Hold Fast

“Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.  But hold fast what you have till I come.”  Revelation 2:24-25

 

“Hold fast the form of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”  2nd Timothy 1:13

 

“But test all things; hold fast what is good.”  1st Thessalonians 5:21

 

“Let us hold fast the confession of the hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”  Hebrews 10:23

 

Things are rough out there and they are getting rougher.  The Church must hold fast, those who are truly Christians, those who have repented towards God and by faith believed into Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (Acts 20:21), must hold fast.  These are very serious times and there is no sign of them getting less serious, but on the contrary things may get numerous times more serious in times to come.  The apostasy is in full bloom, as was foretold in the Bible. 

 

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, being devoted to corrupting spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be partaken with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”  1st Timothy 4:1-3

 

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unyielding, slanderers, without self-control, savage, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away.  For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning, but never able to come to the full true knowledge of the truth.  But as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also oppose the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.”  2nd Timothy 3:1-9

 

We’ve addressed such issues numerous times in the past, but nonetheless, this should not be taken lightly.  The Bible clearly states to hold fast and that is exactly what should be done.  The amount of deception out there in regards to false doctrines is a never-ending plow heap of ridiculous proportions and it is not slowing down at all.  The ongoing onslaught against biblical Christianity is growing everyday. 

 

“But evil men and pretenders will grow worse and worse, leading astray and being led astray.”  2nd Timothy 3:13

 

This being tied into the false doctrines that are arising regarding prophetic end-times, of which I will remind people once again, as it is -very- important that the Rapture will absolutely take place prior to the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), better known as the Tribulation.  The simple fact that pastors do not talk about this and many who do say that the Rapture happens at the end of the Tribulation, is wrong.

 

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.  For when they say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall by no means escape.  But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.  You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.  But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.  For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we watch or sleep, we should live together with Him.  Therefore encourage each other and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”  1st Thessalonians 5:1-11

 

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He is now restraining, until it is raised from out of the midst.  And then the lawless one will be unveiled, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.  The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who are perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.  But we owe thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you through our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, brethren, stand firm and hold on to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and good hope by grace, encourage your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.”  2nd Thessalonians 2:7-17

 

The unfortunate truth and those who are holding fast should be well aware of the implications of the world in regards to a massive amount of false christianity, is that most of those who attend church, most of their pastors and much of that which calls itself christian, will still be here (Ro. 9:6).  In a nutshell they were never Saved, therefore their unbiblical preaching regarding such an important topic as the Rapture and the end of the church age will appear to be correct to those who are not Saved (2 Tim. 3:13).

 

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that not all of them are of us.”  1st John 2:19

 

“After these things I looked, and behold, a door having been opened in Heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after these things.”  Revelation 4:1

 

The world seems primed, in many ways, for the end-times events to unfold.  So it seemed good to me to send out a reminder that those who do know Christ, hold fast. 

 

I’ve been doing some independent research regarding certain prophetic things, in comparison to what is being taught by some of the prominent religious leaders out there.  Certainly I don’t proclaim to have a special insight, other than the teaching that all Believers receive from the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27), nor do I proclaim to have the gift of prophecy (Romans 12:6).  Yet just as one can clearly understand that the Bible proclaims that the Rapture will happen prior to the Tribulation, so to, the Bible clearly stipulates certain things. 

 

Without getting off topic regarding the purpose of this article, there appears to be major deceptions going on, in direct preparation for the Antichrist, the world government, etc.  Seeing the night is far spent, we as Christians must hold fast to what we have.

 

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  Let us walk decently, as in the day, not in carousings and drunkenness, not in cohabitation and licentiousness, not in strife and envy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”  Romans 13:12-14

 

We must hold fast our faith and profession in Christ, being separate from the world (2 Cor. 6:17).  We must continue preaching the Gospel to all who will hear (Matt. 28:19-20).  We must not allow the world into our Churches or our homes.  We must be watching and ready.

 

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?  And what agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?  And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  Therefore, Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.  And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”  2nd Corinthians 6:14-18

 

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord comes.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief comes, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be dug through.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man comes at an hour you do not expect.”  Matthew 24:42-44

 

No one knows how long we have before the Rapture happens (Matt. 24:36), whether it be in our lifetimes or not, but there will be generation, are we that generation?  As the time gets nearer and nearer things are not going to get any better, but we must diligently be found doing His work until the time is at hand!

 

“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will deliver both yourself and those who hear you.”  1st Timothy 4:16

 

“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware also that you not be led away with the error of the wicked, and fall from your own steadfastness.  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”  2nd Peter 3:17-18

 

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible needs to put on incorruption, and this mortal needs to put on immortality.  So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory.  O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?  The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the Law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  1st Corinthians 15:51-58

 

Amen!