Perilous Times Shall Come

By David J. Stewart

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." —2nd Timothy 3:1,2

       Perilous times are here!  We are living in the last days.  The word "perilous" in 2nd Timothy 3:1 is the Greek, chalepos, meaning "fierce, i.e., hard to bear, to take, to approach, troublesome--through the idea of reducing the strength" (ENHANCED STRONG'S LEXICON).  The Bible foretold of these fierce and troublesome times.  But carefully notice in verse 2 why these times will be so perilous, "For men shall be lovers of their own selves..."  It is selfish and sinful PEOPLE who make life so difficult... "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" (2nd Timothy 3:2-4).  Wow! What a rotten bunch!  And here's the most shocking part--read verse 5, "Having a form of godliness..."  They're religious!  How could anyone not believe that the Bible is God's inspired Word?  The Bible is 100% accurate, hitting-the-nail-right-on-the-head, when it comes to the treachery and deceitfulness of mankind.  Some of the biggest hypocrites and backstabbers in this world are religious people.

Perilous times are upon us.  Although crime and wickedness have always been inherent to man's nature, never before have we seen such wickedness on a grand scale as we are experiencing it today.  It is appalling that evil men have named one of America's most popular cities... SIN CITYWoe unto America!  The Old Testament cities of Sodom and Gomorrah weren't nearly as wicked as America is today.  Jesus said, Sodom Would Have Repented ...But Not America!!!  Listen to the words of 2nd Timothy 3:2-4 once more... "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God."

Let's take a look at these sins more closely.  Some of the sins listed woefully indict us Americans--words like unthankful, proud, unholy, highminded... America has murdered 48,000,000 babies through abortion!!!  We are an unholy nation.  No wonder Iranians call us The Great Satan!  The average American loathes the thought of Arab women being forced to wear head-coverings; yet, those same hypocrites have no problem with pornography and public indecency in America.  Let me tell you... Victoria's Secret is no longer a secret.  It's vile pornographic filth is all over the place, and the Devil is destroying lives with it.  We condemn Arab suicide-bombers, while we Americans have already killed 655,000 INNOCENT Iraqis!  What right do we have as a nation to condemn other nations?  Who do we think we are?  I'll tell you--a bunch of ungrateful spoiled brats!  In God We Trust?  Please, don't make me vomit!

How about... "without natural affection"... we hear so many pop and country singers today singing about love that lasts forever; but then they hypocritically turn around and file for divorce.  Country music and divorce are synonymous!  Tammy Wynette may have popularized the country hit, Stand By Your Man, but she went through FIVE HUSBANDS!  In 2004, Britney Spears, decided to marry Jason Allen Alexander, and then divorce him 2 days later, saying she didn't fully understand what she was doing when she got hitched on the spur of the moment.  Proverb 9:13 perfectly describes Miss Spears... "A foolish woman is clamourous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing."  America has been infested with Perverted Teen Idols.  And Britney Spears provides plenty of youthful lusts for all the young boys.

Britney Spears, completely "removes the sheets" in her song "Soda Pop". She sings, " . . . we might start riding to the music tonight. . . a WICKED TIME to the end . . . we'll flex tonight until they break down the door . . . It's cool Britney when we get down on the floor. . . and we go on and on until the break of dawn"

Yes, we are living in perilous times of woeful wickedness.  It is very difficult for Christians today to remain strong in the Lord, when temptations and wickedness surround us like never before; but God has promised to deliver us.  1st Corinthians 10:13 states, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  The choice is ours.  No one can say that they "cannot" live right.  The Bible says we can with God's help.  People have become so cut-throat nowadays, to where most people don't even try to live right anymore.  Most people indulge in a life of sin.  Never before have people been so filled with pride and stubbornness, especially towards God.  In fact, we've even thrown God and the Bible out of our public school system.  We are a sinful people in America.

2nd Timothy 3:3 speaks of the sin of being "incontinent," which means, lack of self-control. i.e., intemperate.  Many people become intemperate because of alcohol intoxication, going out of their minds.  Fools like Toby Keith even brag about it.  We are out-of-control as a nation.  No one should ever be praised for promoting irresponsibility; yet, Mr. Keith has been made rich by irresponsible boozing Americans.  Toby Keith even boasts of being "white trash with money."  This is a shame unto America.  We are living in perilous times... when men are lovers of their own selves.  Millions of innocent people have been wounded, crippled, and killed because of alcohol... not to mention all the beaten, abused, and traumatized children because of drunken parents.

2nd Timothy 5:5 states, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."  The "power" mentioned is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, clearly evidenced by Romans 1:16.  Thus, there are MANY cut-throat religious people today, who follow the traditions of men, rather than OBEYING the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2nd Thessalonians 1:8).  We are truly living in perilous times, when people don't even try to live right anymore.  America is guilty of having committed woeful sins, and yet we are in denial about it as a nation.  One only needs to watch a brief amount of Hellivision to realize just how bad America has become.  Everywhere we turn nowadays, we are bombarded with sexual innuendos and filthy advertising.  It's demonic!  I hope the Lord returns soon!

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” —Philippians 2:15


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