Msg #2345 Post Perilous Times 1 - 4

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

After Paul charges Timothy to endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, he informs, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, … ” (2Tim.2:3,3:1-2). Here Paul gives twenty attributes of the last of the last days. Perilous means fraught with danger, hazard, risk, terror, and Paul goes on to say, “Yea, and all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (3:12). Christians have! The Roman Catholic Church killed 50 million!¹ Muslims have martyred more in the past hundred years then died in any hundred year period previous! Christians live in perilous times! Selfishness is rampant, selflessness, very rare. Children inherit a selfish nature and the Bible is very clear that it needs to be “beat out of a child with a rod of correction” (Prov.13:24, 19:18, 22:6,15, 23:13 - 14, 29:15,17). Giving little “time-out sessions” has yielded the selfish hatred we see unfolding on college campuses, in abortion clinics, and divorce courts. Coveting is having a great desire to possess something belonging to someone else. It brings its own peril; Eve did it in the garden, Achan in Jericho, and King David on his rooftop. Paul likens it to idolatry (Col.3:5), a device of Satan whereby he steals one's affection and allegiance from God as they set their affection on things on Earth (3:2).

Lastly here, a boasters talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about their achievements, possessions, or abilities. Nebuchadnezzar did it (Dan.4:30-31); Herod did it (Acts.12:21-24). Both had dire consequences. These four things are rampant in the end times, there are 16 more! Let them not be once named among you as becometh saints. The pre-millennial, pre-tribulation, rapture of the church, will be post perilous times.

An Essay for week #45 - Nov 5, 2023

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs231105.mp3

Read more Eschatology at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/theology

1Carroll, B. H., “Trail of Blood.”

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