What-Days-Are-These

2Timothy 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, we are told that there will come a time when it will be more difficult to live.

Life has always been a challenge for people, but this is speaking of a time when it will not be the same as it’s always been. A time of great stress and trouble.

Perilous times. What does perilous mean?

Webster defines it as “dangerous”.

So we will have dangerous times… along with great stress and trouble. Does this seem familiar to you at all?

Would a pandemic cause such fear and hardship on people?

Let’s look further into this passage of Scripture.

2Timothy 3:2 For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane.

2Timothy 3:3 [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good.

Now we see… that certain people will cause these perilous times described.

As I read these two verses… the first thought that jumped into my mind was politicians. I know not all politicians are bad, but some truly are today. They are only happy when they have power – control over all the people.

Can you think of others who easily fit the description of these verses?

I also thought of terrorist groups.

They kill without remorse. They are relentless. Who can bargain with them? They say false things about people they oppose. They hate good... like religious freedom, like equality for all men and women, like law & order. These are people who want to overturn the whole system of government here in America. “Burn it all down” they say. “Defund the police” these people want anarchy.

What else can we learn about these last days spoken of here?

2Timothy 3:4 [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God.

2Timothy 3:5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].

What about these two verses? These are describing people who are religious.

What about people who claim to be Christian and yet fight for the right to abort unborn babies?

Or perhaps those who want to lead and teach others, yet openly embrace an immoral lifestyle?

What about someone who claims that Jesus is not the only way to God?

They may even seem like good people at first, but they are treacherous, rash and inflated with self-conceit.

We are told to avoid these kinds of people.

2Timothy 3:6 For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate silly and weak-natured and spiritually dwarfed women, loaded down with [the burden of their] sins [and easily] swayed and led away by various evil desires and seductive impulses.

2Timothy 3:7 [These weak women will listen to anybody who will teach them]; they are forever inquiring and getting information, but are never able to arrive at a recognition and knowledge of the Truth.

We have heard of smooth-talking men who lead women astray, seducing them with flattery, to satisfy their own passions. These men do not actually care for the women they deceive – they walk away from these women later, after satisfying their own desires - as if they are discarded toys.

These women are described as spiritually weak, forever inquiring, yet never gaining wisdom from what they learn. Never benefiting from the Truth.

2Timothy 3:8 Now just as Jannes and Jambres were hostile to and resisted Moses, so these men also are hostile to and oppose the Truth. They have depraved and distorted minds, and are reprobate and counterfeit and to be rejected as far as the faith is concerned.

2Timothy 3:9 But they will not get very far, for their rash folly will become obvious to everybody, as was that of those [magicians mentioned].

Do you remember these two men spoken of in the Book of Exodus? The ones who served Pharaoh in Egypt and threw down their staffs before Moses and their staffs became serpents? What they did was a magician’s trick to imitate Moses. Fakery to make it seem like what they did was the real thing.

There will be others like them to trick people. They will knowingly mislead and deceive everyone who will follow them. They will have no conscience and feel no guilt for the wrong that they do and lead others to do. These people described will be people of influence, willing to deceive all who will listen.

2Timothy 3:12 Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand].

This verse helps us to understand that things will happen during our lives. We are Christians... and this world does not like us. We belong to Jesus Christ and the world does not understand that. The world hated Jesus when He lived on the earth. They persecuted Him and they will persecute you - a follower of Jesus.

Believers have something though, that they do not have. You have Jesus. You have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. God is always with you and will never forsake you. He will guide you through the difficult times and help you to stand during hardship. He will give you the strength to overcome this world.

2Timothy 3:13 But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and being deceived and led astray themselves.

You can see that those who set themselves in opposition to God will fail. They are deceived already. They embrace depravity and sinful ways. They will reap what they sow. We have been told in advance.

2Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned [them],

2Timothy 3:15 And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

This is an “imperative”. It is an instruction for Christians to follow. We are to continue to hold to what we have learned from the Scriptures. It is necessary for us to do this. It is like being given immunity to deception!

2Timothy 3:16 Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action),

2Timothy 3:17 So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Scripture is inspired by God. He preserves His Word and protects it from being destroyed. The Scriptures are trustworthy and relevant today and always. The Scriptures show us our own sin and help us to see how we can overcome those sins. God’s Word shows us how to train ourselves in righteousness and encourage us to keep going when we are discouraged. The Scriptures teach us that loving each other, and loving God is a better way.

The Scriptures are given so that we may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

When we look at the world today, we see the words of these Scriptures coming true all around us. We face hardships and difficulties often. We know and have experienced the horror of terrorism. We see people who seem to have no conscience or feel no guilt about what they do to others.

We sometimes endure persecution or know of someone who is suffering because of what they believe. Some are dying because of what they believe.

Is it possible that Jesus could be coming soon?

What if it is getting close to Jesus’ return? Have you done all you can do to be a blessing to others? Does someone you know need your love and encouragement?

Are you holding fast the Word of Truth you have been taught?

It is always a good thing to ponder these questions.

I urge you to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart right now. Will you allow His gentle voice to help you with your needs?

Beloved, it is time to wake up and prepare. Jesus is coming soon!

Matthew 24:44 You also must be ready therefore, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.

Recognize the signs and be ready, for we do not know the hour or the day when He will come.

May God bless you and help you to live for Him today. Amen

Bible Study by InAwe

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