It was foretold that in the latter days false prophets and teachers would rise to prominence and deceive many, corrupting the faith that was delivered to the saints through Jesus Christ. Even in the time of the Apostles, wolves were entering the church posing as brothers. These depraved men exhibited a form of godliness, having an outward appearance of righteousness and exalting themselves as men of God while gathering followers to themselves for personal ambitions.

In 2nd Peter 2, Peter exposes false teachers who were redeemed by Christ and washed in his blood but afterward turned from the holy vocation given them to pursue personal interests by exploiting others.

Exposing these men as deceivers, Peter recalls the false prophets in Israel, warning that there would likewise be false brothers in the church who would subtly bring in damnable heresies to draw others after them.

He writes that it had been better for them to have never known the truth than to return to their old ways after being cleansed from their sins by the blood of Christ.

“After they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome; the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after they had known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it happened unto them according to the true proverb: “The dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:22).

Likewise, Jude devoted his epistle to addressing the same infiltrators who turned back from the LORD while mingling among the congregation to feed themselves. Using similar language as Peter, Jude describes them as ungodly men who turn the grace of God into lasciviousness, preaching doctrines of grace while walking after their lusts and enticing others to take part with them in their sins.

“These are they who separate themselves.” God did not fail or forsake them; they separated themselves from God, hardening their hearts to indulge in their lusts.

After providing them with a period of grace for repentance, He eventually abandoned those who would not hear and turned them over to the lust of their flesh after long refusal of His calling. Thus, it happened to them even as God warned, “My spirit will not always strive with man.”

Jude brings to remembrance examples of those who were at one time chosen to serve the LORD but were later destroyed after refusing His call.

“I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. Likewise, the angels who left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” (Jude).

Jude referred to them as being “twice dead, plucked up by the roots.” They became reprobate and could not be restored.

Today, there are centuries of false doctrines and heresies that have been passed down and adopted into church doctrines. The result is the splintering of congregants into countless denominations, offshoots, and even cults that identify as Christians but reject or twist the teachings of scripture.

Each group naturally imagines its beliefs are correct. Thus, the great falling away foretold is not only those who abandon a Christian identity but also the apostate condition of individuals who accept the corruptions present in their specific version of so-called Christianity.

Elisha followed Elijah, desiring to inherit his mantle and a double portion of the Spirit; he refused to abide in a place of contentment among the sons of the prophets. He continued following Elijah, who, unlike the sons of the prophets, was a prophet. Like Elijah, Elisha desired more than a casual relationship with God that had been handed down through the teachings and traditions of men. Elisha desired a relationship with God directly that was more than a social bond of traditions passed around among others.