How Does it Seem?

2 Timothy 3-Part 1
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  2 Timothy 3:1


LET IT GLOW

Here is what Swindoll's New Testament Insights on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus has to say:

Paul wanted Timothy to know, which is ginosko in the Greek, and is in the present tense. It can be literally translated, "You keep on knowing this!' In other words, "Be ever mindful of this as you carry out your duties!"
What is this? In the last days perious times shall come. It refers to the time between the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem and His return in Jerusalem to set up His kingdom. The last days are centuries long, and they will go from bad to worse.

Perilous is a word meaning "hard to bear, troublesome, dangerous, grievous; harsh, fierce, savage: of men." 
(Thayer's Lexicon)

Was Paul trying to frighten or discourage Timothy? No, he was only telling Timothy what could be expected.
"In the last days,savage times will be upon us," someone once said.

The same Greek word that is used for perilous is used to describe the two violent demoniacs of Gadara (Matt. 8:28). This suggests that the violence of the last times will be energized by demons (1 Tim. 4:1). (Wiersbe)

Perilous can also be described as "difficult." Classical Greek used the term to describe wild animals or a raging sea. (Swindoll)

Do we sometimes feel like our life is like a raging sea around us? One bad thing after another happens.

The word times had to do with epochs, rather than a clock or calendar time. LSuch savage, dangerous eras or epochs will increase in frequency and severity as the return of Christ apporaches (verse 13).  (MacArthur)

Well, it is going to be bad times to live in, isn't it? Is my faith ready for it?


LET IT GROW

Life has taught me several lessons, but one in particular applies here: not all things and people are as they appear. I'm talkin' about not everyone in a congregation of a church is what he or she appears to be. Therefore, we must always be alert and led by the Holy Spirit for discernment. Be aware of the dangers around us and be prepared to meet them, right? Do I see how it seems or actually is?

What reasons did Paul give for such "savage times?" I will answer this question by using eighteen adjectives and descriptive phrases characterizing human depravity, spoken by Charles Swindoll in his book mentioned above. Now don't get upset, we aren't doing all 18 today. Swindoll uses the New American Standard Bible so the words are different from those used in the King James Bible. Verse 2 says: For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy.

1. Lovers of self. Although we're all selfish to some degree, this describes a deeper level of self-love. Self-lovers see everthing in the world only as it affects them. Every event is viewed to bolster their own sense of superiority, significance, or safety. They seek the comfort and promotion of self above all else.
2. Lovers of money. Materialists seek wealth and possessions as a means of power, control, security, personal worth, and even love. Not that there's anything wrong with wealth, but the love of it is what we must avoid. Money-lovers are driven by greed.
3. Boastful. The Greek term describes a con artist, a vagabond who moves from town to town, making big promises, rakin in money, and then disappearing overnight. They seek their own glory while providing nothing of worth to those around them.
4. Arrogant. This compound Gree word combines hyper, (over) and phaino, (appear or seem) to express the idea of being exalted over others. It was both possitive and negative in the Greeks' use.
5. Revilers. Our English word blasphemer comes from the Greek word blasphemos. To blaspheme is to curse, slander, or treat someone with contempt. It disrespects another.
6. Disobedient to parents. This is the first of five terms with the negative prefix a-, which "dis-" or"un-."
7. Ungrateful. The prefix a- negates the word for "grace" or "gracious" to carry the idea of a generally unthankful attitude.
8. Unholy. The prefix a- negates the positive quality denoted by hosios, which generally describes acts that are "sacred, lawful, dutiful." It also describes people who respect traditions and feel a sense of duty to eternal laws. The "unholy" person doesn't simply reject the lawas of God; he or she refuses even to abide by rules of common decency.

To sum it up, Liberty Bible Commentary describes people living in the last days as:
people will do what's right in his own eyes; they must keep up with the Joneses; juvenile deliquency will be rampant; not thankful for what they have, but wanting more.

Are you still with me, friend? We have more to go, so keep walking with me tomorrow. Although I can think of people these words describe, I need to check myslef to see if they apply to me personally.

LET IT GO

Be prepared for the difficult, savage times ahead. Trust Jesus and follow His Word.

Don't love myself and money to the extreme.

Don't boast and be arrogant, but be humble.

Treat others with love.

Teach my family to be respectful.