Perilous Times
2 Tim 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
Peter at Pentecost announced the beginning of the last days.
Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Acts 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Acts 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Paul said that in the last days there shall be perilous times, times of personal danger, hazardous times. Much is said about environmental concerns, hazardous to our health, but little is said publicly about the dangerous condition of hearts separated from God.
To understand the causes of these perilous times, we need to see the condition of the hearts of the people. In the 60's the cry in our country was to make a new America, free from the traditions and beliefs of our fathers. This was a rebellious generation that brought forth behavior very much like what Paul warns us about in these verses. It describes a people turned away from God and seeking their own desires. The first application is to warn Timothy of the people who he may see coming into the church. Jesus is the answer for all people for all times.
2 Tim 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Lovers of their own selves,
Self, has become God, personal vanity and wealth. The magazines reflect this focus on "self" and encourage a better looking, healthier more indulgent self. The problem with self desire, is it tramples on the desires of others for self fulfillment. We are told to be self actualized, we decide our future, but a future based on self, is a selfish future, empty, all in vanity. Hear the words of King Solomon who was very wealthy.
Covetous self
King Solomon had it all, but it did not satisfy
Eccl 2:3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
Eccl 2:9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
Eccl 2:10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Eccl 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Boasters,
Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? Can you save yourself?
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Psa 34:2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
Psa 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Psa 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psa 34:5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
Psa 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
proud,
Psa 138:6 Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
James 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
blasphemers,
Psa 74:10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
Mark 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
Mark 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Mark 3:30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
disobedient to parents
A selfish heart seeks only it's own pleasure, often breaking the hearts of the parents.
1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
unthankful, unholy,
A selfish heart is not thankful, it only seeks more.
Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
2 Tim 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Without natural affection
They seek pleasure at another's expense. They may seek the same sex to fornicate.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
trucebreakers, false accusers,
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. The law points out sin. Paul is showing us those who live apart from the law. These are the kind of people that will be at the last days, before Christ returns.
incontinent, fierce
Unable to control themselves they become more and more violent. This we see in the gangs and crime in our larger cities. They seek to do harm, to be a gang member they are forced to do vicious crimes against others.
despisers of those that are good,
They seek only power and accuse Christian fundamentalists as being as Islamic terrorists, so they can come against good with the evil.
Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isa 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Isa 5:22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
Isa 5:23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
2 Tim 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Traitors
To betray another's trust. An act of treason, such as Judas, betraying the Lord.
John 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
heady
From a word meaning, falling forward. Headstrong, reckless behavior, rash. Simon Peter had a tendency to act without thinking
highminded
Thinking more highly of oneself than we should.
1 Tim 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
This certainly applies to our times. Gramma tells me of her family during the depression. They would visit the library once a week, there were several brothers and sisters. They would each select books and share with each other. Now? We have TV...Internet, Movies, videos, arcade games, all manner of entertainment and as a friend was saying, they are still bored. Many see church as verrry boring, so the church seeks to entertain. Wait, is this the churches responsibilty, to entertain? Who will teach about God and His will?
2 Tim 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
A religious person without the Spirit of God. Perhaps a self proclaimed man of God, who has nothing of worth.
Mat 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Mat 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
2 Tim 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2 Tim 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
They lead astray the unlearned and unstable.
2 Tim 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Jannes and Jambres were the magicians of the king of Egypt, doing things by satan's power. Serving the liar, they despised the truth. These who have a form of Godliness are men of corrupt minds, morally corrupt and headed for hell.
2 Tim 3:9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
They will be found out. Those of discernment will know the truth.
Jesus is the real man of God that we are of. We are to be as he was.
Luke 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
Luke 4:33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
Luke 4:34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
Luke 4:35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
Luke 4:36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
We are the people of God equipped to do his work in the end times. The body coming together has all the gifts. Together we discern, together we are overcomes by His power within us.
Persecution
2 Tim 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2 Tim 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Paul could say to the converts, follow me as I follow Jesus.
1 Cor 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
1 Cor 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
To speak the truth is important, but so is living the truth. They knew his doctrines and teachings were sound words of truth. His manner of life was steadfast, disciplined, consistent and faithful. His purpose was to preach the gospel.
Rom 15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
He was long suffering with love. He wrote the love chapter in 1 Corinthians, by the Holy Ghost.
1 Cor 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Love is patient.
1 Cor 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Even when persecuted, Paul continued. He trusted the Lord and the Lord delivered him.
2 Tim 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Have you been persecuted? If not, does any one see you living godly in Christ Jesus? How many who do this will be persecuted? All.
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
How should we react? Should we give them back double what they gave us? What did Jesus say?
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
2 Cor 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2 Cor 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2 Cor 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2 Cor 4:11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
Flesh against Spirit. The ungodly opposes those of God.
Gal 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Persecution comes at the end times.
Luke 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luke 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
Luke 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luke 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Luke 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Luke 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
Luke 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
2 Tim 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Evil men, demonic, sinful evil actions, bad character, bad actions, the opposite of Paul's example. Seducers, morally evil, seeking all manner of perversion. Satanic deception growing worse and worse.
2 Tim 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
As evil increases we are to continue in godly behavior; the things you have learned and are assured of.
2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
2 Tim 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2 Tim 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Are their things you know with all surety, that cannot be changed by outward circumstances? This is building your house on the rock.
2 Tim 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
There is nothing said here of baptisms or tongues, the focus is Jesus Christ and his word.
2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
All scripture, not selected parts, but all scripture is given by inspiration of God.
Inspiration: That extraordinary or supernatural divine influence vouchsafed to those who wrote the Holy Scriptures, rendering their writings infallible. (Eastons)
God breathed the living word into existence through the various writers. Profitable, useful for doctrine, for finding error, for correction, for instruction in righteous living.
2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Phil 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Phil 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
Phil 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
We are the people of God equipped to do his work in the end times. The body coming together has all the gifts. Together we discern, together we are overcomers by His power within us. As evil increases we must keep a steady course in the manner of life that God has given to us to follow. We are to be as Jesus, even if all oppose us.
Superragman@aol.com
2Timothy Chapters
2 Timothy 4
2 Tim 1 Table of Contents
Eaglewings New Testament Studies
Eaglewings Ministries