23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.”

Unfortunately, even though Jesus Christ warns us in numerous places in the Holy Bible, He said “even the elect” will be deceived — if possible.

Of course one has to argue that true, faithful Christians cannot be deceived, because we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. But also note, that in 2 Thessalonians 2:

1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 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 is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Notice, the writer says the day of Jesus Christ’s return to the earth won’t happen “unless the falling away comes first” — what is the falling away? The best interpretation of this (in my reasoning) is that those who say they stand for Christ, will literally fall away from faith in our LORD and SAVIOR. Some will shrink back for whatever reasons — fear, desperation… but ultimately, lack of faith.