“At that time many will falter, and betray and despise each other. And false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of many will grow cold. But those who stand firm to the end will be saved.”
Matt 24:10-12
10. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
This would be a bitter trial for the followers of Christ, yet this they have always had to endure. Persecution would reveal the traitors within the Church as well as the enemies without. In the midst of the chosen ones there would be found successors of Judas, who would be willing to betray the disciples as he betrayed his Lord. Saddest of all is the betrayal of good men by their own relatives, but even this they have many of them had to bear for Christ’s sake.
11, 12. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
What could not be accomplished by persecutors outside the Church, and traitors inside, would be attempted by teachers of heresy: “Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” They have risen in all ages, in these modern times they have risen in clouds, till the air is thick with them, as with an army of devouring locusts. These are the men who invent new doctrines, and who seem to think that the religion of Jesus Christ is something that a man may twist into any form and shape that he pleases. Alas, that such teachers should have any disciples! It is doubly sad that they should be able to lead astray “many.” Yet, when it so happens, let us remember that the King said that it would be so.
Is it, any wonder that, where such “iniquity abound” and such lawlessness is multiplied, “the love of many shall wax cold?” If the teachers deceive the people, and give them “another gospel which is not another,” it is no marvel that there is a lack of love and zeal. The wonder is that there is any love and zeal left after they have been subjected to such a chilling and killing process as that adopted by the advocates of the modern “destructive criticism.” Verily, it is rightly named “destructive,” for it destroys almost everything that is worth preserving.
2Ti 4:3-5 For the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts will they multiply to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they will turn away their ears from the truth, and will be turned to fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. -Webster