3655. The subject in the previous sections of Matthew 24 has been the first and second states of the perversion of the Church. The first state exists when people cease to know any longer what good is or what truth is, and instead argue with one another about these, as a result of which falsities arise, see 3354. And the second state exists when they treat good and truth with contempt and also reject them, and so when belief in the Lord breathes its last, which things take place step by step as charity ceases to exist, see 3487, 3488. Here the third state is now dealt with, which exists when good and truth in the Church are made desolate.

3487. The words which come before these and which were explained in 3353-3356 are a description of the first state of the perversion of the Church - a state when people will cease to know any longer what goodness is and what truth is, and will start to argue with one another about these, with the result that falsities arise. The words in the present section however describe the second state of the perversion of the Church - a state when people will treat goodness and truth with contempt and will also loathe them, so that faith in the Lord will breathe its last, doing so by degrees as charity comes to an end.