Having followed the state of things in the church until the “perilous times” of the “last days,” we see the energy of evil in those who, “reprobate concerning the faith,” are deceiving and being deceived. It is from such that the man of God is to turn away, leaving them to God’s judgment.
In Titus we find unruly talkers and deceivers spreading around their baneful influence. Second Peter also gives testimony concerning these evil influences. Jude traces the apostasy from the time when “certain... [ungodly] men crept in unawares” until the Lord comes with His saints to execute judgment upon such.
Jude 1111Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (Jude 11) gives a summary of the apostasy of the natural man: “the way of Cain,” teaching error for reward, and the “error of Balaam,” using the truth for corrupt ends. This apostasy ends in “the gainsaying of Core,” which is ecclesiastical evil urging civil power to rebellion.
Both 2 Peter and Jude testify of the rejection of the Lordship of Christ, consummating in Revelation 3 where the hateful condition of the false witness of Laodicea receives the solemn warning from the Lord: “I am about to spue thee out of My mouth” (vs. 16 JND).
In 2 Thessalonians and the Epistles of John, we find the personage the man of sin, the Antichrist who will consummate all this wickedness in himself.
We further learn from 2 Thessalonians that the “mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He [the Holy Spirit] who now letteth [restrains] will let until He be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed.”
The removal of this restraining power of good (at the rapture) will give scope to the complete apostasy (“falling away”) from Christianity. It is at this time that the Antichrist—the man of sin, the son of perdition—is revealed.
Thus far, in summary, our considerations have shown that the three great systems (1 Cor. 10:3232Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: (1 Corinthians 10:32)) set up in the world for the display of God’s government and His grace have, as regards man’s responsibility, all ended (or will end) in ruin, failure and corruption. These three systems are (1) the Jew under law, (2) the Gentile without law and entrusted with universal dominion, and (3) the church, as Christ’s epistle in the world a witness of grace and truth.
May we be led into a more growing separation in all our pursuits and ways from that which ends so sorrowfully, while we long for the coming of Him who will put an end to evil.
F. G. Patterson (adapted)
(to be continued)