Does scripture require spiritual deterioration in Christadelphia before Christ comes? A decline in ecclesial affairs is always possible, but is it prophesied as a certainty?
Good effects of such a view
If we expect a major declension in the last days, there are certain good aspects to our view. We will be intently looking for decline in doctrine and practice and will more quickly recognize it than if we were not expecting such a development. That is useful because, for 1900 years, revivals of the Truth have consistently been short-lived. Even in the first century, self-seeking teachers compromised commands and distorted doctrine to gain a following (see “Notes on the Daily Readings — Galatians” in this issue). In every age, men seek to pull down the high standards of the gospel, as the way of the spirit is opposed to the way of the flesh.
It appears that the present revival of the Truth, in which we are blessed to participate, is one of the longest ever. Considering history, we have every reason to be on our guard against the onset of another departure to error.
A second good effect of anticipating apostasy among us is that we will not be overly discouraged if it does occur. We will view it as another sign of the times and will actually be relieved to find this sign being fulfilled.
Bad aspects
There is, however, a bad side to this point. If apostasy is a prophetic necessity in our day, we must find it. We know this is the end time, so where is the apostasy in the ecclesia? It must be there, somewhere. If we are thus convinced, we can magnify the danger of every little problem that comes along. Some brother mentions a slightly different approach and we immediately raise the red flag. In such an environment, an expositional straight-jacket develops which stultifies discussion, inhibits growth and drives from the community bright and faithful minds.
Built like we are, we seldom see ourselves as a potential problem. We tend to scrutinize others as perhaps the potential heretics. This leads to keeping a log book of suspicions and magnifying, rather than minimizing, problems. Yet “Love…keeps no record of wrongs…it always protects…Hatred stirreth up strife’s: but love covereth all sins” (I Cor. 13:5,7 NIV; Prov. 10:12). We would be clearly remiss if we ignored symptoms of apostasy, but we must be careful of how we look for it.
The essential question is, What does scripture say?
Is end–time apostasy prophesied?
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith…speaking lies in hypocrisy…forbidding to marry…” (I Tim. 4:1-3). The passage appears yonder dispute. Is not this the “latter times?”
Yes, of course it is, but the latter times began in the first century. “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now (in the first century) are there many Antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (I John 2:18). This agrees with Paul’s words to Timothy for the conditions prophesied in I Timothy started in the first century. “Giving heed to seducing spirits…having their conscience seared with a hot iron” accurately describe problems existing at the end of the first century (cf. Rev. 2 and 3, Christ’s condemnation of apostasy in that day).
The same point is seen in II Thessalonians 2. “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work…” (v.7). Thessalonians is an early epistle, written about 50 A.D., but even then, the antichrist movement was evident. (Also see Bro. Troy Haltom’s comments on “the last days,” “the latter days,” etc. in February and March Tidings.)
Does this mean we can relax our vigilance because we are not specifically in danger of apostasy? Not at all! Ever since apostolic times, the ecclesia has lived in an era dominated by apostate Christianity. In every generation, as well as our own, there has been great difficulty in fighting off heretical encroachments on the Truth. The point is, however, that I Timothy does not prove that we are uniquely susceptible to the problem.
High percentage rejected
A number of passages indicate a large percent of those facing judgment when Christ comes will be rejected: 50% in the parable of the ten virgins; 33% of the servants receiving talents and pounds; “many” will be rejected and “few” saved (Mt. 25:2,24; Lk 19:16-20; Mt. 7:22; Lk. 13:24). Doesn’t this prove there will be much apostasy in the ecclesia in our time?
Not necessarily. Those facing judgments when Christ comes are drawn from all eras, not just the last 50 years. In some of those eras, ecclesial composition was markedly different from today.
The first century ecclesia, for example, included a much broader scope of people than is the case with Christadelphia. The “virgins” and “servants” of that time included the circumcision party, those denying the resurrection and some teaching Jesus Christ did not have our nature. Wicked people in the ecclesia taught “my servants to commit fornication” and others held “the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes” (Rev. 2:20,15). In such conditions, a rejection rate of 1/2 or 1/3 might be conservative.
We should note this difference between first century times and our own. Some of the scathing words of Jude, for example, were particularly applicable to his contemporaries. Simply because ungodly men had entered that ecclesia and were turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, however, does not require that the same apostasy must be active today.
The “many” who are rejected
When Jesus was asked, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” He responded, “When the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door then you will begin to say we have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are…” (Lk. 13:26-27). The plea was from people in the broad way of death who were exposed to the gospel. They may have been attracted by its principles but had never entered on the narrow road to life. They were never Christ’s servants; he did not know them.
The phrasing in Matthew is even more conclusive. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you…” (Mt. 7:23,24). Ecclesial members in our time would hardly be described in such terms, but millions around us could be.
Read carefully, these passages in Luke and Matthew imply a much broader range of accountability than we might have suspected. Few will be saved and “many” will be rejected; most of the “many,” however, will probably never have been in the ecclesia.
Apostasy is always a possibility, therefore we need to be continually on our guard against declension in the brotherhood. But end-time apostasy is not a prophetic necessity, therefore we need to watch for it within the framework of wisdom, love and scriptural balance. Anything less will lead to marking people as offenders when they are not, a practice which may well destroy both the accused and the accuser.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One