A Sign that the Apocalypse is Near?

Episcopal Priest Claims 'Being Homosexual is Gift from God'

The Rev. Canon J. Edwin Bacon Jr. from Southern California has made it no secret that he supports same-sex marriage. But his recent pro-homosexual comments on the Oprah Winfrey show have stunned even the popular talk show host herself. According to a Christian Post report, 'Being homosexual is a gift from God,' Bacon declared in an Oprah episode that aired Jan. 7. Appearing shocked, Winfrey responded, 'Well, you are the first minister I’ve ever heard say, 'Being homosexual is a gift from God,' I can tell you that."

One big suprise and one non-shocker is evident here. First, the surprise is that Oprah would be "stunned" by such a typical, liberal comment on her own show, where wayward and aberrant, dysfunctional views even from "clergy", are standard fare. Second, why should anyone in 2009 be surprised by such false doctrine and error from an American denomination that theologically lost its way long ago, when it gave up on the Bible as an authoritative, infallible and inerrant source of truth? At this week's Presidential Inauguration ceremonies, the new administration invited Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, he of the same-sex partnership to deliver an invocation.

Remember the apostle Paul warned Timothy at Ephesus in both of his letters to the young pastor, that such doctrine would be atypical of the beginning of the end, " For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths (2 Tim. 4:3-4, ESV)."

In fact, such doctrine according to Paul would be a sign of the great apostasy to come at the time of the tribulation as Jesus prepares to retrun, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared (1 Tim. 4:1-2)..."

Let's face it people, we are in times when 'everyone did what was right in their own eyes' (Ju. 21:25), where left is right, up is down and black is white. Is there much greater blasphemy on earth today than to attribute fornication- gross sin, as a "gift from God"? One is tempted to at this point to pray an imprecatory psalm as David did so often, calling for God to vanquish His enemies such as those that blaspheme and mock the name of God. Rather, we might want to prepare for and be ready to take comfort in, Christ's second coming which we should expectantly pray for more than ever. Speaking of which, this Saturday's night SOS will deal with the topic of the Rapture Revealed, from the current series, 'Comfort For the Second Coming' (see What's Up at SOS? ).