(More Bible studies available @ www.marktabata.com)
It is written:
2 Timothy 3:1-9-But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
The Apostle Paul here describes for us a powerful description of what to expect during “the last days.”
Let’s study.
The Date Of The Last Days
The first thing to notice is “when” Paul tells us that these “last days” will occur. The Greek phrase translated as “last days” is eschatos hemera. The word “eschatology” (the study of “last things”) comes from this word. The phrase is used throughout the Greek Old Testament and is often translated as “last days” or “latter days” (Numbers 24:14; Deuteronomy 31:29; Isaiah 2:1-2; Jeremiah 23:20; 30:24; 48:47; 49:39; Ezekiel 38:8, 16; Daniel 2:28; 10:14; Hosea 3:5; Joel 2:28 [‘afterward’]; Micah 4:1). In the New Testament, we see that this phrase has reference to the time Christian Age, beginning on Pentecost of Acts 2, and going through the entire Christian dispensation.
That the phrase “last days” clearly includes the time of the first century is seen here in 2 Timothy 3. Notice that during this time frame of the “last century,” Timothy is to “resist” and “turn away from” such individuals (which means that such people were included in the “last days” in order for Timothy to be able to turn from). This phrase continues on to denote the entire span of time between the First and Second Coming.
Acts 2:16-21-But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, SAYS GOD, THAT I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH; YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS. 18 AND ON MY MENSERVANTS AND ON MY MAIDSERVANTS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS; AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY. 19 I WILL SHOW WONDERS IN HEAVEN ABOVE AND SIGNS IN THE EARTH BENEATH: BLOOD AND FIRE AND VAPOR OF SMOKE. 20 THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS, AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND AWESOME DAY OF THE LORD. 21 AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.’
Hebrews 1:1-2-God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
2 Peter 3:3-knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
As one scholarly work notices:
“eaxataL; ilµeeaLc,** “last days,” is used here as elsewhere in the NT (Acts 2:17; Jas. 5:3; 2 Pet. 3:3; cf. Heb. 1:2; cf. further iv voteeotg xa.Leois in 1 Tim. 4:1 and the discussion there) to refer to the time of the Messiah, that last period of days before the final messianic action takes place. The concept and language are taken over from the OT (cf. Acts 2:17, quoting Joel 3:1; cf. further Is. 2:2). Here, as in 1 Jn. 2:18, where eaxati wea is used, the phrase does not designate some yet-to-come period of days. Rather, Paul is reminding Timothy that the Christian community is living in the “last days,” and, because that is true, he must come to grips with what characterizes izes those “days.”” (George W. Knight, The Pastoral Epistles (The New International Greek Testament Commentary), 7197-7202 (Kindle Edition): Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company)
The fact that there are no specific indicators of an exact time frame of Jesus’ Second Coming (Matthew 24:36) does not meant that the Bible does not give us a description of what to expect during the Christian Age (and specifically the end of the Christian Age). Indeed, there are many Old and New Testament prophecies which inform us
The Depravity Of The Last Days
Paul gives us quite a description of what the people will be like throughout the Christian Age. Let’s notice each of these (all definitions from Mounce’s Lexicon unless otherwise noted).
Lovers Of Themselves-Self-loving; selfish.
Lovers Of Money-Money-loving, covetous.
Boasters-Prideful, arrogant, boasting.
Proud-Assuming, haughty, arrogant.
Blasphemers-Slanderous, railing, reproachful.
Disobedient To Parents-Who will not be persuaded, uncompliant; disobedient.
Unthankful-Unthankful, ungrateful.
Unholy-Impious, unholy; wicked (Strong’s Concordance).
Unloving-“Without natural affection” (KJV). Devoid of natural or instinctive affection, without affection to kindred.
Unforgiving-Unwilling to make a treaty; hence, implacable, irreconcilable.
Slanderers-Slanderer, a treacherous informer, traitor, the devil.
Without Self-Control-Without self-control, intemperate.
Brutal-Savage, fierce, ferocious.
Despisers Of Good-Not a lover of good and good men.
Traitors-A betrayer, traitor.
Headstrong-Falling forwards; meton precipitate, rash.
Haughty-To besmoke; met to possess with the fumes of conceit; pass to be demented with conceit, puffed up.
Lovers Of Pleasure Rather Than Lovers Of God-Pleasure-loving; a lovers of pleasure.
Having A Form Of Godliness But Denying Its Power-A shaping, mounding; in NT external form, appearance; a settled form prescribed system.
Always Learning, And Never Able To Come To The Knowledge Of The Truth-
“Thus the false teachers and these women feed on one another. The women are given “religious training”—of the worst kind, destined to feed their curiosity but not bring them to the freedom of the gospel—and they in turn undoubtedly pay the false teachers handsomely (1 Tim. 6: 3–10). No wonder that Paul forbade the women to teach, encouraged submission to their husbands (1 Tim. 2: 9–15), and wanted the younger widows, who had given themselves to pleasure (5: 6) and had already turned away to follow Satan (5: 15), to marry (5: 14).” (Gordon D. Fee, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus: Understanding The Bible Commentary Series, 5769-5777 (Kindle Edition): Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books)
This last characteristic is especially interesting. In Paul’s first Epistle to Timothy, he had pointed out that one of the problems at Ephesus (where Timothy was) involved the fact that some of the false teachers and women were going from house church to house church, encouraging people to practice witchcraft and paganism.
1 Timothy 5:13-And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
Consider:
“An examination of Acts 19: 21-41 reveals the background for a proper interpretation of the Pastoral Epistles. Earlier in Chapter 19, Luke gives other comments that help us to understand Paul’s negative comments in his two Epistles to Timothy. One word (periergos) utilized by Luke will assist us in our interpretation of the Pauline Epistles. Luke writes: Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery (períergos, “magic”) brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. (19: 18-20) G. K. Barrett296 makes the following succinct observation concerning the word sorcery: “períerga” is a semi-technical term for magical practices.” 297 This is the same word that Paul employs in his First Epistle to Timothy as he reflects upon the practices of the women in the church in Ephesus. Paul unfolds some of the problems associated with the women in Ephesus: As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips (phlúaros, “silly talk, nonsense, tattler, babbler”) and busybodies (períergoi, practicing magic), saying things they ought not to. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. (1 Timothy 5: 11-15) Unfortunately, some scholars, so it seems, fail to capture the luggage associated with períergos in 1 Timothy 5: 13. Even though translations give “busybodies” as the translation of the Greek word, we still need to examine this Scripture in light of Acts 19: 19. This unique term only occurs twice in the New Testament. Generally, this expression is associated or translated as “busybodies” or “meddlesome.” In Acts 19: 19, the word períerga is translated correctly. This Greek word is a term for black acts of magic. This term pointed to the lengthy and various rituals involved in incantation ceremonies. Apparently, the women mentioned in 1 Timothy 5: 13 were women who were going about from house to house meddling in magic, that is to say, they were involved in perverted activities. Cleon L. Rogers Jr. and Cleon L. Rogers III make the following comments on Acts 19: 19 concerning the Greek word períerga: 19 periergos (# 4319) things belonging to magic. Also a t.t. [technical term] for a magical spell (BS, 323; BAGD; DPL, 580-83; BBC; MM; NDIEC, 1: 47-49; 6: 1099-96; GMP; for the well-known “Ephesian Letters,” which were six magical terms thought to be words of powers. Trebilco, “Asia,” BAFCS 2: 314; CIE, 95f. 298 (Emphasis mine)”. (Dr. Dallas Burdette, Women’s Role in the Christian Community:: Interpreting First Timothy through First-Century Eyes, 4245-4279 (Kindle Edition); Xulon Press)
Please notice Paul tells us that during the Christian Age, we can expect all of these depravities to increase.
2 Timothy 3:13-But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
The Deception Of The Last Days
Finally, notice the demonic deception during the last days that we can expect to see. The Apostle here tells us that the spiritual deception will be like it was when Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses.
We will search the Old Testament in vain for the names of Jannes and Jambres. However, they are found in an ancient uninspired Hebrew history book called Jasher.
Jasher 79:27, 36-“And when they had gone Pharaoh sent for Balaam the magician and to Jannes and Jambres his sons, and to all the magicians and conjurors and counsellors which belonged to the king, and they all came and sat before the king… And Aaron hastened and threw the rod out of his hand before Pharaoh and before his servants, and the rod turned into a serpent.”
Jannes and Jambres were the two sorcerers who opposed Moses when he went before the Pharaoh. We are told about how they were able to duplicate some of the miracles which Moses performed:
Exodus 7:11-But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
Exodus 7:22-Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said.
Exodus 8:7-And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.
While the sorcerers were able to duplicate SOME of the miracles, God was shown to be stronger:
Exodus 7:12-12 For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.
Exodus 8:18-19-18 Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had said.
Exodus 9:11-And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians.
How were these sorcerers able to perform these acts? While many would say they simply used optical illusion or trickery, the book of Jubilees (another “recommended reading book” of Scripture) tells us differently:
Jubilees 48:9-12-9. And the prince of the Mastêmâ stood up against thee, and sought to cast thee into the hands of Pharaoh, and he helped the Egyptian sorcerers, and they stood up and wrought before thee. 10. The evils indeed we permitted them to work, but the remedies we did not allow to be wrought by their hands. 11. And the Lord smote them with malignant ulcers, and they were not able to stand for we destroyed them so that they could not perform a single sign. 12. And notwithstanding all (these) signs and wonders the prince of the Mastêmâ was not put to shame because he took courage and cried to the Egyptians to pursue after thee with all the powers of the Egyptians, with their chariots, and with their horses, and with all the hosts of the peoples of Egypt.
Through the influence and help of demonic forces, these sorcerers worked to further false religion.
From these facts, we can learn some powerful lessons about the deception during the last days.
First, during the last days, many will be deceived by false teachings, false signs, and false prophets. Indeed, Paul is absolutely clear that these things will increase as we near the Second Coming of Christ.
Second, demonic forces will be working in and through many of these things. Some Christians teach that demons were placed in Hell by God when Jesus died on the Cross. This is clearly not true. These forces are at work in our world, and we see examples of them all the time.
Third, the Bible teaches us that there will be a powerful hatred at work in and through these religious systems.
Indeed, when I look at these facts, I am reminded in so many ways of the hostility that Americans have seen firsthand through the religion known as Islam (which is currently in the headlines again as we witness the terrible attacks of Islamic terrorists against Israel). Islam is a religion which was founded upon a man (Muhammad) who had an encounter with a spirit that claimed to be from the one true god, and who revealed himself by the name Allah. However, this man’s experiences more accurately reflect demonic influence as he himself said!
“One of the most widely respected modern Muslim biographer, Muhammad Husayn Haykal, speaks vividly of Muhammad’s plaguing fear that he was demon possessed: Stricken with panic, Muhammad arose and asked himself, ‘What did I see? Did possession of the devil which I feared all along come to pass?’ Muhammad looked to his right and his left but saw nothing. For a while he stood there trembling with fear and stricken with awe. He feared the cave might be haunted and that he might run away still unable to explain what he saw. [74, emphasis added] Haykal notes that Muhammad had feared demon possession before, but his wife Khadijah talked him out of it. For “as she did on earlier occasions when Muhammad feared possession by the devil, so now stood firm by her husband and devoid of the slightest doubt.” Thus “respectfully, indeed reverently, she said to him, ‘Joy to my cousin! Be firm. By him who dominates Khadijah’s soul I pray and hope that you will be the Prophet of this nation. By God, he will not let you down’” (ibid., 75). Indeed, Haykal’s description of Muhammad’s experience of receiving a “revelation” fits that of other mediums.”. (Norman Geisel, Baker Encyclopedia Of Christian Apologetics, 505 (Kindle Edition); Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Books)
The religion of Islam is dominated by a concept known as “Jihad.”
“THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ISLAM defines jihad in this way: “In law, according to general doctrine and in historical tradition, the djihad consists of military action with the object of the expansion of Islam and, if need be, of its defence.”…That said, the Quran frequently uses the word in reference to a violent struggle for spiritual purposes. A clear example of this is a discussion of warfare in 2: 216–18 which culminates in Allah’s approval of those who undertake this jihad: “Warfare is prescribed for you, though you dislike it. . . . Behold, those who believe, emigrate, and undertake jihad, these have hope of the mercy of Allah.” It is incorrect to argue, as do some apologists for Islam in the West, that the word can only refer to a spiritual struggle. Even in the Quran that is demonstrably false, let alone in the traditions of Muhammad’s life. In fact, when it comes to the hadith, far and away the most frequent context of jihad is violent physical struggle.” (Nabeel Qureshi, Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward, 34-35 (Kindle Edition): Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan)
We see this violent form of jihad mentioned in numerous ways throughout the Quran (the “holy book” of Islam).
For example:
• Sura 2:19-“Slay the unbeliever wherever you find them.”
• Sura 3:28-Muslims must not take the infidels as friends.”
• Sura 3:85-“Any religion other than Islam is not acceptable.”
• Sura 5:33-Maim and crucify the infidels if they criticize Islam.”
• Sura 8:12-Terrorize and behead those who believe in Scriptures other than the Koran.
• Sura 8:60-Muslims must muster all weapons to terrorize the infidels.
• Sura 8:65-The unbelievers are stupid; urge the Muslims to fight them.
• Sura 9:5-When opportunity arises kill the infidels wherever you find them.
• Sura 9:30-The Jews and Christians are perverts, fight them.
• Sura 9:123-Make war on the infidels living in your neighborhood.
• Sura 22:19-Punish the unbelievers with garments of fire, hooked iron rods, boiling water, and melt their skin and bellies.
• Sura 24:4-Do not hanker for peace with the infidels; behead them when you catch them.
There is also a form of jihad known as taqiya. This has reference to the ways that Islam encourages jihad by deceiving people. We see examples of this when we hear things like, “Islam is a religion of peace.”
No, it is not!
“TRUTH Kithman is a command to deliberately conceal one’s beliefs. Primarily practiced by the minority Shi’a Muslims, this doctrine is articulated by Imam Jafar Sadiq, the sixth imam of Shi’a Islam: One who exposes something from our religion is like one who intentionally kills us. 2 You belong to a religion that whosoever conceals it, Allah will honor him and whosoever reveals it, Allah will disgrace him. 3 So Shi’a Muslims are commanded to hide what they truly believe in order to mislead outsiders as to the true nature of their religion…There is essentially no difference between the doctrine of kithman and the doctrine of taqiya. Taqiya is defined by one Shi’a Muslim commentator thusly: The word “al-Taqiyya” literally means: “Concealing or disguising one’s beliefs, convictions, ideas, feelings, opinions, and/ or strategies at a time of imminent danger, whether now or later in time, to save oneself from physical and/ or mental injury.” A one-word translation would be “Dissimulation.” 4…The doctrines of kithman and taqiya are often said to be strictly Shi’a doctrines, and Sunni Muslims deny that either doctrine is part of their tradition. Unfortunately, this is merely another deception. Next, we will run through some of the Sunni traditions that prove the universal application of taqiya within Islam….As long as a Muslim lives in a country where Islam exists as a minority, in “a weakened state,” then deceptiveness is allowed. When challenged by non-Muslims to blaspheme Allah, they “went along with them.” The nonbelievers arrested ‘Ammar Ibn Yasir and tortured him until he uttered foul words about the Prophet [Muhammad], and praised their gods and idols; and when they released him, he went straight to the Prophet. The Prophet said: “Is there something on your mind?” ‘Ammar Ibn Yasir said: “Bad news! They would not release me until I defamed you and praised their gods!” The Prophet said: “How do you find your heart to be?” ‘Ammar answered: “Comfortable with faith.” So the Prophet said: “Then if they come back for you, then do the same thing all over again.” Allah at that moment revealed the verse: “… except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm in faith…” 6 (Surah 16: 106) So Muhammad actually encouraged Muslims to lie and blaspheme and deny their beliefs if that would protect them, as long as they remained “comfortable with faith.” Ibn Abbas, the most renowned and trusted narrator of tradition in the sight of the Sunnis, confirms this notion. “Taqiyya is [merely] the uttering of the tongue, while the heart is comfortable with faith.” 7…We see that taqiya is indeed a doctrine for all Muslims that allows them to deny any aspect of their faith in order to protect themselves from harm.” (Joel Richardson, The Islamic Antichrist: The Shocking Truth About The Real Nature Of The Beast, 152-156 (Kindle Edition); Los Angeles, CA; WND Books)
While we must remember that “every Muslim is not out to get us,” it should also be kept in mind that the religion of Islam is primarily focused on violence and death.
During the last days, we will continue to see more and more people embracing false religions and deceptions.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
Leave a Reply