IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES

2 Timothy 3:1

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come

The last days include the entire Christian era.  Yet Paul prophesies through the Holy Spirit that things will become worse as the end approaches (1 John2: 18, Jude 17-18).  The last days will be marked by ever-increasing wickedness in the world, a collapse of moral standards, and the multiplying of false believers and churches within the kingdom of God (Mat. 24:11-12).  These times will be especially grievous and trying for God’s true servants.  Paul issues this warning in order to fortify those ministers and their churches who remain loyal to Christ and His revelation.  The full blessing of salvation in Christ and the mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit will still be available for those who remain true to N.T. faith and practice.  The church in apostasy only mean greater grace and power for those who hold fast to the original faith delivered to the saints.

2 Timothy 3:2-3

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, and unholy.  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despises of those that are good.

In the last days the believers must be prepared to face an over-whelming deluge of ungodliness.  The apostle prophesies that Satan will bring great destruction upon the family.  Children will be disobedient to parents, and men and women will be without natural affection.  This denotes without family affection and refers to a lack of the feelings of natural tenderness and love, as demonstrated by a mother who rejects her children or kills her baby, a father who abandons his family, or children who neglect to care for their aging parents (Luke 1:17).

Men and women will become lovers of money and pleasure and will pursue their own selfish desires.  Parenthood, sacrificial love, and care for children will no longer be considered a worthy or dignified task.  Loving parents will be replaced more and more by those who are selfish and brutal and who abandon their children.  If Christian parents are to save their families in the difficult times of the last days, they must shield them against the corrupt values of the society in which they live (John 21:15-17, Acts 20:28-30), separate them from the world’s way and customs, and refuse to let the ungodly influence their children.  They must accept God’s plan for the family, and not walk as the ungodly do.  They and their families must indeed become as strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Heb. 11:13-16).

2 Timothy 3:5

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away.

Paul refers to those who profess to be Christians and appear to be religious, yet do not manifest the power of God that can save them from sin, selfishness, and immorality.  Such people tolerate immorality within their churches and teach that a person may practice the sin listed and yet inherit salvation and the kingdom of God (2 Pet. 2:12-19, 1 Cor. 6:9).