Departure from the Truth foretold: The thoughtful man, on which the testimony cited in the foregoing thirty-four sections may have made an impression, will enquire, how comes the religious world, with the Bible circulated so freely, and honoured so universally, to be so much astray? Without attempting in this limited work to indicate the process by which the result has been arrived at, we call attention to the fact apparent in the face of subjoined scriptural quotations, that the truth of apostolic prophecy requires that the world at the present time should be in a state of complete and universal apostasy.

There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:3, 4).

The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; 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 Timothy 4:3, 4).

When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith (ten pistin, the faith)1 on the earth? (Luke 18:8).

The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith (tes pistios), giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the Truth. (1 Timothy 4:1-3).

I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20:29,30).

For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (2 Thessalonians 2:11).

The mystery of iniquity doth already work: (in Paul's day) only he who now letteth (that is hindereth) will let (or hinder), until he (paganism) be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked (the papacy) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (2 Thessalonians 2:7, 8).

And upon her forehead (the forehead of the woman representing papal Rome - see Revelation 17:18) was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT (papacy), THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS (that is, of state religions), AND ABOMINATIONS (the innumerable sects) OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:5).

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people (Isaiah 60:2).

As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:37-39).

1 The literal translation of the Greek words ten pistin is, the faith. When Christ comes he will find faith in the abstract in great abundance (for there are many false faiths, religions, and creeds in the world), but he suggests by his question, that he will scarcely find the faith, viz., that to which the apostle alludes as the "one faith" (Ephesians 4:5); "the faith once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3); "the word of the truth of the gospel" (Colossians 1:5); "one hope of your calling" (Ephesians 4:4); "the hope of Israel" (Acts 28:20); "the gospel of the kingdom" (Matthew 24:14; Daniel 7:27); in other words, the faith comprehended in the "things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 8:12: 19:8; 28:23, 31), and confidence in God to establish His purpose in the earth.