The Last Apostasy by B. G. Wilkinson

Review and Herald Publishing Assn. · Washington, D. C. · Jan 7, 1904

The Last Apostasy

By B. G. Wilkinson

B. G. WILKINSON

“In the last days perilous times shall come.” 2 Tim. 3:1. Forewarned is forearmed. That the Spirit of God seeks in an especial manner to awaken all to the exceeding perilousness of the last days is shown by the assurance introducing this scripture, “This know.” The expression “last days” was also used by the same Spirit when speaking of the great day of Pentecost. Acts 2:17. Now if this important prophecy of Paul in the third chapter of Second Timothy refers back to the day of Pentecost, then it is nineteen hundred years too old for us. But this is not so. While evidently the Lord considers the Christian era as last days in comparison with the eras which preceded it, yet the term is more often applied to the time immediately preceding the second coming of Christ.

It is of these years that the Spirit of God speaks in our text. That those perilous times would be in years not then reached is evident from the future tense of the verb. Furthermore, it was not necessary to abide the coming of future decades if it were only bodily perils against which the voice of warning is here lifted; for the apostle himself had experienced a large portion of them. The perils which here call forth the anxious solicitude of the Spirit are those that would assail God’s true children by the subtle teachings of apostate Christians; for the apostle says “for.” For what?—For men would be controlled by that long list of iniquities introduced by this word “for.” But almost all these iniquities we find mentioned in Paul’s epistle to the Romans, where they are attributed to the inhabitants of the Roman world in which Paul was then living. From them, and from all other unconverted pagans since then, it was natural to expect such things; in this the Holy Spirit could have no solicitude. Therefore the list of 2 Timothy 3 can not apply to those who make no profession of conversion, but as seen from verse five, it applies to those “having a form of godliness.” In that is the peril.

We know further that the actors in this prophecy would play their part in the years just preceding the coming of Christ, by the declaration that “as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.” Verses 8 and 9. How was the folly of Jannes and Jambres made manifest? Pharaoh, deluded by their subtle errors, cherished the hope of a successful resistance against God until the billows of the Red Sea buried him and his armed host in its depths. This great sight bore witness against the folly of the contradictors of Moses. We are promised to behold a similar scene when God puts to shame before all Christendom these reprobates from the gospel truth. Has it yet come?—No. But when Christ shall appear before the astonished inhabitants of this earth, with the angels of his might, then shall be reduced to dust these cunning seducers who have used his name to hide their wicked ambitions.

If we look now to find out where this apostasy takes place, I think we shall find it in the Protestant world. Consider the statements of this scripture, and then seek to recognize the persons who would answer to the facts stated.

In the first place, verse nine says, “But they shall proceed no further.” The French version of this verse, which better expresses the Greek, reads, “They shall not make great progress.” In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul teaches us of another apostasy. We, in unison with a large number of eminent Bible students, regard this latter as predicting the great apostasy of the early Christian church, which gave birth to the Catholic Church. But of this apostasy Paul says (2 Thess. 2:7, 8): “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: . . . and then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” From this and from other verses it is clear that the apostasy of 2 Thessalonians 2 was to grow great. Hence the same apostasy can not be meant; for according to one scripture it already existed in Paul’s day, and would continue until the second advent; while according to another it has only a short duration. And since the apostasy mentioned in Thessalonians was already working in Paul’s day, we locate that as the great and long-existing Catholic apostasy. But for the other, just before Christ’s return, we must search in the Protestant world.

There is another fact which, like a searchlight, reveals this apostasy as one in the Protestant ranks, and in operation during later Christian history. It belongs to an age of great Biblical light. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrines; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Tim. 4:3, 4. Not only would they turn away the ear from the truth, but “so do these also resist the truth.” Chapter 3:8. Here it is not a simple resistance in general against the convictions of truth, but it is a deliberate rejection of Christian teachers who teach entirely the Word of God, the only source of truth to genuine Christian teachers. This can not apply to the Middle Ages, when the Roman Church authoritatively refused the recognition of the Bible, an action which left the flock without the choice of Biblical guides, and which caused the honest in heart to grope for light.

That our prophecy indicates this present-day state of affairs, we see by another thing: there are floods of light, but there is also another condition which can not be found in times previous to our own. That is congregational authority. “They shall heap to themselves teachers.” Vested with the liberty to say to the preacher what they like, and what they can not accept, and possessed of the influence to discharge an unacceptable pastor or engage a polished one—how truly do those words describe the Protestant countries of to-day! Especially how true this is of Protestant America, where the preacher owes his position to the whims and wishes of his congregation.

These, then, are perilous times. My dear friend, will you permit yourself, like these evil men, to be governed by wilful determination to have your own desires, or will you be one of those who “love his appearing”? Chap. 4:8. The apostle has given these directions: (1) “From such turn away” (chapter 3:5); (2) “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of” (chapter 3:14); (3) “Watch thou in all things” (chapter 4:5); (4) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Chapter 3:16.

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