So this illustration does not portray genuine Christians who fall away from the truth. Rather, it points to a deliberate effort on the part of Satan to corrupt the Christian congregation by introducing wicked people into it.
وَكَانَ هذَا ٱلِٱرْتِدَادُ قَدْ أَصْبَحَ وَاضِحًا بِحُلُولِ ٱلْوَقْتِ ٱلَّذِي شَاخَ فِيهِ يُوحَنَّا آخِرُ ٱلرُّسُلِ .‏ —‏ ٢ بط ٢ :‏ ​ ١ -‏ ٣ ؛‏ ١ يو ٢ :‏ ١٨‏ .‏