I’m an evangelical. I think there are plenty of us who will give our lives to stand up for our beliefs. I don’t know too many who think we won’t have hard times.
2 Thessalonians 2:3
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin[b] is revealed, the son of perdition,
And Christ declares: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22, 23).
These apostates of whom Christ speaks did not lose their salvation, they were never “saved” to begin with (”I never knew you”). Yet they outwardly appeared to be high-profile Christian leaders apparently performing miraculous signs and wonders in the name of Christ. They didn’t leave the church to become atheists or to join some non-Christian religion. They remained in the church. They even called Jesus Lord-but without really knowing Him. Tragically, they seemed to think that their ability to prophesy and to perform wonders proved that they belonged to Him. Clearly, doctrine is out and emotional experience is in; and the signs and wonders are so impressive that doctrine no longer matters.