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Are We In The Last Days?
By Grant Phillips
2 Timothy 3
1This
know also (Realize),
that in the last
days perilous (difficult,
dangerous)
times shall come.
2For men
shall be lovers of
their own selves (self-centered),
covetous (lovers
of money),
boasters (windbags),
proud (arrogant),
blasphemers (scoffing
at God),
disobedient to
parents, unthankful
(ungrateful),
unholy (nothing
sacred),
3Without
natural affection (unloving),
trucebreakers (irreconcilable),
false accusers (malicious
gossips),
incontinent (no
self-control),
fierce (cruel),
despisers (haters)
of those that are
good,
4Traitors
(treacherous),
heady (reckless),
highminded (conceited),
lovers of pleasures
more than lovers of
God;
5Having
a form of godliness
(acting
religious),
but denying the
power thereof: from
such turn away (avoid).
13But
evil men and
seducers (imposters)
shall wax (become)
worse and worse,
deceiving, and being
deceived.
14But
continue thou in the
things which thou
hast learned and
hast been assured
of, knowing of whom
thou hast learned
them;
15And
that from a child
thou hast known the
holy scriptures,
which are able to
make thee wise unto
salvation through
faith which is in
Christ Jesus.
16All
scripture is given
by inspiration of
God, and is
profitable for
doctrine, for
reproof, for
correction, for
instruction in
righteousness:
17That
the man of God may
be perfect,
thoroughly furnished
unto all good works.
Are we in the last
days? Some think the
Apostle Paul thought
he was in the last
days. Notice what he
said in 1
Thessalonians
4:13-17, “But
I would not have you
to be ignorant,
brethren, concerning
them which are
asleep, that ye
sorrow not, even as
others which have no
hope. For if we
believe that Jesus
died and rose again,
even so them also
which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with
him. For this we say
unto you by the word
of the Lord, that we
which are alive and
remain unto the
coming of the Lord
shall not prevent
them which are
asleep. For the Lord
himself shall
descend from heaven
with a shout, with
the voice of the
archangel, and with
the trump of God:
and the dead in
Christ shall rise
first: Then we which
are alive and remain
shall be caught up
together with them
in the clouds, to
meet the Lord in the
air: and so shall we
ever be with the
Lord.” It does
appear at first
glance that he may
have thought so, but
I think he was
leaving it open. I
feel that he knew
Jesus could return
while he was alive,
if He chose to, but
I believe He knew
that Jesus could
also return much
later.
Over 2,000 years
have passed, so
obviously he was not
in the last days. Or
was he? Where does
that leave us? In my
opinion, Paul was in
the last days, and
so are we. The
Church has always
been in the last
days of the Church
age, because the
removal, or Rapture,
has always been
imminent. It could
happen at any time.
So why is God
waiting so long, at
least in our view?
Peter says it well,
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is
longsuffering to
us-ward, not willing
that any should
perish, but that all
should come to
repentance.” (2
Peter 3:9) Jesus
Himself also
provides this
information, “And
they shall fall by
the edge of the
sword, and shall be
led away captive
into all nations:
and
Jerusalem
shall be trodden
down of the
Gentiles, until the
times of the
Gentiles be
fulfilled.”
(Luke 21:24) “Until
the times of the
Gentiles be
fulfilled” fits
perfectly with
Peter’s statement in
the previous verse
(2 Peter 3:9). I say
that because in my
opinion, the “Ark” is almost full,
except this time it
won’t be a flood,
but a Tribulation
unlike anything this
world has ever
witnessed.
The Church Age could
be compared to a
yardstick. The
Apostles were at the
one inch mark. I
think, from what I
am witnessing, we
are well toward the
other end of the
yardstick. Could we
be at the 33” mark,
34” mark, 35” mark,
or even very close
to the 36” mark?
I’ll leave that
answer up to our
Lord, but surely we
are somewhere very
close to the end. We
are not to predict,
but He has told us
to watch for the
signs He provides
and be ready.
I strongly feel that
we are now in the
last days of the
Church age, not the
last days of the
Tribulation of
course. Think about
this, if Jesus came
today for His
Church, there would
still be at least
seven more years to
fulfill the
Tribulation. Seven
years is nothing,
even ten years.
Think back seven or
ten years in your
life. I don’t know
about you, but to
me, it seems like
yesterday. So either
way, when we mention
“last days”, it can
easily include the
Tribulation and a
short time prior to
this horrible event.
So this is where I
am coming from in
this article.
Some prophecies of
the last days to
consider in
answering our
question are weather
patterns, the
economy, society,
placement of
countries who will
come against Israel, modern
day technology that
provides the means
for fulfillment of
end-time prophecies,
but especially those
concerning the State
of Israel. In
addition to all this
though, the
beginning Scripture
passage of this
article should
answer this
prevailing and
burning question.
Are we in the last
days? If we are now
seeing signs that
are preparation
indicators for the
Tribulation, can the
Tribulation be that
far off? Since the
Rapture precedes the
Tribulation, then
obviously it would
be even closer.
Those of us who
study prophecy, and
I do not consider
myself as
well-versed as many
of the writers,
usually indicate
that there are no
signs for the
Rapture. I believe
there is one very
clear sign; not of
the Rapture itself,
but the possible
closeness of it. The
sign is the context
of Revelation
chapters two and
three. Seven literal
churches are
mentioned, and one
of the things
indicated is that
each church
represents a time in
history. Each church
progressively
describes a period
in our church
history. The last
period for the
Church to exist is
the Laodicean age. I
feel, without a
doubt, that we are
in this Laodicean
age. Now I grant
you, we don’t know
the length of this
age, but we do know
it is the last one.
The Rapture will end
this age as
Revelation 3:22
moves over to
Revelation 4:1 where
we see a door
standing open in
Heaven, and the
Church is not
mentioned again
until it is seen in
Heaven, while the
Tribulation is
unfolding on earth.
Clearly to me at
least, the Church
Age has traversed
the entire length of
the yardstick, and
the end is nigh.
In our lead passage
above (2 Timothy 3),
Paul is explaining
to Timothy how
people will behave
in the last days.
Some feel that Paul
is referring to the
last days of the
Tribulation, but I
feel that he is
including the time
just before the
Rapture and on into
the Tribulation.
When the Church is
removed, the sinful
acts of mankind will
increase
exponentially. So is
there anything in
Paul’s message to
Timothy, in all
these verses, that
could describe us
today, not just
faintly but
strongly?
Verse 1
Paul told Timothy to
be on guard because
the last days would
be perilous,
(difficult or
dangerous). We live
in a day, right now,
when it is not wise
to no longer lock
our doors and
windows as in the
past. Even in the
daytime, danger
lurks. It is unsafe
to walk alone in
many areas. Even in
some parts of some
cities, police
agencies would
rather not enter,
especially at night.
The criminal element
today has no qualms
about attacking or
even murdering a
police officer, let
alone a civilian. If
you have ever
watched any of the
real-life crime
shows on television,
you will be sickened
at the lack of
respect one person
has for another.
We have known almost
zero persecution for
being a Christian in
this country, up
until the last few
years. Christians
today, in this
country, are being
persecuted for
standing up against
the elements of
Satan. If you are a
fundamentalist
Christian, you are
equated with
terrorists. If you
speak out in favor
of child discipline
(not abuse), or
capital punishment,
but against
fornication,
adultery,
homosexuality and
abortion you are
classified as a hate
monger. If you speak
up for Christian
values you will be
called a do-gooder
(or worse). If you
say that the Bible,
God’s Word, is the
only source of Truth
and the only
yardstick for
living, you are
called a bigot. If
you speak up for
Jesus as the only
way to the one and
only true God, you
will be called
narrow-minded.
If you speak
out against the
decadence of
Hollywood
and
Washington,
you are laughed at
and called an old
fogey. If you speak
out against false
doctrine, cults and
liberalism you are
called un-loving. If
you speak up for the
message of Christ’s
Rapture of His
Church, you are
called an idiot and
a simpleton. We are
beginning to
experience a push
against true
Christianity that we
have never seen, but
have only read about
in other areas of
the world. It is
here folks, and it
is going to get much
worse. As we speak,
Christians in this
country are losing
their freedoms, some
literally.
Verses 2-5
In these verses,
Paul lists 19 traits
of mankind that will
be very prevalent in
the last days. If
these are true of
our day and time,
then these behaviors
should be easy to
see. So let us
briefly take one at
a time.
1.
Lovers of
themselves: People
who are lovers of
themselves are
self-centered or
selfish. The
psychologists would
call them
narcissists. Look at
the trash people
throw out on others
properties for
example. Notice the
lack of concern many
have for the plight
of others. Observe
the interest in
self-gratification
from young to old.
Do you remember the
line, “Just do your
own thing”. It is an
example of total
self-centeredness,
with no regard for
others.
By the way, every
one of these 19
attributes all point
to a self-centered,
greedy attitude. I
challenge you to
think of anything in
our culture today,
contrary to God,
that does not
involve
self-centeredness or
greed.
Most politicians are
not interested in
doing what is right
for the citizens of
this country. They
are only interested
in being re-elected.
I wonder why?
Divorce is usually
about the
self-centeredness of
one or both partners
over the innocent
sacrifice of the
children involved.
These are just a
hand-full of
examples from
multiplied thousands
that you will
recognize also.
2.
Covetous: Those who
are covetous are
greedy for money.
Now almost everyone
I have heard
partially quote 1
Timothy 6:10, has
said that money is
the root of all
evil. That is not
what this verse
says. It is the
love of money that is the root of all evil.
“For
the love of money is
the root of all
evil: which while
some coveted after,
they have erred from
the faith, and
pierced themselves
through with many
sorrows.” (1
Timothy 6:10)
Many large
corporation
executives live like
kings and queens,
while sacrificing
the jobs of the
“worker bees” … for
more money. Scams
are abundant from
those who try to
bilk money from the
innocent … for the
love of money.
Thieves steal what
is not theirs … to
convert to money.
Murderers often kill
for love of money.
Children murder
their parents for an
inheritance … love
of money. Spouses
murder spouses for
insurance pay-offs …
love of money.
Millions are spent
on lottery tickets
in the hope of being
rich … love of
money. There is
nothing wrong with
money, per se. It is
needed to live. But
went it controls us,
we are a slave to
covetousness.
3.
Boasters: There is
no shortage of
people who will sing
their own tune and
blow their own
whistle. Listen to
all the braggadocio
that comes from the
mouths of self-made
gods. There is
certainly no
shortage of windbags
in our society. If
you don’t believe
me, just wait until
election time.
You’ll need to get
your boots out of
the closet though.
4.
Proud: Very, very
few give God the
credit for the
success in their
life, but they’re
sure quick to blame
Him for the
failures. We would
do well to heed the
words of Paul, “For
I say, through the
grace given unto me,
to every man that is
among you, not to
think of himself
more highly than he
ought to think; but
to think soberly,
according as God
hath dealt to every
man the measure of
faith.” (Romans
12:3) Pride was
Lucifer’s downfall,
and could be ours
too. Many strut
around like
peacocks, but one
day soon God is
going to pluck out
those proud
feathers.
5.
Blasphemers:
Irreverence toward
God flies in His
face from Hollywood to the pulpit. There is no where you
can go and not hear
God’s name
blasphemed. We also
blaspheme Him by our
sinful actions that
we throw in His face
and laugh off. He is
blasphemed when His
Church, which he
died for, is
ridiculed and
persecuted. Our
society has
blasphemed His Law
and even His Son.
Some “ministers” of
the church flaunt
their sins in the
face of God, while
they preach to the
flock from “the Good
Book”. Some are even
so brazen as to
declare equality
with God.
6.
Disobedient to
parents: The Dr.
Spock method of
raising children has
resulted in a
generation of
hoodlums who have no
respect for their
parents or anyone
else. If children
will not respect
their parents, tell
me, who will they
respect? The answer
is no one. We are
born into this world
with sin in our
heart. A child must
be taught respect.
It is not inherent.
7.
Unthankful: We live
in a society where
most people think
everyone else owes
them a living. Why
should they work,
when someone else
can work and keep
them up? Others are
blessed in so many
ways, and have never
thanked the source
of their blessings.
Children display an
unthankful character
when they are given
whatever they want,
without having to
work to earn it.
This attitude is
often on display in
your retail stores,
a child crying and
screaming because
they want something,
but what they really
need is usually not
what they get. So
they continue to
“throw tantrums”.
These same children
grow up, and become
spoiled adults,
totally unthankful,
thinking they are
entitled to anything
they want.
8.
Unholy: This word
means “wicked” or
“profane”. Walk on
the beaches, take a
stroll through
Tinsel town, sit in
a theater, watch the
idiot box, travel to
the legislative
chambers, listen to
the teachings of
Satan’s little
puppets, and the
depravity of mankind
will have you
wanting to scrub
yourself clean from
the world’s sewage.
Also, there is no
shortage of those
who claim Jesus as
their Savior, but
profane His Holy
name every time they
open their mouths.
They call themselves
preachers, teachers,
evangelists, but
they are Satan’s
puppets. They’re on
the airwaves with
false healings, even
claiming to be like
God, while they
wiggle their greedy,
sweaty palms in your
back pocket,
searching for your
wallet. These are
unholy, and many
there are.
9.
Without natural
affection: The tide
rises in those who
number in the group
who have no feelings
for others, who will
take a life without
a blink. Even within
families, no regard
is shown for human
life. One would
probably get more
prison time if they
killed an animal,
than a person.
The family structure
has been ripped to
shreds by un-natural
affection toward
ones own loved ones
via, abortion,
divorce, adultery,
and even “coming out
of the closet”.
10.
Trucebreakers: Those
who will not keep
their word are
liars. They have
made a promise, and
failed to keep that
promise. They have
lied about their
intent to be honest
with another. I have
seen many sign a
contract, and while
the ink is drying,
they are thinking of
ways to break it. If
you haven’t run
across many
trucebreakers, your
name must be Rip Van
Winkle.
11.
False accusers: Most
will take no
responsibility for
their own actions.
It’s always someone
else’s fault. So
they have no qualms
in destroying
another person’s
life by destroying
their name and/or
character. These
people are called
slanderers, more
commonly, gossips.
Notice the
politicians,
especially when on
the campaign trail,
you will hear many
false accusers.
Anyone guilty of
being a slanderer is
a puppet of Satan,
for he was called a
devil (slanderer) in
the beginning.
12.
Incontinent: Since
the Spock kids were
not taught
self-control when
they were young,
society now suffers
from their antics.
They have no
self-control over
their actions,
because they were
not taught
self-control when
they were young.
Again, we should
heed the words of
Paul, “All
things are lawful
unto me, but all
things are not
expedient: all
things are lawful
for me, but I will
not be brought under
the power of any.”
(1 Corinthians 6:12)
Our society commonly
asserts “if it feels
good, do it”, with
no thought about the
consequences.
Incontinency, or
self-control, must
be taught from an
early age.
Otherwise, we just
do whatever we want
when the mood hits
us.
13.
Fierce: Movies and
games have developed
a desensitized
society that does
not flinch at the
fierceness of its
actions. Our
consciences have
grown cold, and iced
over. Our society
frowns on the
influence of the Ten
Commandments,
because people just
might be influenced
to obey them.
However, the
cruelest inflictions
that could be placed
on another human
being are freely
displayed upon our
children. Could this
be why the atrocity
of murder has become
so common and
gruesome? Mankind is
losing its
sensitivity toward
the death and
gruesome
dismemberment of
another fellow human
being. Human life is
no longer a valued
gift from God.
14.
Despisers of those
that are good: True
Christians today are
rapidly becoming the
most hated group of
people in our
society. In my
opinion, the reason
is that Christians
stand for Jesus
Christ and all that
is about Him, such
as holiness, purity,
justice, Godly love,
and a voice against
all that is evil.
Those who follow
Satan do not want to
see themselves as
God sees them. They
want to wallow
freely in the mud of
their atrocities
against God and feel
no guilt. They don’t
want to be told that
they are sinners,
and they can only be
saved by the
precious blood of
Jesus Christ. They
don’t want to be
told that without
Jesus they will
spend an eternity in
hell. In other
words, they do not
want to give up
their sins. On top
of that, their
father, Satan, hates
the very thought of
Christianity and its
God.
15.
Traitors: Our
governmental
leaders, who are
supposed to be
protecting the
citizenry of this
great country, are
now betraying them
and the Constitution
upon which we stand.
When they took their
oath of office, they
held up their hand
and made a solemn
vow to the citizenry
of the United States of America,
and before their
hands reached their
side, they knew they
would not honor
their oath. Greed
has ruled the day.
They are traitors.
As far as they are
concerned, the
citizenry can eat
cake.
16.
Heady: What better
example of a
reckless attitude
than those who
handle the money of
its citizenry? It is
confiscated by
taxes, and thrown to
the wind. We are
14.3 trillion
dollars in debt, and
our corrupt leaders
want more money from
the citizenry to
throw to the wind!
As David Farragut
said (at least
attributed to him)
at the battle of Mobile Bay,
“damn the torpedoes,
full speed ahead”.
There is no thought
for the future, only
for the present.
These heady,
bull-headed people
could care less
about the
repercussions and
the fate of our
children, as long as
they get their way.
17.
Highminded: This
term refers to
conceit, pride, and
even stupidity
(because of their
pride). Our society
is saturated with
those who are
choking on pride,
and filled to the
rim with conceit. We
usually think of
those who are
wealthy when
discussing conceited
people, but I have
found that is not
always the case. It
is more rare, but
even the poor can
have a serious
problem with pride.
Why is that? The sin
of pride comes from
the heart, not the
pocketbook.
18.
Lovers of pleasures
more than lovers of
God: Our American
society is just one
big playground of
pleasure. It has
gotten so bad in
this country, most
think it is an
entitlement to have
pleasures in life.
We just move from
one to the other.
Also, many who claim
to be Christians
have set their
pleasure of this
world above their
need of God. This is
readily seen in the
churches, either
empty pews or social
hours. “Let’s just
have a good time.”
“God cramps my
style.” “It’s
important that I
have time for me.”
Just notice what we
spend on movies,
books, music, boats,
activities, sports,
dining, clothes, and
other toys and “for
me” activities. How
much is left for
God? Our pleasures
have become our
gods.
19.
Having a form of
godliness, but
denying the power
thereof: I have
spoken of this in
other articles, but
briefly, we are a
lot of talk, but we
don’t walk the talk.
Oh, we are blessed
indeed with
religion. It’s
everywhere you look,
but religion and
Christianity are not
the same. Religion
is mankind seeking
his own godliness.
Christianity is a
personal
relationship with
Jesus Christ, the
Son of God. But …
“We are
sophisticated. We
are so advanced in
technology, science,
our universe, well,
just everything.
Those people who
lived before us just
aren’t cultured like
we are. We’re too
smart for all that
stuff about God. We
are in control.” I
wonder what God
would say about
that. Let’s see, “You
cannot separate
fools from their
foolishness, even
though you grind
them like grain with
mortar and pestle.”
(Proverbs 27:22 NLT)
Out of the nineteen
points that Paul
tells Timothy to be
aware of, do any of
them sound like us
today, even one? If
we are on the same
page, there is no
doubt in my mind
that every last one
of them is clearly
where we are today,
not just in this
country, but
elsewhere also.
So, are we in the
last days? I think
we are most
definitely in the
last days of the
Church age. When is
Jesus coming back
for His Church in
the Rapture? As I
have stated before,
I haven’t a clue,
but I do feel that
we need to take
Paul’s advice to
Timothy in the
latter part of our
passage in 2 Timothy
three. We need to
continue in the
Scriptures. If we
haven’t started,
then get started …
now. Jesus rebutted
Satan with
Scriptures when He
was tempted during
the 40 days in the
wilderness. If you
don’t know the
Scripture, how on
earth are you going
to stand a chance
against Satan’s
treachery? God
expects us to know
His Word. He didn’t
go through the long
process of having
His Word written
down, so we can use
it for a dust
collector. Time is
running out. We need
to be ready. Jesus
is coming. Are you
ready?
Grant Phillips
grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture
Commentary
http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
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