2 Timothy 3:1-5

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.

Commentary

The Bible tells of some traits that will be seen in the last days before Jesus returns.

While these traits have been with mankind for thousands of years, these traits will be widespread, and very prominent, more of a way of life, and not a rare occurrence.

In the past 40 years, schools have been teaching self-esteem, and self-gratification as a goal. This is contrary to the Bible’s teaching of self-denial, and that everyone is a sinner in need of a savior.

Many of these descriptions are easy to spot as predominate in certain groups, such as many politicians being proud boasters, heady, and high-minded.

The media is saturated with false accusers, and celebrate traitors as long as it advances the story they want to tell.

Abortion and euthanasia are proof of people who are without natural affection.

You are warned to turn away from the people who exhibit these characteristics.

Mark 13:12

Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

Commentary

Mark is quoting Jesus, describing additional character traits that will be prominent in the last days.

This describes a complete lack of family loyalty. In the future, ‘blood will not be thicker than water.’

With the increasing number of governments allowing and endorsing euthanasia, the last part of the verse is not only possible, but it is becoming commonplace.

Matthew 24:12

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Commentary

Jesus gives the reason for this loss of love, in the last days, immorality (iniquity) shall be overflowing.

Revelation 9:21

Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Commentary

In the seven years of the tribulation, mankind will not turn away from their evil ways. So even as God begins to execute His wrath on a wicked world, man will refuse to change (repent).

Note: The Greek word translated “sorceries” is pharmakeia indicating drug use.

Illegal drug use, sex outside of marriage, and crime has exploded in the past 60 years.

Luke 17:28-30

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Commentary

Jesus compares the last days with events in the past. The days of Lot (Genesis chapter 19) describes rampant homosexuality, fornication, and rape.

While normal tasks of life will be ongoing, the focus on illicit sex will be prevalent again when Jesus returns.

Ezekiel 16:49-50 tells us that Sodom was proud, with many people idle, ignoring the poor and needy, and committing abominations against God.

“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.”

Jude 7

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Commentary

God punished Sodom and Gomorrha, and the other cities in the area, with an eternal punishment. God is not going to change His standards or punishments just because modern man says sex outside of marriage or homosexuality are acceptable.

Jude 18

How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

Commentary

The Bible predicted that ungodly lusts would drive people to mock the Bible and the warnings it gives.

Repentance is a turning from an ungodly path, and salvation is found by turning to Jesus.

Turning to Jesus is the key; He will change your life. Do not make the mistake of thinking you must clean up your life first, before turning to Jesus. This is not done in your own power, but with the strength of the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 4:1-4

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; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 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.

Commentary

The Bible predicts something commonly seen today, especially in the media people access.

Best selling fiction books are written, and many people promote the writing to a level of truth.

Following their own lusts leads people to those in media, authors, and even churches who will reassure them that their lusts are acceptable and “normal.” Rather than hear the truth, they will shun it in favor of people who will tell them what they want to hear.

The loss of conscience is profound, as many people can no longer recognize the truth.

Acts 20:29-30

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.

Commentary

The Bible warns that non-believers would rise to positions of power within believing churches, and lead people away with unsound doctrine and lies.

Today, there is an increasing number of churches that are Christian in name only, teaching lies, and confusing unbelievers who honestly seek the truth.

Malachi 2:17

Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

Commentary

There has been an explosion in the number of behaviors and beliefs that were considered sinful and destructive to a person, that are now embraced as not just normal, but preferred.

People trying to say that abortion, or homosexuality are Biblically approved is one area that has changed in the developed world.

It is common for the people in various media to lie, and repeat unsubstantiated stories because they want the story to be true.

People mock the judgment of God, confusing His patience for acceptance. Rest assured, His judgment will come, and swiftly when it does.

Isaiah 5:20

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Commentary

Again, the Bible warns those who are not willing to accept God’s standards, and instead try to assign their own standard to man’s behaviors and beliefs.

2 Peter 3:3-4

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.

Commentary

Scoffers are growing in number everyday. It is easy to find people who attribute the signs of the last days, such as the increasing frequency and intensity of earthquakes, to the ways things have always been.

The warning that Jesus will return in judgment is met with more scoffing.

History is seen through the eyes of uniformitarianism, scoffing at a creation, a world-wide flood, and the resurrection of Jesus. The guiding assumption is that all things continue with very gradual changes over long periods of time.

Revelation 16:9-11

And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Commentary

When the tribulation arrives, and the judgment of God is being poured out upon the wickedness of man, people will swear and blame God for the heat, pain, and sores.

The sin of blasphemy is so common today that it is nearly impossible to watch a television show, see a movie, or even speak in mixed company where someone does not mindlessly blaspheme God.

This defiance of man will continue in blaspheming God, rather than repenting, and turning to Him.

Revelation 16:21

And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

Commentary

The judgment of God will continue, and still, like a stubborn child, men will continue to curse at God, rather than turn their hearts to Him.

Luke 17:26-27

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Commentary

Before the flood, while Noah was building a boat, people and life continued on as normal. What else characterized daily life?

2 Peter 2:5 tells us that Noah was a preacher of righteousness.

He too warned those around him of the coming judgment, and was ignored. While the word scoffer is not used here, it is obvious people did not take his message to heart, and were destroyed.

Genesis 6:11-13

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Commentary

The Bible tells us that while normal life included eating, drinking, and marriage, it was also filled with violence.

If the last days are “As in the days of Noe..” as seen in Luke 17:26-27, and this time was filled with violence, then the last days will be characterized as a world of violence.

There are many places in the world where it is not safe to travel at night, and violent crimes are committed by people who have no fear of justice.