These Are Perilous Times!

2 Timothy 3:1, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Paul told Timothy that in the last days perilous times would come. The original word for “last” is Eschatos meaning “last in time or in place.” From this word is derived Eschatology which is relating to the end of the world or the events associated with it. Paul states that this period of last days will be perilous times, hard to bear, troublesome, dangerous, harsh, fierce and savage times. Then, he continues to characterize this period of last days.

“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy...” Paul is describing a selfish people in this verse. Have you ever observed a more selfish generation? I think not! We are living in one of the most self-absorbed times in the history of mankind. It is hard to find people who are concerned about anyone else but themselves. Jesus said to love our neighbor as ourselves. People who are only focused on themselves do not have the capacity to love others. Consequently, the driving force in their lives is to gain for self and it doesn’t matter who they hurt to achieve their goal.

“Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.” Without natural affection is used only twice in the New Testament. It is used here and in Romans 1:31. The term “affection” comes from the Greek astorgos meaning unsociable, unloving, inhuman. Paul states that these characteristics will manifest themselves in the last days. Well, we are seeing these things manifest right before our eyes. It is without natural affection for a mother of an unborn child to abort that living, developing baby. It is without natural affection for two people of the same sex to enter into a sexual relationship. It is unsociable, inhuman and perverted love according to God’s Holy Word. And when the followers of Jesus Christ take a stand for these Biblical Truths, the false accusers, the fierce and despisers of those that are good, go ballistic. The haters, the militant, the defiant instigate social disorder, destroying public and private property and even causing the death of the innocent. They are incontinent, without self control and intemperate!

“...Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” The Greek word used for “pleasure” is Philedonos. This word comes from two other words, philos and hedone. The first meaning “friend” and the second meaning “pleasure, desires for pleasure and lust.” From this concept the world has created Hedonism which is the ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life. Paul was saying that in the last days man’s pursuit of pleasure would be greater that his pursuit of God!

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” Having the resemblance of Christian service but without the spiritual dynamic of the Holy Spirit. Peter said, "These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest..."2 Peter 2:17. The barrenness of this false religion mocks the thirsty soul by promising refreshment but can not deliver. Perhaps Jude states it best in vs.12-13, "These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear; clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." Paul says from such turn away or have no part with them. They will drag you into outer darkness with them!

Paul has described the characteristics of our world in 2017. We are presently living in that time! We can look at each character trait and we must admit that we are seeing that behavior in our society. Paul was prophesying about the time and the world we are living in and he connected these conditions with the last days! In the face of such overwhelming evidence in this passage and others, along with the conditions and events happening all over the world, I must conclude that THESE ARE THE PERILOUS TIMES OF THE LAST DAYS!