In the days of the apostle Paul, the Thessalonian brethren were laboring under the erroneous impression that the Lord would return in their day, and Paul wrote to correct this false impression, stating what events must transpire before the advent could take place. He declared: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." The man of sin was to arise, and do his work of exaltation and blasphemy, before the brethren could look for the coming of Christ. That great event was to be preceded by a falling away. There would be revealed a form of Antichrist, and the leaven of apostasy was to work with increasing power to the end of time. We are not to be surprised beyond measure to see the widespread declension of faith and piety. I have been bearing my testimony for the last forty years, that there would be those who would fall away from the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. God has been sending warnings, reproofs, and encouragements to his people. He has warned them that some would depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits.

I Paulus dage, arbejde brødrene i Tessalonika under det fejlagtige indtryk, at Herren vil komme i deres tid, og Paulus skrev for at rette dette falske indtryk, skrev at der ville udspille sig ting før genkomsten finder sted. Han erklærede: "Lad ingen vildlede jer på nogen måde. Først må jo frafaldet komme, og lovløshedens menneske, fortabelsens søn, åbenbares, han, som sætter sig imod og ophøjer sig over alt, hvad der hedder Gud og helligdom, så han tager sæde i Guds tempel og udgiver sig selv for at være Gud." Lovløshedens menneske skulle opstå og ophøje sig selv og spotte Gud, inden brødrene kunne se frem til Kristi komme. Et frafald skulle gå forud for den store begivenhed. Der ville blive åbenbaret en form for Antikrist, og frafaldets surdej skulle virke med voksende kraft indtil tidens ende. Vi skal ikke blive for overrasket over at se det udbredte frafald fra troen og fromhed. Jeg har frembåret mit vidnesbyrd de sidste fyrre år, at der burde være dem som vil falde bort fra stien, og opgive at gå for Herrens løskøbelse. Gud har sendt advarsler, irettesættelser og opmuntringer til hans folk. Han har advaret dem mod at nogle vil forlade troen, og give agt på forførende ånder.