Dispersed
There is a multitude camped just outside the wall of Christendom. Jesus is the open Door. He stands ready to receive whosoever will come to Him in faith. Many are inside the mighty walls but there exists this crowd of thousands in the camp outside the walls. The Door of Jesus stands prominent as the only means into the city but many are content to remain in the community just outside the wall. These are a unique people. They almost have their own language. Many have been residents of the camp for almost a lifetime. Children have been born there. It is a special society.
They gather near the wall weekly to be inspired by motivational talks. They love the music they hear near the wall. It gives them such a sense of fulfillment to be a part of this huge group of people.
It has never really occurred to them to enter the city through the Door. There really is no need to, anyway. Plenty of inspiration is available as they gather with the thousands near the wall.
They have heard some strange stories about people who have gone inside the great wall. They do not seem to ever come out again. Why risk the unknown when so many people are satisfied to camp with the many others outside the wall. It's free to enter the Door to the city but there are rumors that there is a price after you get inside. No one knows if that is true or not. Why take the chance?
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 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.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away (apostasy) first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thess 2)
The sad fact of this happy family is that at some point the camp will be dispersed. Persecution will arise and people will decide that it is too dangerous to remain in the camp outside of the wall. Of course, one could simply go through the Door to a little more apparent protection but it seems to be kind of a one-way Door. They do not really know personally of anyone who has come back out of the Door.
What about the beautiful music? It will be missed but one must beware of fanaticism. How about the great messages of hope and encouragement? Well, maybe it's not really essential after all. Many decided that it wasn't really a good place to raise the kids, anyway.
One thing that Paul, the apostle, saw for the last days was that many will fall away and depart from “the faith”. The great camp outside the Door of Jesus will decide they didn't want to commit to anything so unpopular, anyway. It's not really worth it to pay the price of faithfulness, even though the Door was open and free to enter. So, they will move on to set up camp around something else less controversial – maybe that guy from Syria that promises the DNA upgrade or, at least, some food.
Many who never came through the Door, which is Christ, will fall away from even the appearance of Christianity. Millions of religious people will depart from even pretending to be a follower of Jesus. A person cannot hide who they really are. Maybe you are afraid that you cannot remain faithful to Jesus in real persecution. Jesus thinks you can. He has brought you to this time. Soon, we will see The King.
Sept 14, 2025