Paul’s letters reveal a stark contrast among professing Christians at the end of this age: a visible religious movement marked by departure from biblical truth, and God’s true people, whom He is cleansing and preparing to be the bride of Christ.
I often refer to the latter as “the remnant,” since that phrase describes how God identifies His faithful minority among the great majority of His unfaithful children under the Old Covenant. Paul’s distinction does not identify two separate denominations or institutions. Rather, it is a contrast between the false Church, nominal Christianity, and the true Church, faithful believers that truly belong to Jesus Christ.
1. A Church That Falls Away
Paul warns that before the Day of the Lord there will be “the rebellion” or “falling away” (apostasia)—a decisive departure from the faith once professed (II Thess. 2:1–3). He does not describe mere weaknesses such as sincere misunderstanding of doctrine, or imperfect born-again Christians who are struggling with grow in their sanctification. He describes an abandonment of revealed truth and a strong susceptibility to deception.
In I Tim. 4:1–3, the Spirit explicitly says that “in later times some will depart from the faith,” turning instead to “deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.” In II Tim. 3:1–5, Paul adds that people will show “the appearance of godliness” while denying His power. Their religion may still use Christian language and outward form, but it will be controlled by self-love, greed, pleasure, pride, and a refusal to submit to God.
This apostate church is a religion that’s labeled Christian but is not Christ-like at heart. It may look good on the outside, to the natural mind, but on the inside, it will be without real repentance, or a real embrace of biblical truth. It will be nothing new, but predominant. Paul’s instruction is strikingly practical: “Avoid such people” (II Timothy 3:5).
2. A Church Made Ready for Christ
Against this dark side of Christendom, Paul also sees Jesus Christ actively preparing His own church as His bride. Christ “loved the church and gave himself up for her” in order to sanctify, cleanse, and ultimately “present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,” but “holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25–27).
The bride’s glory is not self-produced but comes by submission to God’s Word and Spirit operating under a fresh impartation of His grace for this season. It is a cleansing, sanctifying work that only He can do and do only in those who truly yield their lives to Him.
Paul says we’ll “no longer be tossed to and fro…” but will become “the perfect [complete] man, the full measure of Christ” (Eph. 4:13-16). It is God’s finished work in His Church!
Paul likewise speaks of believers being presented to Christ as a “pure virgin” (II Cor. 11:2), and he prays that they will be kept blameless “at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thess. 5:23–24). The faithful Church perseveres by loving truth, growing in holiness, and awaiting with joyful anticipation for Christ’s return.
