The Falling Away

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 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. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." (II Thessalonians 2: 1-3 KJV)

There are three epoch events mentioned in this passage of scripture. 1) The coming of Christ, and 2) The "falling away" or "apostasy," and 3) the revelation or appearing of the "man of sin" or "son of perdition."

The "coming" of Christ, the "day of Christ," and our "gathering together unto him" refer to the same event, that is, the coming of Christ inaugurates the "day of Christ" and brings about the glorious rapture.

The apostle is very clear about the "coming of Christ," the "day of Christ," and "our gathering together unto him," in the sky, in the rapture or catching away (See I Thessalonians 4: 13-21), as being the final event of the three named events.

Prior to, NOT after, the coming of Christ, there will be a general and grand "falling away" or "apostasy." This falling away is twofold. There is a general progressive falling away with the world of lost men, who "wax worse and worse" (II Timothy 3: 13 KJV), but there is also prophesied of a falling away from truth and from righteousness within the professed followers of Christ, within the visible professing church of the last days.

The order of the three events is given by Paul. The first event will be the falling away, the second the coming of Anti-Christ or "man of sin," and then the third is the coming of Christ. It is sad that many theologians reverse this order.

"Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." (Matthew 13: 33 KJV)

By the "kingdom of heaven" we are to understand the church, or society of Jesus' followers. Jesus gave the church pure bread of divine truth. But, as predicted, others came along and secretely placed the leaven of false teachings within the church, which has now grown and multiplied till the whole of Christianity is but corrupt, with very little left of the original loaf that is still pure or free from corruption.

"I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18: 8 KJV)

Not only will the coming of Christ find the world and the professing Church in a state of apostasy, and fully leavened, and Anti-Christ reigning, but he will find very little of real faith in the world. Religion will be mostly in form, not in power. (See II Timothy 3: 5 KJV)

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth." (I Timothy 4: 1-3 KJV)

The apostate church, like the apostate world, will be full of unsound and anti Christian doctrine. It will teach things contrary to the faith of the apostles. They will also be known for their sophisticated theological "lies" and for their hypocrisy, for their many external regulations regarding food and drink, which have a show of religion and piety, but not "pure religion undefiled before God" (James 1: 27 KJV). The apostate church will manifest, with the world, a negative attitude towards biblical marriage.

"Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse." (I Corinthians 11: 17 KJV)

Such is the state of the modern Christianity that most churches are in such a condition that people assemble and go to church, "not for the better, but for the worse." The apostate church of the last days will not be a church that improves the lives of people on a large scale, but rather worsens them.

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" (Galatians 3: 1 KJV)

"Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." (Vs. 7-9)

"Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened." (I Corinthians 5: 6, 7 KJV)

The "Church at Corinth," together with the "churches of Galatia," had leaven in its bread, in its teachings and in its religious practices, holding to doctrines that Christ "hates," and therefore he pronounces the greatest of judgments against those who will not sever themselves from the leaven and the corruption. The apostate church is a church that is "bewitched" and demon possessed and inspired, demon led.

"For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise." (II Corinthians 11: 19 KJV)

This is what the apostate church does. They put biblical fools in charge, people who have little faith in God or in his word, and who proclaim the glory and worth of man, a vain humanism.

"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (II John 1: 9, 10 KJV)

How many "Christians" in the last days will be supporting doctrines of demons, and denying the doctrine of Christ? The vast majority! Those who preach false doctrine are involved in an "evil deed" and those who support them are "sharers with them" in their evil teaching.

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love (2:4)...thou art fallen (2:5)...But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate (2: 14, 15)...Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols (2: 20)...But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden (2: 24)...Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy (3: 4)...And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 3: 14-22 KJV)

The letters to the seven churches in Asia, in Revelation chapters two and three, contain many exhortations to churches in apostasy, wherein only a few were left in them who Christ saw as remaining pure in doctrine and practice. Taken together, the above words describe a church that has fallen very low, and a world wherein only a few, like in the days of Elijah, have remained faithful.

Friend, are you in a corrupt church? Is your religion vain?