For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened,
and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers
of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the … word of God and the
powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them
again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves
the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
Heb 6.4-6.
I have already addressed the topic of ‘falling away' from the faith, but it warrants more comment now that so many are failing to remain faithful. Additional remarks on apostasy to clarify why it will be prevalent in the endtimes and also answer the $64,000 question, ‘Will those who fall away be condemned with the ungodly’. And while other N.T. texts shed light on it, two passages in Hebrews specifically address these questions.
The first is quoted in the above heading, but both passages indicate the threat this poses at the end of the age and condemn it in the strongest possible terms. The second passage even declares, ‘ judgment and fiery indignation' await those who fall away to become the Lord’s ‘adversaries’ (10.26,27); the severest of punishments because, as the first passage puts it, apostasy ‘ crucifies the Son of God afresh, putting Him to an open shame’ (6.6) .
Calvinists holding to the doctrine of the preservation of the saints ('once saved, always saved') generally suppose these passages only pose a hypothetical situation; an interpretation for me (an ex-Calvinist) flying in the face of the plain meaning of these and other texts. Even if some N.T. passages might suggest otherwise, these two texts leave us in no doubt about a
‘falling away’ from the faith at the end, confirming it is both real and the consequences are dire. As to it being a significant
feature in the endtimes, it cannot be clearer than when Paul states Christ will not return unless there first is this ‘falling away’ (2Thes 2.3)—the greek here is ‘ apostasia’ ( Str 646), hence our english word, ‘apostasy’. (Incidentally, some teach this is the ‘rapture’; for me a farfetched notion.) Paul’s statement can also be linked to one where Peter likens those who desert Christ to a ‘dog returning to his own vomit’ and discloses the judgment this brings by adding, ‘if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning (2Pet 2.20-22). The judgment is the loss of their salvation, as James confirms here, ‘if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from (eternal) death’ (Jas 5:19-20) .
Now, most believers ‘draw back’ (10.38,39) from the faith in stages, hence, the degree of betrayal will determine their punishment. Backsliders ending up with lukewarm commitment to Christ will suffer the loss of rewards, most notably, the reward of escaping suffering and martyrdom in the
‘Great Tribulation’ (Lk 21.26), but not their salvation (Cf.Luk 12.47,48). The ultimate judgment, the loss of eternal salvation, is reserved for the apostate rejecting Heaven’s repeated pleas to repent of disloyalty.
Now, it is possible to fall into apostasy at any time; proven by the thousands upon thousands down through the church age who deserted the faith. Therefore, it is important to comment on this first passage in Hebrews referring to a scenario where it is ‘impossible to renew again unto repentance those who ‘fall away’ (6.4-6). Why? Because it must be seen as a unique judgment and not the usual scenario where the grace to repent is extended to apostates as long as possible. The passage, then, must refer to a specific time when God’s mercy has come to an
end (as it eventually must), and as yet, this has not occurred.
The time allotted for repentance will not run out until the grace of the Holy Spirit to convict is withdrawn (Cf.2Thes 2.7) and then only after every tribe, tongue, and nation has had a final opportunity to hear the gospel and repent. In other words, the gospel has not only been preached but confirmed with extraordinary ‘signs, wonders, and miracles’. (Cf Mk 16.17,18) Any rejecting this convincing testimony are the ones not able to repent.
The passage in Hebrews 6, then, refers to a scenario at the very end of the age, as the author confirms by saying some will end up in the predicament of Esau who, ‘found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears’ (12.17).
By giving Jacob the birthright, Esau automatically lost any chance to change his mind, i.e., repent. Now, even though this severe judgment is reserved for the apostate who fails to respond in time to repeated pleas by the Holy Spirit, God is not willing that any should perish, and will, therefore, extend the grace to repent right to the very end of the age. (See 2Pet 3.9) The rejection of this ultimate witness to the gospel appears to commit the ‘unforgivable sin’ Jesus warned the Pharisees of after attributing His miracles to the devil (Matt 12.31,32). This makes sense as rejecting a final witness to the gospel can only be unforgivable. But as stressed, this sin can only be committed at the end of the age, mostly by the ungodly. However, some backslidden believers, sadly, may be tempted to also reject this final miraculous testimony to the gospel. In their case, accuse it of being demonic and refuse to repent of their blasphemy.
A believer ‘lukewarm’ in their walk with the Lord must, therefore, take seriously these warnings about ‘falling away’.
Not serving Christ with the ‘whole heart’ (Jer 24.7) inevitably makes them vulnerable to this temptation. But others also could be tempted, and it might surprise who these are; for by this, I mean believers without a firm grasp on this hope of perfection
and its glorious outcomes. Without such a hope, the turmoil of the ‘perilous times’ could well wrench many from their mooring in Christ. Not unthinkable when these ‘times’ are for the ‘ removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain’ (12.27). In other words, the divine ‘shakings' testing institutions, societal structures, beliefs, and philosophies, will also test every human alive—ungodly and godly. Yes, the godly also as Jesus confirmed in warning about a ‘winnowing’
of the church at the end; the time when the ‘sheep’ are separated from the ‘goats’, the ‘wheat’ from the chaff, and the
‘fish’ are sorted into the ones kept and those castaway. (See Matt Chpt 13) Now, you may think all this refers to the ungodly, but not according to Scripture. A believer ‘sitting on the fence’ is in danger from this ‘culling’, even greater danger if their love for God is no different from their love for the world. A judgment Christ warned of by saying the ‘lukewarm’
will be ‘spewed out’ of His mouth (Rev 3.16).
He also warned the ‘unprofitable servants’, saying they will be cast into ‘outer darkness’ (Matt 25.26,30) as punishment.
Now this ‘darkness’ is not hell but a metaphor for the time of
‘Great Tribulation’ when ‘gross darkness’ (Is 60.2) blankets the earth. A less severe and more just punishment than for the unsaved. The ‘Great Tribulation’, then, will test all who
‘practice lawlessness’ (Matt 7.23), with those who continue to
‘practice’ judged not worthy to remain in the household of God and punished along with the ungodly. If they do turn in repentance during this time, they will be deemed worthy to remain, yet must suffer martyrdom. The bottom line: every
‘lukewarm’ believer is given a final opportunity to repent.
The ‘Great Tribulation’, then, is the instrument Heaven uses to expose the ‘hypocrite’ (play-actor) or ‘whited sepulcher’ who appears to be worthy. Principally, to unmask the believer who refuses to turn from the ‘error of his ways’
after having ‘ erred from the truth’ (Jam 5.19-20). However, tribulation is not the only factor separating the ‘chaff’ from the
‘wheat’ in the church at this time; other major influences will be growing seduction by the world and a powerful religious deception. (See 2Thes 2). But the main agent for this culling is tribulation (persecution in particular), ironically, what is working faith and righteousness in other believers.
Now, these severe trials may not trip up the majority of believers so they fall irretrievably, but will certainly expose dangerous character flaws. In the main, the weaknesses making a believer vulnerable to temptation, and usually a problem because it has not been shored up. In other words, the defects in a life inevitably leading to disaster when the ‘days of evil’
climax, especially if not turned away from after repeated calls by the Lord to do so. It stands to reason more severe discipline is deserved where prior ‘chastening’ has not brought repentance. The ‘Great Tribulation’ that ‘tests all those that dwell on the earth’ (Rev 3.10) is the heavier rod of correction; yet, at the same time, it gives the disobedient and backslidden a final opportunity to prove their faithfulness.
These Jewish believers in the first century endured severe trials and temptations; believers at the end of this age (who qualify), thankfully, have the promise of escaping the time of
‘Great Tribulation’, the period of ultimate horror. And not via a
‘silent rapture’ as may believe, but by means of the escape route I have advanced. However, Scripture also reveals how every believer alive will have to endure a greater level of suffering in the lead-up period to the ‘Great Tribulation’, enduring trials possibly more severe than the early church faced. When believers in every generation have suffered such times of ordeal, the church today has no right to think of escaping it all. Now, though this is common to everyone, not so the distress of the ‘Great Tribulation’; the suffering then will be exponentially greater for those who do not qualify to escape it.
I also have detailed how this suffering will embitter some believers enough for them to react with ‘lawlessness’, and unless overcome, they will suffer the fate of the ungodly. By way of contrast, the ‘fiery trials’ (1Pet 4.12) of this earlier period are the catalyst for the 'overcomers' to progress towards full maturity. While others ‘draw back unto perdition’ (10.39), this is their 'finest hour'. Now, though such an endtime scenario is difficult to contemplate, it is high time a pampered modern church stops being in denial. When believers throughout the church age have suffered such ordeals, we have no right to think the distress in the time leading up to the ‘day of trouble’
(Nah 1.7) can be avoided.
I have also stressed how no believer (who qualifies) will need to endure the torment of the ‘Great Tribulation’; Heaven, therefore, will give every backslider and ‘lawless’ believer an opportunity to repent so they join those escaping. Some, of course, will dismiss these merciful gestures and disqualify themselves as ‘worthy to escape’ (Lk 21.36). What cannot be sidestepped, however, is the fact the ‘lesser’ tribulations will require all believers to remain faithful—to ‘endure unto the end’ (Matt 24.13) as Jesus asked.