📝 Persevering in End Times - Pastor Angela Burns

 📝 Persevering in End Times Notes

• Persevering in the End Times - Session Overview
  • Pastor Angela Burns is introduced as part of the teaching crew, presenting a three-part message on persevering in the end times.
  • The session is structured around three core themes: end time deception and apostasy, what God expects of believers during the end times, and how to prevent oneself from falling into deception.
• Global and American Apostasy Statistics
  • A large-scale survey of 80,000 people across 36 countries conducted as of March 2025 reveals that Christianity and Buddhism have experienced the steepest losses in religious affiliation.
  • In Spain, 35% of adults raised as Christians are now unaffiliated, while Western Europe shows disaffiliation rates of 20% to 30%.
  • For every person who joins Christianity, 12.4 people leave, with a 28.4% disaffiliation rate noted in certain regions.
  • Pew data shows that 65% of US adults identify as Christian, down 12 points from 2009, with Catholics falling from 23% to 20% and Protestants from 51% to 43%.
  • Positive trends include 9% of formerly unaffiliated individuals in Korea now identifying as Christians, and many people leaving Islam converting to Christianity.
  • These departures from religion are interpreted as preparation for the rise of the Antichrist, as large numbers of people become agnostics or atheists, making them susceptible to deception.
• End Time Deception and Apostasy in Scripture
  • First Timothy Chapter 4 verses 1 through 2 is cited, stating that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons.
  • These demonically influenced teachings are designed to distort the word of God, deliberately misinterpret scripture, and take passages out of context to suit personal narratives.
  • False teachers are described as having consciences seared as with a hot iron, meaning they operate without shame or guilt, and their followers remain loyal even when scandals are exposed.
  • Second Timothy Chapter 4 verses 3 and 4 warns that a time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but will gather teachers who tell them what they want to hear.
  • Churches risk becoming glorified social clubs where people seek entertainment rather than genuine transformation or deliverance.
  • Matthew 24 is referenced to show that Jesus himself warned his disciples that deception would be a defining feature of the last days, with many coming in his name and false prophets performing signs and wonders to deceive even the elect.
• What God Expects of Believers During the End Times
  • Believers are called to live by God's standards of holiness rather than adopting cultural norms that allow for moral compromise under the guise of Christian identity.
  • Living in a cancel culture means Christians face the risk of job loss, social exclusion, and persecution for upholding biblical values, making self-censorship a real and dangerous temptation.
  • Intercession is identified as a critical responsibility, with believers urged to pray for souls, children, and government without allowing personal bias to affect the quality or consistency of their prayers.
  • Second Timothy Chapter 4 verse 2 is cited as a command to preach the word in season and out of season, to endure hardship, and to do the work of an evangelist regardless of social acceptability.
  • Christians are increasingly labeled as judgmental, hateful, and bigoted, and these labels are seen as laying the groundwork for the persecution Jesus foretold.
• How to Prevent Falling into Deception
  • Maintaining intimacy with God is presented as the first and foundational defense, as time in God's presence produces discernment, strength, and revelation of his word.
  • Seeking the Lord as instructed in Isaiah 55 is emphasized for wisdom in decision-making, financial matters, and spiritual investment, with Matthew 6:33 cited as the basis for participating in God's economy.
  • Studying the word of God is described as a necessity rather than an option, since knowledge of scripture is the primary protection against deception, including the growing deconstruction movement that encourages people to abandon biblical foundations.
  • Watching and praying is highlighted as essential to avoiding temptation, with a caution against presuming spiritual authority without a grounded relationship with God.
  • Testing the spirits as commanded in 1 John 4:1 is presented as a safeguard against sowing into false ministries or allowing unvetted individuals to lay hands on believers, illustrated by an account of a woman who received a demonic transfer through a church mother involved in witchcraft.
  • Believers are warned to beware of false prophets as described in Matthew 7 verses 15 through 18, who appear outwardly righteous but are inwardly destructive, and are identified by their fruit, their lack of correction in preaching, and their practice of conditioning prophecy on financial offerings.
  • False prophets are noted to deliberately target spiritually weak individuals rather than those with strong prayer lives and discernment, underscoring the importance of developing a personal and consistent prayer life.
• Next Steps
  • Believers are encouraged to commit to personal Bible study and consistent prayer as non-negotiable spiritual disciplines in the current end time climate.
  • Congregants are urged to evaluate their own spiritual activity and ask whether they are actively contributing to the spread of the gospel or merely going through the motions of Christian life.
  • Discernment in financial giving and in receiving ministry from others is to be exercised, guided by prayer and the testing of spirits rather than emotional impulse.
  • The church community is called to continue interceding for souls, government, and cultural transformation without allowing fear, social pressure, or self-censorship to hinder their witness.