Paul speaks of the "falling away" and associates the falling away with the revelation of Antichrist. Antichrist cannot be revealed until the restraining power is removed from his path. The restraining power is the Holy Spirit the Power to bear witness which abides within and upon the saints.

The restraining power will be removed from the path of Antichrist because of two factors: one, God will lift the extraordinary power of the latter-rain testimony so sin can come to maturity; two, numerous Christians will be deceived by sin and will fall away from their love for Jesus. The stars of God will fall from the heaven, as it were. It is the falling away from the faith, the end-time apostasy, that will open the way for the full revelation of the man of sin.

There are three temptations with which the sons of God are faced. Jesus met and overcame each one of the three while He was being tested in the wilderness. The three temptations are as follows: one, Sodom the lust of the flesh; two, Egypt the lust of the eyes; and three, Jerusalem the pride of life. The spirit of the world includes fleshly appetites and lusts, covetousness, and pride, rebellion, and presumption.

The spirit of Antichrist, of lawlessness and wickedness, always is engaged in tempting each of the saints in these three manners. Many have been overcome in our day.

The Book of Jude is the introduction to the Book of Revelation. The Book of Jude describes the falling away of the last days, while Revelation is the portrayal of the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth.

The Book of Jude speaks of Cain, whose murderous rage against his brother symbolizes Sodom the lust of the flesh resulting in rage and murder; Balaam, who symbolizes Egypt the lust of the eyes resulting in covetousness; and Core (Korah), who symbolizes Jerusalem the pride of life resulting in envy and rebellion.

Jude brings to our remembrance the fact that people were saved out of Egypt and then later were destroyed (verse 5). He is speaking of sinners in the congregation of the Lord.

This puts Jude in mind of Sodom:

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 1:7)

There are many lustful, covetous, rebellious, proud, haughty, presumptuous people in the congregation of the Lord today. They have been taught (contrary to Jude) that once they are "saved" they cannot be lost. They are "saved by grace," therefore their behavior is not critical to their salvation. They are turning the grace of God into immorality.

The modern teaching of grace is contrary to the teaching of Jesus and His Apostles, not to mention the Hebrew Prophets. It is evident from the writings of the New Testament that the sign of salvation is a transformed personality (II Corinthians 5:17).

Because of false teaching among Christians, sin abounds in the churches. The testimony of Jesus has been destroyed. The "lampstand has been removed from its place." There is immorality in the ministry and among the people in many instances. "Jezebel" is teaching and has numerous followers and supporters.

To be continued.