The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 1359, titled "How to Function in the Body"  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. Copyright 2001 by John MacArthur Jr., All Rights Reserved.

Question

I understand about salvation, that we do have salvation, we don't lose it. But I've been asked on Matthew 24, verse 10, where it says that many will fall away in the last days. Is that referring to Christians?

Answer

Well let's look at it. Matthew 24:10, just turn in your Bibles so we make sure we get the right context. And, of course, here you're talking about the time of the Tribulation so the church has already gone by this time, out of the world. "And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and hate one another. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold. Many false prophets shall rise and deceive many. But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved."

Now some say that what you have here is the unveiling of the false...in other words, under pressure people who attach themselves to Christianity during the time of the Tribulation under pressure of attack from the beast and whatever else, they begin to drop off. Others say it has direct reference to Israel. For example, in the first half of the Tribulation there is going to be a pact between Israel and the Antichrist. And everything is going to be peaceful and wonderful and there may be there's a reconstruction of religion in Israel. And they're going to be worshiping in their temple again. And all of a sudden the beast comes in the middle of the week and he destroys that thing, in verse 15, "The abomination of desolation takes place." And it may be that at that time those who are not really followers of the truth, those who are not really believers in God are going to be made manifest cause they're going to bail out. So I don't think it has reference there to Christians. I think it has reference to those who have attached themselves...and it can be to Israel as well as the possibility of being attached to Christianity.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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