LEARNING DAILY

 

2 Timothy 3:1, But know this, in the last days perilous times will come….

 

The phrases, “last days” and “end times” are being used more and more today to describe the days we are living in.  I have used these terms often when writing the pages of this blog.  Perhaps an explanation of what is meant would be good to end the week and get us on the same page.  Many Bible scholars believe that the “last days” began when Jesus ascended into heaven and at Pentecost.  The “last days” will continue until the second coming of Christ.

 

The disciples and the Apostle Paul looked for His return in their lifetime – that did not happen. I have said this before; we must be in the end of the “end times”.  In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he prophesies through the Holy Spirit that evil in the world will accelerate and intensify as the end approaches.  (I have written about the verses in 2 Timothy 3:1-7 – read them again and think through them.)  From these verses, you can see that as the conclusion of these days approaches, there will be a widespread collapse of the family and of society in general.  People will be arrogant and “lovers of pleasures more than of God”.  The root of this problem is sin – period! 

 

Paul gives a pretty strong warning to us that even in the church, organized Christianity, many will have a “form of godliness”, a hypocritical religion, but will deny the power of the gospel that produces genuine godliness.  He is referring to “those who profess to be Christians and appear to be religious, but do not manifest God’s power that can save them from sin, selfishness and immorality.  Such people tolerate immorality within their churches and teach that a person may practices sin and still enter into the kingdom of God.” (from the notes in The Life in the Spirit Study Bible)

 

I’m sure that you are wanting to ask if we are living in these days.  Study it out for yourself.  Read Matthew 24. Read Daniel 12:4. Read about the “seals’, and the “trumpets” and the “vials” in the book of The Revelation.  Matthew calls the sign that Jesus gives in Matthew 24 “birth pangs” that continue to get worse and worse as the time of the Lord’s return grows near as seen in The Revelation.  My answer to the question is a strong yes.  We are living in the “last days” – the last of the “last days”.

 

So, what does that mean?  I have tried to encourage you to walk in a close relationship with the Lord.  Do not fear- place your faith and trust in the One who desires you to walk with Him.  Be alert so you are not deceived by all the deception that is trying to distract you from your relationship to Jesus Christ.  Get into God’s Word daily and meditate on what it says and apply it to your life.  I continue to pray that each of you has a hunger and thirst for God’s kingdom and His righteousness!

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