IT WILL BE DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT BECAUSE MEN SHALL BE WEAKENED & DISABLED
We will take a deep dive into a vital end time prediction. Paul predicts that all the degenerative influences of the demonic forces will undermine people near the return of Christ. They will be so weakened that the society will become increasingly dangerous.
2 Timothy 3:1, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:” (NKJV)
Why are times so perilous, and are we seeing our world careening in this direction? A debilitating, weakening influence is coming to undermine family values and everyone.
Verse 2, “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”
Lack of gratitude and humility will become the norm. Men will not respect or take CARE OF THEIR ELDERLY PARENTS. Greed will become rampant.
3-4, “…unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…”
Patriotism and loyalty will become virtues of the past or older population alone. It will be dangerous for those perceived as standing for goodness and Godly standards. Love of the real concept of God is secondary to love of personal pleasure. Surveys indicate that the internet and cell phones are luring people into INCREASING self centeredness.
5, “…having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
Most disturbing of all is that Paul is writing to Christians to also warn us of the dangers and pressures coming to us. Believers must find ways to not get caught up in this seducing, loveless, ungodly society that is coming soon. It is the spiritual poisoning of mankind at the end that we must resist. Note that end time clerics had the external trapping of godliness but not the real essence. They will deny the true benefits of obeying the laws of God. Religion will have no real power over lives of people, they think it will be fine to do whatever they want and it is acceptable to God. A form of grace is a license to sin and they will define deviancy in such a way that anything is O.K. Note the effect:
Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
WHY IS MANKIND AT THE END OF THIS AGE SO WILLING TO OPPOSE GOD ?
The affects of all this selfishness and false teaching will create a population that is unrepentant and against the true God. Note:
Revelation 16:8-9, “Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun…and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.”
What a horrible attitude for people to have. Imagine blaspheming God. Woe! This continued again, note:
Revelation 16:11, “They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.
“21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.”
Believers must resist the selfish, loveless trends and reject false worship of the beast and the final version of Babylonian worship.
Revelation 18:4, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
Developing habits that will enhance our ability to remain closer to God will become even more vital in the future. God demands we persevere until Christ returns.
PETER'S WARNING ABOUT THE EVIL ATTITUDES THAT ARE COMING
Peter emphasizes the true knowledge of God while facing the influences of false teachers, which will be pervasive in the end of Satan's age.
2 Peter 2:10-12, “...them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities...12 ...as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in...corruption,"
People will become more and more corrupt as we approach the return of Christ.
2 Peter 3:2-4, “That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
“3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
“4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.Men will no-longer believe in a literal second coming of the Messiah and that they can live any lifestyle they wish. They have been taught they have nothing to fear regarding evil practices.”
