Paul preached about Jesus but never failed to mention the last days.
Paul’s mission, given to him by the Lord, was to preach Christ to all men. He worked tirelessly in order to preach repentance and salvation to as many towns and people as possible. He wasn’t a prophecy teacher per se, but he included Bible prophecy in his letters quite often. And as I wrote in another article, Paul believed he was living in the last days. He saw the decaying conditions of society all around him. He was part of that decay himself until the Lord Jesus got him to repent and turn his life over to him.
A letter to young Tim
In his letter to Timothy, Paul gave a lot of personal encouragement to the young leader. He praised Timothy for his diligence and hard work in his service to the Lord. Paul even went so far as to say he didn’t know of anyone who was so like-minded, so dedicated to God. Timothy was a timid man but Paul admired him so much that he took him under his wing and coached him toward greatness in God’s work.
In one particular passage in Second Timothy, the Apostle describes the conditions of society Timothy should expect to see in the last days. This passage can stir some controversy. Let’s look at the passage and then I’ll explain what I mean about the controversy.
Godlessness in the Last Days
2Timothy 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having the appearance of godliness but denying its power. Avoid such people.
6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
Encouraging Tim in troubling times.
Paul paints an ugly picture of the human condition we should expect to see in the last days. I mentioned that this verse can stir a little bit of controversy at times. That’s because it’s often used to point toward the wicked nature of humanity. As a general rule, people don’t like their bad habits brought up. And murder, hatred, slander, covetousness, and a lack of love are bad habits that humanity seems to enjoy swimming in.
And many prophecy teachers and students will point to this verse as a way to bring attention to how bad things will get just before the return of Christ.
Well, is it true that the evil nature of humans will reach a crescendo of wickedness in the last days? I was led to believe that by my teachers when I was a young Christian. I know I’ve also written that we should expect an increase in evil in the last days. The Book of Revelation details a stunning increase of demonic activity during the end times.
It was already bad
What if Paul meant something else? I already wrote about Peter and Paul’s belief that they were already living in the last days. Remember, Timothy was the type of leader who needed encouragement. You even get the impression he was thinking about quitting the ministry at times. So, the elder Apostle’s message may not have been to tell Timothy how bad things were going to get in the distant future. He could have been acknowledging what the younger leader was learning. It’s tough to serve as a leader in the Church. People are like sheep in many ways but like wolves in others. Timothy was going to have to learn soon that God had chosen him for a very difficult task. He was called to be a good shepherd of the flock of God. But there were vicious wolves among the sheep at all times. See the parable of the tares and the mustard seed.
God’s love is needed
People have a wicked nature in them that needs an entire overhaul by way of God’s love. Yes, things will be really bad in the last days, but things were already bad in the days in which Paul and Timothy lived.
The Apostle encouraged himself, Timothy, and anyone else who would listen to press on toward the goal. Yes, things are tough, but the Bible predicted this. So tighten your belt, strap on your work shoes, and get busy with God’s work.
Press on Toward the Goal
Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I could not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,
14 I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us, therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you:
16 only, whereunto we have attained, by that same rule let us walk.
2 Timothy 3:1 Terrible times in the last days.
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
2 Peter 3:3 The Last days scoffers
Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
In this Watcher story, a young man is called to act in the last days before a great war breaks out in heaven.
Let me know what you think.