At that time many will turn away from the faith (Matthew 24:10, NASB1995).
Many latter-day prophecies are being fulfilled right in front of us. As Jesus says . . .
Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it [the coming of Jesus] is near, right at the door (Matthew 24:32-33, NLT).
In Matthew 24, Jesus teaches that in the last days, many will turn away from the faith, and He says when this sign occurs – be ready, for He is coming soon.
Are many walking away right now?
Just published is a book entitled The Great Dechurching, written by Jim Davis and Michael Graham and researched by Ryan Burge.
Below is a quote from this book . . .
For the first time in the eight decades that Gallup has tracked American religious membership, more adults in the United States do not attend church than attend church. This is not a gradual shift; it is a jolting one.
And an even more astounding quote . . .
More people have left the church in the last twenty-five years than all the new people who became Christians from the First Great Awakening, Second Great Awakening, and Billy Graham crusades combined.
What? Let me repeat what Jesus said in Matthew 24:10, “At that time [the end times], many will turn away from the faith.”
Now, let’s consider another teaching from the Bible. The book of James has this prophecy . . .
Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen (James 5:7, NLT).
Will the great latter-day dechurching lead to an unprecedented revival? Let’s read another quote from the book . . .
As our data poured in on the Great Dechurching, one truth became increasingly clear: what looks like defeat to many could really be the beginning of something special. Tens of millions of people may be leaving the church, and more than eighty-six churches may be closing every week, but if we have eyes to see it, there is actually much reason to hope. We need to come to grips with some hard realities inside the church, but there are ways to win many of these people back.
Yes, there is always room for hope because the gates of Hell cannot vanquish the church. In tomorrow’s Interruption #1066, I will discuss what the authors of The Great Dechurching believe are the causes and also why they believe there is hope.
In this Interruption, I wanted to make a point. Both a great fall-away and an even greater return are prophesied as end-time events.
Yes, quickly come, Lord Jesus!