Godlessness in the Last Days Part 1

2Timothy 3:1-9 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, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 

‘Perilous times shall come …’ This is the 2nd New Testament prophecy in 2 Timothy (3:1-5) [Greek: chalepos] hard; difficult; grievous. Translated as “fierce” in Matthew 8:28.

‘For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.’ Thirty characteristics of wicked men during the last days: Lovers of themselves (3:2) [Greek: Philautos] fond of oneself; selfish. Covetous [Greek: philarguros], money-lovers, referring to the mammon (Luke 16:9-14). Boasters [Greek: alazon] braggarts; self-exalted, vain, and arrogant braggarts (Rom. 1:30). Proud [Greek: huperephanos] self-important, to indulge in pride or self-gratulation; be exalted; elated; glory in self; display or strut self before others; an undue sense of superiority; unnatural self-esteem; arrogance; wishing all people to receive their sayings as oracles (Luke 1:51; Rom. 1:30; Jas. 4:6; 1Pet. 5:5). Blasphemers [Greek: blasphemia] to: Speak evil of (Jude 1:8; Eph. 4:31); rail (1Tim. 6:4; 2Pet. 2:11); revile (Matt. 27:39); defame (1Cor. 4:13); slander (Rom. 3:8); insult by blasphemy (Matt. 12:31).

To be continued…