretrib. until several years ago(after hours of personal study). I was more Post until it was impossible and went to Mid. Well, maybe back to Post. LOL. I still disagree with the AG on certain points of the Last Days(The whole 7 yrs is the Trib., not the last 3 1/2 yrs.(& many other statements) Sorry, Stanley Horton .).

          I agree that the persecution is increasing of the true believers, but last 7 yrs is not the Church. You see these people in Rev. 6:9 that are killed/persecuted and are the ONLY ones resurrected(Rev. 20:4-5) when Jesus kills AC. When the Manchild/144,000 are Rapture, the Dragon/Satan(by the AC) will come against the LAST people of God on Earth, which is Israel. This why Jesus said, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth.” Luke 18:8. The AC will have killed most believers/people of God on earth. And you know how he hates Jews. Kind of like the synagogue of Satan, you know the Preterist/replacement theology people.

          Keep up the Great work! May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you.

      • Linda

        Well Steven,

        The early church did not hold to the pre trib rapture. And if they had, it would not be true just because of that, which it isn’t. Salvation is eternal… if you hold onto it just as the Bible says. No such thing as OSAS, see Rev. 3; 4-5 (many other verses exist). No, it is not removal, it is falling away. Most of the church being already in heaven has nothing to do with any other issues. No one is ‘portraying Jesus as beating up His bride’ Steven. Most of the church is already persecuted, not by the Lord but by His enemies, just as Jesus said that we would be ‘beaten up’ by the world for belonging to Him. The same thing extends into the tribulation period, nothing more. So no, He is not ‘such a bridegroom.’ Wrath and persecution are two different things. The Bible says that the saints will be martyred and persecuted during the tribulation, but that is not God’s ‘wrath.’ He pours out His wrath upon the unbelieving and unrepentant world of sinners. Huge difference. Suffering in both cases? Yes. But from different sources for different purposes. Most of the church is already persecuted to death, so the argument that ‘Jesus won’t let that happen to His special, privileged, elitist American professing Christians, would He???’ doesn’t hold water. But it’s not God’s wrath. It’s called persecution, and Jesus said we would be persecuted. The same thing was the case with Noah, God’s wrath fell upon the whole earth, but not upon Noah, but he was not removed from the planet, only preserved.
        We are waiting for Jesus, but we must be aware that the antichrist is coming before the return of Jesus. Most will receive him as ‘the savior of the earth.’

  2. Jimmy Linville

    This is a good word Cedric, it’s good not because you wrote it, but good because, it’s the truth. Yes it’s hard to handle at times, however, the payoff is far greater to accept this teaching than to ignore it. We are talking about Eternity here. I was ask the other day to stop sending your teachings to this person. That broke my heart to here that. But I honored the request reluctantly. His reasoning was, he can’t deal with everyone being a heretic, he just don’t think all those you call by name are heretics. He said he’s believing God for a Revival for the power of God to be poured out.

    • C.H. Fisher

      Thank you, Jimmy, for your encouragement and support. People certainly have the right to read or listen to whom or what they wish to accept information from. I hope it turns out as he is believing and a mighty revival occurs. I wish I could believe that will happen, but I don’t. I am compelled to warn people to prepare for a harsh period.

  3. Nancy

    Cedric, thank you for your kind response. This is why I continue to read your commentaries; they are so thought provoking. I truly understand your position and appreciate the time you put into your response. As for eternal security, if one does fall away or falls into complete apostasy then perhaps they were never saved in the first place, and that is very different from one who would lose their salvation due to this spiritual condition. This is your channel and I want to be respectful. I too have no desire to get into a debate and that was not my intent. My point was that there is ‘hope’ in this increasingly hopeless situation we, the Church, have found ourselves now living in – there is a falling away and it’s gaining momentum. This did not catch our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ, by surprise. I believe He has made a provision for the body of Christ. And for those who are ‘awake’, we know it is not going to be getting any better until His return. For me, it is the coming pre-trib rapture of the body of Christ per doctrine found in 1 Thess. which is part of the ‘mystery’ that was revealed to Apostle Paul, and this ‘hope’ is found in God’s grace…it can’t be earned. Anyway Cedric, Maranatha and God Bless!

    • C.H. Fisher

      Thanks, Nancy, I appreciate your courtesy. The point I made about apostasy (apostasia) is that it is departure from the faith. One cannot depart from where he or she has never been.

      As for “blessed hope,” that term is only used once in the Bible and pertains to the Second Coming of Christ. I have great hope in God that no matter what occurs I will persevere in faith and gain the ultimate victory. Hundreds of thousands of Christians around the world are exercising that hope in the face of extreme adversity. In some areas the brutality inflicted on them is beyond my ability to fathom. However, they endure torture and even death while steadfastly refusing to deny Christ Jesus.

      God is not a respecter of people so that He allows some to suffer, while other ones He protects and supernaturally extricates them before a hair of their heads is harmed. Therefore, we should not believe that materialistic, greedy, selfish, heresy-infected, American Christianity is going to get a pass while exceedingly more faithful people are tortured and executed.

      To be prepared for persecution, we need the type of faith that doesn’t collapse in hopelessness at the first sign of danger. That will not be developed by individuals that deny they will be persecuted, but by people daily preparing themselves spiritually.

      I do not understand how individuals who do not have enough faith to live for God are going to be prepared to die for Him.

  4. Tom and Katie Muench

    there’s a little more to the apostasy than is being discussed…actually if you read the context of 2 Thess chapters 1 and 2 you will find that those that are apostatizing never received the love of the truth that they might be saved… and it is the Lord that sends the strong delusion…Part of the delusion is no judging and the acceptance of sodomy and all that goes with it as okay…Romans 1 …Jesus Christ is building His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it… sodomy is the TRUE dividing line in professing christianity of who is true and who is false it is NOT just another sin as some say it is the total changing of the truth of God into a lie … Genesis 1 Male and female of all creatures He made…the falling away is total rejection of the law of God in the world and the so-called church Nancy is right about one thing , most professing christians are not truly saved… read the word!!! no pre-trib either …2 Peter tells it all… it is very important to take all the word and it fits like a puzzle The falling away happens BEFORE the Lord comes…. when the saved people are here…. Revelation says all will take the mark Except those written in the Lambs book Hallelujah When He comes the heavens will pass away with a Great Noise…every eye will see Him…

    • Chris

      It is very troubling to hear pastors agreeing with Sam Allberry that “it is not unchristian to experience same-sex attraction anymore than it is unchristian to get sick”. Can someone explain why someone would say this and then others agree with it…am I missing something? Thanks

      • C.H. Fisher

        Sadly, they do not recognize the door to apostasy. Ravi Zacharias is an intelligent man and a skilled apologist, yet in the interview with Alberry he treated him as if he (Ravi) were a novice. I’m convinced that intelligence alone is no match for the clever satanic schemes in this period of great and dark deception. Relying too heavily on it can cause one to ignore the Holy Spirit’s teaching, guidance, and warnings.

        • Linda

          The great apostasy is the falling away from the faith.
          Many are false and only professing but some were true Christians.
          The Bible clearly says you can be saved and fall away from it.
          They later rejected the love for the truth.
          2 Thess. 2

          Ravi has gotten onto the apostasy bandwagon in several ways by the way.

  5. James Brumbaugh

    Well said Cedric, I have been know this has been going on for a few years now and it has steadily increased. We need to fall to our knees and pray that those who have ears to hear will heed the call to repent from their wicked ways and turn to or turn back to Christ. The only revival that needs to happen is a revival of holiness, most of the people in churches have no idea what it is to follow after holiness as the Word of God states in Hebrews chap 12:14 and 1 Peter 1:14-15.

    Out of respect to Cedric I would ask Nancy to please be respectful and do not hijack the article and comments section. I realize we have been given the privileged to post a comment just do not use the comment section as your personal blog.

    As far as OSAS, there is absolutely no Biblical basis you can offer up, show me, or provide to substantiate that claim. Hebrews 6:4-10 is a great illustration that OSAS is false as well as Rev_3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

    Jesus said He would not blot out his name out of the book of life, which means simply that their name would be blotted out otherwise, please correct me if I am wrong. OSAS will send a lot of people to hell believing they are still saved.

    Cedric I did not nor do I have any intentions of bashing anyone, I will always uphold the truth, if I have said anything that might be seen as otherwise please feel free to edit my post and approve what is left.

    • C.H. Fisher

      Thank for your comments, James. I don’t mind if Nancy posts her concerns. She has been courteous and hasn’t tried to thrust me through with her sword as other ones. The fact is that most disagreements commonly end in division. However as Christians, we should be able to discuss our differences amicably.

      • James Brumbaugh

        Amen Cedric, thank you for your articles and deep insight, you are truly a watchman. Stay strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. As a conclusion, I offer up one of the many verses that touch my heart and should be a cry of many to the church: Isaiah 52:1  Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

        Thank you Cedric.

  6. Cheryl

    Great article in which I agree with every word.
    Also, the spirit in this thread is encouraging and proves that Christians can disagree and still be kind and courteous to one another.

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