“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”

1 Timothy 4:1 NIV

“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,”

1 Timothy 4:1 NASB

(1) Most of us would say that this time phrase refers to “The period from the first coming of Christ until His return, however Apostasy will exist throughout that period, reaching a climax shortly before Christ returns. Vs:11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Vs:12 Because lawlessness has increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, they will be saved.” Matthew 24:11-13 NASB. So what does TIMES mean?

(2) Basically it means what is behind or after in space or time. Now as an adjective; it is used as a comparative – the last named, the latter, the second one. “Vs:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.” Matthew 21:32 NASB. Also it is used as a superlative as the final in a series of times last;…

(3) …possibly later, future times. “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,” 1 Timothy 4:1 NASB. As an adverb; in a comparative sense in the second place, later, afterward; “And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.” Matt 4:2 NASB. Now for those of us who need this in a superlative sense finally, lastly “But afterward he sent…

(4) …his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’” Matthew 21:37 NASB. So PT what does TIMES mean (season, opportunity, epoch: a significant period of time or can we say the proper time)? It means a point of time or period of time, frequently with the implication of being especially fit for something and without emphasis on precise chronology. It describes the period as especially appropriate and favorable (the right time).

(5) Stated another way, kairos is distinguished from chronos (time) because kairos views TIME from the aspect of the strategic opportunity it provides, and not simply a change from the past into the present into the future, not mere duration. Something that lasts for a season and so is transient, temporary, or enduring only for a specific period of time. Kairos is a period which is especially appropriate – a favorable time (at the right time). Some will fall away!

(6) Note that this is a Holy Spirit inspired prophecy – and so it WILL come to pass! Who are some? They are fakers, professors, not genuine possessors of true faith in Christ. They mouth orthodoxy but do not carry out orthopraxy (so to speak, pun intended). They say they believe but their lives belie their belief and their falling away (instead of persevering to the end). This is clear evidence of the unregenerate (“uncircumcised”) state of their heart.

(7) Fall away gives us our English “APOSTATIZE,” meaning to abandon one’s previous position or belief. The middle voice here indicates that this is not an unintentional falling away, but a deliberate (volitional, choice of the will) withdrawal from the faith once professed. In short, some will deliberately abandon what they had formerly professed to believe. As Paul explains, they fall away when they fall for false teaching like what we see today.

(8) “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will (FALL AWAY) from the faith…! THE FAITH is not the subjective aspect (believing) but the objective aspect (that which is believed, the essential teachings of the Christian faith, especially the Gospel), as in ‘but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.’ 1 Timothy 3:9 NASB. Would you like to hear Vs:10? And what about Vs:11? Paul writes “holding to the…

(9) …mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.” This person has denied the faith” 1 Tim 5:8, “wandered away from the faith” 1 Tim 6:10, or Acts 6:7, or Acts 14:22, or Col 1:23. And let us not forget Jude 1:3+. Now, as a side note, there are some who teach that a genuine believer can stop believing in Christ. I strongly disagree. The faith that saves us is the faith that keeps us, and both are gifts of God and so our perseverance to the end!

(10) CONTINUING! Side note: continuing to believe is a gift of and power of God working in us through HIS indwelling HOLY SPIRIT. Please read this sometime this week, Rom 8:31-39+. Note too – An apostate is not one who gives up their profession of being a Christian, but one who forsakes the truth of the Christian life!!! (1 Tim)! John describes a similar pattern of professors. “Vs:19 They went out from us [seeming at first to be Christians], but they were not…

(11) …really of us [because they were not truly born again and spiritually transformed]; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out [teaching false doctrine], so that it would be clearly shown that none of them are of us.” 1 John 2:19 AMP. As a side note, there are some who teach that a genuine believer can stop believing in Christ. I strongly disagree. The faith that saves us is the faith that keeps us and both are gifts of God and so our…

(12) …perseverance to the end (and our continuing to believe) is a gift of and power of God working in us through His indwelling Holy Spirit. (Read Romans 8:31-39+). Let me stress this again, they will “FALL AWAY”! So how does the saint do this? Do what (depart, desert, withdraw)? The Greek means separation of one thing from another. That means to separate, and is the root of our English “APOSTASY” — literally means to stand off from, means to withdraw…

(13) …to stand off, to forsake, to depart from, or to remove oneself from. To apostatize or to fall away from. To withdraw from a place, an association, or a relationship defined in the OT: “If we have built us an altar to turn away from following the Lord, or if to offer a burnt offering or grain offering on it, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings on it, may the Lord Himself require it.” Joshua 22:23 NASB. FAITH – pistis is synonymous with trust or belief and is…

(14) …the conviction of the truth of anything, but in Scripture usually speaks of belief respecting the Adamic Race and our relationship to Father God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it. “The term implies both knowledge and action. One may receive knowledge of a certain truth and may even offer verbal agreement, but ‘trust’ or ‘confidence’ is not said to be present until one’s behavior reflects that truth.”

(15) It has been well said that faith is not believing in spite of evidence — that’s superstition — but obeying in spite of circumstances and consequences. As faith relates to Christ, it represents a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation and entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. Stated another way, eternal salvation comes only through belief in Jesus Christ and no other way.