Revelation 13:4-7 “So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" (5) And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. (6) Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. (7) It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.”
The above passage of scripture refers to the Anti-Christ. In this passage the Holy Spirit reveals to us the same truth that was revealed to the prophet Daniel, i.e. the Anti-Christ will be allowed to reign on the earth for a period of three and a half years, and when he does reign he will make war with the Lord’s saints, and he will overcome them. In other words he will institute great persecution against the Lord’s saints. And so, it is more than likely that it is during this period of intense persecution that the falling away will occur. But even though the event of the falling away will most probably occur when the Anti-Christ begins to reign on the earth, the seeds of that falling away are already being sown in the church today. For the saints who are not enduring sound doctrine today will very quickly fall away during the period of persecution that the church is destined to go through. But also, as we draw closer to that time of intense persecution, there will be a gradual increase globally of persecution against the church. And in fact, that trend has already begun.
Michael E.B. Maher
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