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.”  NKJV

Without attempting a complete exegesis in eschatology I find it impossible to miss the incredible happenings of our time and their relation or correlation to the prophecies of Scripture.  I do not know if the apostle Paul realized how far into the future he was speaking in his prophetic word and pastoral warning to Timothy but we do.  I am convinced, he believed the “last days” were almost upon them.  Throughout my Christian experience I have heard that we are the generation that will see the return of the Lord.  I do believe we are but also recognize that each previous generation thought the same thing.  The delay in His return is not an indication that the promise or prophecy is false.  Remember that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.  He does not operate with a clock or calendar as we.

When I view the rise of Islamic jihadism and terror I recognize “perilous times” in our day.  With the rise in technology we do not just hear or read about the evil in the world we witness it on the television, computer, or smartphone.  It is every before us!  With the increase in abortion, the selling of body parts for profit, the murder of innocent living babies to accommodate “so-called” personal rights of the woman, I cannot help but realize “perilous times” in our present day.  When I see people around the world slaughtered because of their refusal to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ, I recognized “perilous times” in the world.

Even a cursory reading of the above passage identifies how squarely and perfectly it fits in our modern society.  I do not know if there has ever been a generation more in love with self than today’s.  Money is an all-powerful driving force like no other time in human history.  The pride and arrogance of today’s world is stunning.  I have lived on this earth over 60 years and have never witnessed such open blasphemy, utter disrespect for parents and authority, ungratefulness, viciousness and the devaluing of human lives that are not of the same ethnicity, ideological or religious beliefs as today.  Fabrication is acceptable, slander is just business as usual and the pursuit of personal pleasure and demand for tolerance and political correctness is frightening.

How long can we continue on this path before total chaos becomes the rule of the day?  I fear, not long and for those and other reasons I am completely convinced that we are living in what the Bible calls THE LAST DAYS and if we are you can expect the evil of this world to grow more and more prevalent and pronounced.  If you are not secure in your relationship with God I suggest that you take steps to become completely confident in your Salvation.  The time is coming when it will mean everything.

            God bless you, guard and guide you as you go through this day!