Pastor and author David Jeremiah says the departure of prominent Christians from the faith isn’t a new phenomenon, although he warns it could be the beginning stages of a “major” wave of defections from the church during the End Times.
Jeremiah, the pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon., Calif., discussed the subject of “exvangelicals” as he began a new sermon series, “Where Do We Go From Here? – How Tomorrow’s Prophecies Foreshadow Today’s Problems.”
Jeremiah used 1 Timothy 4:1-2 to point out – “According to the Bible, spiritual deception will cause many to fall away from Christ in the days leading up to the End Times, which says, in part, that in latter times some will depart from the faith.”
Jeremiah also quoted 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 and said a “major specific recognizable departure” from the faith will occur during the tribulation.
“What we’re experiencing right now could be the beginning stages of that,” Jeremiah warned.
The pastor noted “Before Jesus comes back, there will be a gradual lessening of interest in the things of the Lord.”
Jeremiah concluded – “What that means … is if the rapture could happen any time, we might be just three and a half years away from the falling away.”