But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.But know this: that in the last days, grievous times will come.This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come.
7 sermons cite this verse
… And the Bible also tells us a bit of encouragement. In 2 Timothy 3, verse one, the Bible says, but know this, be aware, understand this, that in the last days perilous times will come. I'm glad we know that. If you didn't know that, you would think by the world around us that God must have abandoned the universe. No, no, no. Even the bad stuff tells us God is in control. So look at this Hebrew, or excuse me, look at the Greek word perilous. The word means violent. Oh my goodness, 2,000 years ago the Bible said that in the last days, violent days will come. Is that true? Difficult days will come. Hard days will come. The word means to press or to push down. You ever feel like that? Like, unexplainably sometimes you just feel like you can hardly catch your breath, that you're just being crushed by the problems and by the anxiety of this world? That's not from God. That's from the wicked one. That's from the world. That's not from God. The word means that we would be seeing times that would wear you and I out. So Jesus says, cheer up. I've overcome the world. That is the ultimate answer. One more on this before we dive in. Matthew 24 verse 11 says, and Jesus is speaking, then many false prophets will arise and deceive many. He's talking about the last days. And because lawlessness will abound. The love of many will grow cold, but he who endures to the end shall be saved. Now, …
… the belief and the understanding that Christ could come. Look at 2 Timothy 3, verse 1. 2 Timothy 3, verse 1 says, but know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come. I really believe we're in these days. I really do. And the word perilous means to wear you down like a plane and wood, just blade whittling down the wood. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanders without self-control. Wow. Brutal, despisers of good. They hate good. Traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Here's the kick. Having a form of godliness but denying its power from such people turn away. They look like believers but when you're not looking at them that's who they really are. And then there's a quote. I don't know if this is up in the... There it is. Okay, good. But one of the paramount teachings of false prophets will be that of mocking. …
… how about this 2nd Timothy chapter 3 verse 1 says this and you guys judge listen if somebody's here and you're not a Christian okay that's fine but you should be thinking as I read this ask yourself is this true is this happening or not happening but know this that in the last days perilous times will come. Like how? For men will be lovers of themselves. Lovers of money. Boasters, proud. Blasphemers. Blasphemers. Every Number one, you already know this, but man, it's getting worse. The most famous curse word in movies is Jesus Christ. It's increasing. Why? The Bible said so. If you're in a show or if you're at a show or if you're at a movie or if you're watching TV or if you're at a restaurant and somebody says Jesus Christ this, Jesus Christ that, you just remember this. In the last days. That's right. In the last days, there's going to be blasphemers. They're going to increase. Disobedient to parents. Unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanders. …
… together and we say antichrist. We need to be more careful when we read these because it's much more technical than we think. 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 1 says this. Just think about this. the words that Paul is writing to Timothy here, it's almost like Paul hung out with us today and wrote us this note before he left. But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves. Warning. Warning. I know it sounds crazy but men will be lovers of themselves what does that mean? loving themselves so much that other people have to pay other people have to pay so that they are satisfied lovers of money what will men you know what I mean by I'm not beating up on the men mankind what will men and women do for money boasters. Do we not live in a boastful age? Proud. Blasphemers. Disobedient to parents. I know that sounds strange to most of us, but that was a joke. …
… I wanna show you what he said about the last days and see if you recognize any of this in the world today. He said, 2 Timothy 3.1, he said, mark this, there'll be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves. Check. Lovers of money. Check. Boastful. Check. Proud. Check. Abusive. Unfortunately. Check. this will be into their parents. Check. Ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Paul says have nothing to do with such people. In the last days, we're gonna have to make a conscious choice to turn away from the lower things of this world and turn to the truth of God's word. The biblical word is repent. Re means to turn. Pent is that which is the highest. Repent, turn. In fact, for some of you, your one assignment is to turn in the right direction. Turn away from the lower things that are distracting you from the higher things of the kingdom of God and turn toward them. …
Not all was at the same level. Do you remember how Paul says in 2 Timothy 3 verse 1, in the last days in which we are all living, there will be particular times of stress. The only other place in the New Testament where that language is used is in connection with the Gadarene demoniacs who are uncontrollable. There will be times when the opposition to the church of Jesus Christ will seem to be so uncontrollable. Sometimes we feel that today. In many ways the church has had control in society. The Christian ethic has had control in society. But now it sometimes seems that the powers of darkness have the control. We're living in times of difficulty, and some of us fear persecution. And many of us know, brothers and sisters, many parts of the world who either physically or mentally or morally are under persecution. That is not a strange thing, says Peter, if you are a follower of the persecuted Jesus. But the thing I want to underline for us is that insofar as this church is a model for our church, it is interesting to see how the powers of darkness seek to destroy it. …
So I'm just going to go for it. 2 Timothy 3 verse 1 says, Understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty for people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness but denying its power avoid such people okay paul is writing to timothy here and he's not talking about the world he's talking about the church here he's not addressing atheists he says these people they have some sort of appearance of godliness but they deny its power these are not people that don't believe in godliness don't believe in god but much like the demons they believe there's a god but he says be careful of these people because they're not really lovers of god they're really lovers of pleasure and paul's saying you know in the end times it's going to get terrible the last days are going to come terrible times not because the world is going to be in sin the world has always been in sin the problem is how much that sin has crept into the church in the last days and people who attend these gatherings and call it church he says there's going to come a very very difficult time because people are going to be the first thing he says lovers of self …