“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”
II Timothy 3:1
This may be the most important text in the Bible for Christians in 2008!
The greatest threat to the kingdom of Jesus Christ today is the carnal, compromising, effeminate, and worldly Christianity the devil has spawned to destroy the faith once delivered to the saints. False teachers promote it on every side. The cure is simple, but few ministers will use it, since most hearers are demanding fables and entertainment instead. The importance of this prophecy cannot be overstated. You are living in the fulfillment of the perilous times!
Introduction
- This is one of the very most relevant and important passages in the Bible for Christians in the year 2005.
- There is one lesson in these 22 verses, and the flow of the context should be preserved (II Tim 3:1 – 4:5); though you may know several of the verses in the passage, you need to see them as part of one single lesson.
- These are Paul’s last words of exhortation to Timothy, as he was prepared to depart this life (II Tim 4:6-8).
- In stark contrast to the mega-church movement, seeker sensitive compromise, and purpose-driven drivel is Paul’s demand for old-fashioned Bible preaching and rejection of religious association and market surveys!
- If you are a lover of Jesus Christ, you are at war, whether you know it or not, with contemporary Christians!
- Take a strong stand on any New Testament doctrine or practice and you will discover you are at war (3:12)!
- True and zealous saints will want to understand and obey every word and phrase in this sober prophecy.
- We have just studied the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, where the Lord gave many practical warnings; you also have many practical warnings in this passage of a dangerous and threatening brand of Christianity.
- Nominal Christianity is degenerating rapidly every day in a downward spiral of carnality and compromise.
- This prophecy and warning identifies this apostasy and moral collapse and prescribes the remedy for it.
- We are living in the very midst of the fulfillment of this prophecy, which ought to challenge all zealous saints.
- But because this prophecy does not itch carnal ears like the “Left Behind” series, it will be ignored by most.
- Since this prophecy and warning occurs in a Pastoral Epistle, every God-called minister should take heed.
- The purpose of this study is to further our personal commitment to holiness and true Bible Christianity.
- Either you are part of the perilous times and going down, or you are fighting against these perilous times.
- We must fight in our souls, lives, families, schools, churches, entertainment, friends, associations, etc., etc.
- This is the Bible defined war between the kingdom of Jesus Christ and the powers of darkness and lies; Satan has learned that persecution only made saints and churches stronger, so now He will pleasure you to death.
- Noble hearers will say, “Give me the full sense of this passage to be a better Christian for the Lord Jesus.”
- Every father should be convicted and provoked to examine himself and his family in light of these perils.
- Your future, your family’s future, and your church’s future depends on grasping and heeding this prophecy.
- We will be naming some names, because we must to identify the heretics and make the message useful.