Podcast Summary: “The Church is Falling Away” | Prophecy Watchers – Prophecy Recon

Host: Joe Hawkins
Guest: Dr. J.B. Hixson (NBW Ministries)
Date: March 4, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Joe Hawkins welcomes Dr. J.B. Hixson to discuss “the great last days apostasy,” focusing on how and why the modern church is experiencing a significant spiritual decline (“falling away”) as prophesied in the Bible. Dr. Hixson shares insights from his latest book, The Great Last Days Apostasy, reviewing seven key areas where the church is in decline. Together, they explore biblical prophecy, doctrinal erosion, moral collapse, and the challenges facing believers who pursue literal interpretations of Scripture in an increasingly compromised religious landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining Apostasy & Its Relevance to the Modern Church

• Apostasy as a Sign of the Times: Dr. Hixson emphasizes apostasy – a “falling away” from foundational biblical truths – as one of the “forgotten signs” that the end times are near ([03:57], [07:05]).
  • Quote (J.B. Hixson, 03:57):
    “Apostasy means falling away...the church as a whole, as an institution, is absolutely falling away.”
• Misunderstandings of Apostasy: Many equate apostasy with outright unbelief, but Hixson points out it can include genuine believers drifting away from a close walk with Christ.

2. Seven Ways the Church is Falling Away

• Overview: The episode references seven dimensions of apostasy detailed in Hixson’s book ([07:05]):
  • Biblically
  • Eschatologically
  • Morally
  • Socially
  • Evangelistically
  • Academically
  • Politically

3. Biblical Apostasy: Erosion of Scriptural Authority

• Attack on Absolute Truth ([07:30]):
  • The church’s first and fundamental falling away is abandoning the Bible as the sole authority.
  • Postmodern ideas, higher criticism, and cultural accommodation have led to doubts about the truth and reliability of Scripture.
  • Quote (J.B. Hixson, 07:30):
    “If you remove the foundation, everything’s going to fall apart. The Bible is the foundation...and Satan has had his crosshairs set right on the Bible.”
• Consequences:
  • Denial of core doctrines (deity of Christ, the virgin birth, grace through faith alone)
  • Modern churches abandoning biblical literacy for social entertainment ([11:59])

4. Eschatological Apostasy: Confusion About End Times

• Interpretive Drift:
  • The shift away from a literal, grammatical, historical approach to Scripture leads to widespread confusion on prophecy.
  • Those promoting allegorical or non-literal interpretations (e.g., preterism, replacement theology) shift believers away from clear biblical teaching about the future ([09:45], [11:59]).
  • Quote (Joe Hawkins, 09:45):
    “We see how Satan has really infiltrated the church as it pertains to the end times perspective.”
  • Quote (J.B. Hixson, 11:59):
    “Most churches today have no use for the Bible anymore. They've become nothing more than social clubs.”
• Impact on Believers:
  • The prevalence of “tin pot theologians” and popularity-based authority causes confusion and discouragement among Christians ([13:41]).
  • Many believers give up trying to understand prophecy due to conflicting voices.
  • Quote (J.B. Hixson, 13:41):
    “Popularity automatically makes you an expert. ...They really don’t have two theological nickels to rub together, but they think they do.”

5. Moral Apostasy: The Decline of Holiness in the Church

• Moral Depravity as a Symptom:
  • The church increasingly tolerates or even celebrates sin due to compromising on biblical truth and catering to cultural pressures ([19:09]).
  • Quote (J.B. Hixson, 19:09):
    “When we are believers and we have the Holy Spirit and we stay in the Word, then that word becomes a convicting influence, a guiding influence...But many believers quench the Spirit. They grieve the Spirit, they resist the Spirit...that has led to institutionally the church condoning…certain behaviors.”
• Examples Cited:
  • Drag queen story hours, sensationalist displays, leaders like Andy Stanley undermining biblical authority.
  • The role some pastors play in aligning church messages with societal trends instead of biblical teaching.

6. The Changing Role and Perception of Pastors

• From Calling to Career:
  • Hawkins and Hixson discuss how the pastoral role has been professionalized, diminishing the view of pastoral ministry as a sacred calling ([15:44], [16:40]).
  • Quote (Joe Hawkins, 15:44):
    “A lot of people...view going into ministry as a, as a job...and then we get situations in the church like drag queen story time...and you see how the morality of the church has just taken a nose dive.”
  • Quote (J.B. Hixson, 16:40):
    “No doubt...it's a calling, to be sure.”
• Influence and Accountability:
  • The impact pastors and teachers have in a digital age is magnified, increasing responsibility and the risk of false teaching ([23:00]).
  • Quote (J.B. Hixson, 23:00):
    “It's humbling...Every word we speak has the ability to just touch thousands that we may never know about.”

7. Remaining Faithful: Encouragement to Believers

• Despite the widespread falling away, both host and guest encourage listeners to remain steadfast, prioritize the study of Scripture, and hold to a biblical worldview ([25:17]).
  • Quote (J.B. Hixson, 25:17):
    “If you’re watching this and you don’t know the Lord, today’s the day of salvation...And then for those believers...keep looking up. It is exciting.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [03:57] “Apostasy means falling away...the church as a whole...is absolutely falling away.” (J.B. Hixson)
• [07:30] “If you remove the foundation, everything’s going to fall apart. The Bible is the foundation.” (J.B. Hixson)
• [09:45] “The greatest trick that Satan has ever pulled is to make people believe that he never existed.” (Joe Hawkins)
• [13:41] “Popularity automatically makes you an expert... They really don’t have two theological nickels to rub together, but they think they do.” (J.B. Hixson)
• [19:09] “Moral depravity is as old as the fall of man... When we are believers and we have the Holy Spirit and we stay in the Word, then that word becomes a convicting influence...” (J.B. Hixson)
• [16:40] “It's a calling, to be sure.” (J.B. Hixson, re: pastoral ministry)
• [23:00] “Every word we speak has the ability to just touch thousands that we may never know about. ...it’s humbling.” (J.B. Hixson)
• [25:17] “Keep looking up. It is exciting. ...Stay in touch. If there’s anything we can do, reach out to us.” (J.B. Hixson)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:57] — Apostasy in the Church Defined
• [07:05] — Seven Ways the Church Is Falling Away
• [07:30] — Biblical Foundation Undermined
• [09:45] — Satan’s Tactics in the Last Days
• [11:59] — Loss of Biblical Authority in the Church
• [13:41] — Influence and Confusion from Popular Voices
• [15:44] — Changing Role of Pastors, Professionalization of Ministry
• [19:09] — Moral Apostasy and Its Consequences
• [21:35] — The Great Last Days Apostasy Book Details
• [23:00] — The Weight of Influence and Accountability in Teaching
• [25:17] — Exhortation to Faithfulness and Closing Thoughts

Takeaways for Listeners

• Drifting from biblical foundations leads to apostasy in doctrine, morality, and practice.
• Believers must be vigilant in discerning truth from error, particularly in a culture saturated with misinformation and motivational social media “theologians.”
• Holding a literal, historical, grammatical view of Scripture is critical to withstanding end-times deception.
• Faithful pastors and teachers bear greater responsibility, requiring humility, faithfulness, and dependence on God’s Word.
• Stay faithful, keep watching, and be encouraged by God’s sovereignty—regardless of society’s “falling away.”

Resource Mention

• Book: The Great Last Days Apostasy by J.B. Hixson
  • Available at NotByWorks.org, Amazon, and major platforms
  • Formats: Print, Kindle, Audiobook
• Ministry Websites:
  • J.B. Hixson – NotByWorks.org
  • Prophecy Recon – prophecyrecon.com