2 Timothy 3:1-5 - Picture of the Last Days.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NIV) But mark this: There
will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People
will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,
boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their
parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love,
unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal,
not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash,
conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its
power. Have nothing to do with them.
INTRODUCTION
The last days is a period of time
that actually began with the life and ministry of
Christ on earth (Heb. 1:1-2). However, the NT
indicates that the last days refers particularly
to the state of the church before the coming of
Christ. These shall be perilous times, that
is, difficult, hard to deal with. This is
the same word used in Matt. 8:28 to describe the
Gadarene demoniac. Because people will believe the
doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1ff), this world will
become a demonic graveyard just as in Gadara.
We are in those days now!
Self-love will be the hallmark of the
last days. This self-love will lead to a grasping
attitude and a boastful spirit. Boasters really
means swaggerers. True affection will almost
disappear; unnatural affection will prevail.
Incontinent means intemperate; fierce means
savage, and savage conduct is certainly evident
today. Heady means reckless; and we
surely live in a reckless age, whether you look at
the speed of travel, the waste of money, or the
carelessness of human lives.
Verses 5-8 indicate that there will be
plenty of religion in the last days, but it will be
a mere imitation, a form of godliness without
the life-changing power of God. The departing
from the faith that Paul predicted in 2 Thes. 2
is upon us today, yet there is still plenty of
religion! The Bible continues to be a national
best-seller, yet the crime rate increases and problems
multiply. True Christians are in the minority. These
false teachers of Pauls day preyed especially
upon women who were loaded with sins and led
astray by their lusts, women who were ever
learning but who never really came to an
understanding of the truth.
Paul compared the apostate teachers to
the Egyptian magicians Jannes and Jambres, who
opposed Moses by imitating what he did (Ex. 7:11ff).
Satan is an imitator, and his imitation gospel and
church will spread in the last days. But just as
Moses overcame these imitators by the power of God
coming in great judgment, so Christ will ultimately
overcome these latter-day deceivers. From such
turn away! warns Paul (v. 5). Timothy was not
to get involved with Christ-denying deceivers,
even if it meant being branded as a crank.
[Wiersbe Expository Outlines]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Photos are precious, but social media has
distorted the timehonored tradition of memory making
for me. At some point I started to feel as if I
were staging my life rather than living it.
Getting the family to all look at the
camera for a few vacation pictures felt like a
professional photo shoot. Relocating our fun a few feet
to the left. Or having the kids strike a
once-spontaneous pose for the fourth time. Or actually
interrupting a magical moment to make sure I caught it
with my smartphone. Ick. Lets not even talk
about posting or answering comments. It had to
stop.
Most of our family, including our older
kids, live a distance away, so social media does
help us keep in touch, but I want to be present
for the memories. Undistracted.
Ive learned that no matter how many
likes a post gets, my true audience of close
friends and family is pretty small. They know me and
like me, post or not, but ultimately, mine is an
audience of One, who knows the hearts and stories
behind the pictures intimately, without my having
to post a single one.
Today, I still snap photos but not as
many and not as staged. And I only post a few
times a week, no more 24-7 newsreel. Best of all,
the people I love still love me. Just like
Jesus. by Isabella Yosuico
Faith Step: Meditate on Matthew 6:33.
Reorder your priorities and seek first the
kingdom of God and all these things will be
added to you. (ESV) [Mornings With Jesus 2020
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY RELATED TO THIS TOPIC
Matthew 6:33 - SEEKING GOD FIRST:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20191202-1036.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio (currently live):
https://bible.awr.org/the-warning/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
