Perilous Times

Background Scripture: 2 Timothy 3-4
Lesson Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-15

Introduction

God's children are journeying through a world fraught with spiritual danger. Satan, the relentless foe, comes as a roaring lion as well as a sly thief to rob the good from the hearts of men. As the day of time fades into twilight, the Bible indicates that perils will increase. As the shadows darken, sin, with its evil and deception, will swell like a flood. Nevertheless, those who endure to the end shall be saved. God's Word warns us to watch and take heed but not to fear. Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Today's lesson identifies conditions we must heed so that the evil day does not take us unaware. We must be prepared to meet the challenge of perilous times.

Key Verse

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation (2 Pet. 3:3-4).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

The apostle Paul wrote this letter to Timothy from Rome after his last missionary journey. Secluded and shackled in a cold prison cell, he mentions his bonds and his desire for a cloak to be brought before winter. Forsaken by former associates and left to stand trial alone, he yearned for the companionship of Timothy, his beloved son in the faith. Paul knew his end was near. The gospel he loved to preach would be entrusted to younger evangelists. The fledgling churches he had nurtured would be left to other leaders. He desired that zeal for the cause of Christ would burn in the hearts of believers after his departure.

Prior to the verses in our lesson text, Paul pleads with Timothy to labor faithfully in his gift. He urges him not to be afraid, but to stand strong as a soldier of Jesus Christ. He admonishes Timothy to embrace sound doctrine based on Holy Scripture. A perilous future lay ahead. Timothy must be thoroughly prepared to meet the challenge.

The budding New Testament church suffered severe persecution under Nero's mad rule. Many believers died at his command. They were blamed for crimes they had not committed. Falsely accused, they were imprisoned and slain. Families were torn apart. While violence reigned, hunted refugees scattered to the shelter of dark caves and catacombs.

Paul was no stranger to suffering for the cause of Christ. He had been beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, falsely accused, and imprisoned. He reminds Timothy that all who will live godly shall suffer persecution, but his message does not end in despair. He declared that he had been divinely delivered from all his afflictions.

Could times get any worse? Would wars, famines, and pestilences continue? However, Paul places much more emphasis on the spiritual perils. He identifies the spiritual wickedness that would create a frightening fog of falsehood and deception, obscuring the truth.

The Greek word perilous that Paul used to describe the last days implied danger, like the fierceness of wild animals or the raging sea. The word is found only one other place in the New Testament, describing the two Gadarenes possessed of devils as being "exceeding fierce" (Matt, 8:28). No power of man could restrain these untamed demoniacs lurking among the tombs. Christ alone could heal them. Though Timothy faced a raging sea of evil, his faith in Christ provided a secure anchor.

Our lesson text paints a vivid picture, highlighting the danger of religious deceivers. To distort truth by appearing religious is a particularly loathsome sin. These individuals offer a seductive counterfeit in place of an authentic relationship with God. Paul portrays Jannes and Jambres withstanding Moses as an example of resisting truth. Jewish tradition names these two as the Egyptian magicians in Pharaoh's court when Moses and Aaron performed miracles to prove the divine validity of their mission.1 Whether by trickery or demonic power, these magicians matched some of Aaron's miracles and, in essence, declared that their truth was as valid as that of Moses and Aaron.

To perform miracles by the power of darkness and to believe they are authentic will characterize the end times. "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thess. 2:9-10).

Perilous times need not be hopeless times. Paul reminds Timothy that the Holy Scriptures provide wisdom unto salvation. Timothy's faith in Christ Jesus and the skillful use of God's Word would outfit him as an effective Christian worker. No matter how dark the night of sin may settle, the gates of hell will never prevail against the bride of Christ.

Practical Truths for Today

Paul's declaration that "in the last days perilous times shall come" leaves no doubt that believers will encounter treacherous conditions. Although the "last days" could mean any time from Christ's ascension to His return, this epistle to Timothy accurately describes the world today. One look at twenty-first century life reveals a selfish world. Men being "lovers of their own selves" is the natural state of the unregenerate heart. Left unchecked, man is enthroned as the object of his own worship. Self-love discredits the first great commandment and leaves little room for the second one—to love one's neighbor. It erodes compassion and blinds a person to the needs of others. It is always "me first!" Relationships are strained. Marriages weaken and die in the bitter winter of broken vows. Homes suffer the loss of natural affection, and children disobey parents.

Self-love provides a fertile field where myriad sins flourish. Many in the world today are covetous, boasters, and proud. In their iniquities they ignore God's will. Entitlement becomes the watchword of the day: "We deserve the good life. Hand us honor and recognition. Give us ease, enjoyment, and abundance of bread." When man rejects God in favor of himself, he finds himself driven by winds of appetite impossible to quiet. He grasps for more, but more is never enough. This frustration leaves him unthankful, unholy, and a despiser of those who are good. As selfishness increases, moral principles are compromised more and more.

The bold sins of man are easy to see. We shudder at the brutality of crime and war. We pray for Christians persecuted by fanatics or terrorists. We decry the blatant falsehood and hate spread worldwide by unchristian media. But do we recognize the subtle peril Christ warns of when He says, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (Mall. 24:4-5).

The greatest peril Christians face is the transformation of Satan into an angel of light. He and his false prophets offer a form of godliness without true devotion to God: Christianity without the cross of Christ, and a spirituality void of the Holy Spirit. They promise peace of mind, an untroubled heart, and a sense of purpose in life—gifts only Christ and the Father can give. Based on lies, this counterfeit religion leaves the heart of man unchanged and without power to overcome the evil in his life.

The following scenarios describe various attitudes of those ensnared by Satan. In each of these examples, one may appear godly, making the situation especially perilous.

I embrace my personal interpretation of the Bible and choose what seems applicable to modern times, contending that some verses no longer apply. I try to mold Scripture to fit my life, rather than submitting my life to the truth of Scripture. I take an independent approach to Christian living, neglecting the fellowship and admonition of my brethren. I chart my own course and do what seems right in my own eyes. Professing a strong relationship with Christ, I feel others have no right to question my spirit or the fruit of my life.

I take a casual approach to Christian living. Although I worship God with my lips, in my heart I love ease and worldliness. I find it difficult to deny myself the desire for earthly possessions. I drift along where it appears that believing is easy and grace is cheap.

I seek the approval of men rather than the approval of God. I may feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, but my motives are self-serving. The desire to appear good means more to me than to have a vibrant relationship with Jesus.

My religion is based on intellectual knowledge rather than the cleansing blood of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I know the rules. I follow the commandments even as the Pharisees did. I am a hollow shell, ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth.

May we examine ourselves in the light of these scenarios. Satan is cunning, but may we not be ignorant of his devices. He tailors his snares to fit each person in every era of time. We live in a tolerant age with little or no outward persecution. Many of us, together with our children, have suffered little for the cause of Christ. However, history proves that things can suddenly change.

We live in perilous times; nevertheless, we should not despair. We can be strong with Christ as our Savior, the Bible and the Holy Spirit as our guide, and our brethren to support us in times of need. Persecution may come, but nothing will wrest God's children from His protecting embrace. Thank God for His amazing grace in perilous times. We can be saved.

Questions

1. Discuss: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12).
2. Is there a hidden peril in the many games young Christians play?
3. What is the root cause of doubts and fears?
4. What does it mean for Satan to be loosed? (Rev. 20:7).
5. 1 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, sm. "Jannes and Jambres"
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).