“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” (2 Timothy 3:1)
The Church’s present predicament should not catch us unawares. Anyone possessing even a superficial knowledge of the New Testament should realize that as the church age draws to a close, the scriptures tell of a “lukewarm” Christianity chilled by massive deception…a time of corruption, confusion, and indifference. The current falling away within contemporary Christianity is not solely due to cultural corruption but also attributed to the failure to “Take heed unto thyself, and the doctrine…” (1 Tim.4:16). Many are the prophetic warnings contained within the word of God; detailed admonitions forecasting the moral collapse and spiritual darkness during the days leading up to Christ’s return. Paul repeatedly and explicitly warned of the inevitable insurgency and doctrinal apostasy of the last days:
“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:29-30).
“This know also, that in the LAST DAYS perilous times shall come. 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, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Tim.3:1-5) [Emphasis mine].
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils…” (1 Tim.4:1).
The Holy Spirit clearly warned through the apostle Paul that as the Church Age drew to a close, “…evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13).
Although written more than two thousand years ago, the above Scripture provides a window into the present. The “latter days” will be characterized by a “falling away” from the truth…a departure from biblical Christianity to religion and philosophy, from the word of God to the traditions of man. From sound doctrine to false doctrine, from the pure word to the impure, from edification to entertainment, from steadfastness to compromise and mixture, “neither cold nor hot….”
Systemic Nihilism. Concerning Western civilization (including the modern church), the satanic scourge of nihilism that rejects all religious and moral principles in the belief that life is meaningless has been the most poisonous means of deception. Nihilism (relativity, subjectivism) is propagated by “the god of this world” in our schools, universities, and liberal seminaries to blind the minds of humanity to objective truth (absolutes) as a means to invalidate the reality and the relevance of Moral Law. Likewise, evolution is a philosophy rooted in nihilism.
There will also be a dramatic increase in demonic activity, lying signs, and wonders: “seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” And a pervasive “spirit of fear” caused by intense persecution against the Church from radical anti-Christian religions and the hostile forces of an increasingly amoral atheistic culture. Perilous times indeed.
“The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” George Orwell
Photo: Zeteo 3:16
- W. Weckeman
To read more articles by Pastor A. W. Weckeman click here.
