Perilous Times

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” 2 Timothy 3:1. Paul wrote this so that these perils would not meet us unexpectedly. We should therefore be well-informed at all times so we can discern the times we are living in.

The last days had already begun on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:17. Since then there has never been a lack of perilous times. The perils began right away for those who were added to the church to be saved. The church was soon ravaged by murder and persecution. During the first three centuries those who were brought before a court could constantly be heard to say, “I am a Christian.” The church was born through great tribulations, and when we read the book of Reve­lation, we realize that the end will not be any different. The spiritual forces that are lined up against all things Christian will become more manifest as the second coming of Christ approaches. Dechristianization, apostasy, and persecution will increase at an alarming rate.

Just as it was in the days of Noah and Lot, so it will also be in the days of the Son of Man. They ate, they drank, they married and were given in marriage. Everything centered around their bellies and car­nal things; the thoughts of their hearts were only evil continually. This gives us an idea of what kind of spiritual forces will rule in these last days.

The church’s final battle is approaching, and the unique charac­teristic of the peril of our times is that evil things are so much more available than ever before. A huge amount of pernicious material is being spread by means of books, magazines, the cinema, and the mass media such as television and radio. The source of it all is the pit of hell, and it darkens both the sun and the air. Revelation 9:1-2. Those who do not want to live a godly life are filled and possessed by these spirit powers, while the godfearing must fight to be preserved undefiled. Wickedness is great, and there are no promises that it will decrease. On the contrary, it was midnight—the darkest hour of the night—when the cry went out, “The Bridegroom is coming!”

When John, in Revelation 13:1, looked out over the sea of human­ity, he saw a beast rise up which all those who dwelt on the earth worshiped, except those whose names were written in the book of life. One has to be godfearing to see these things. The ungodly do not see any beast rising out of the sea. They see only good times, shorter work days, longer vacations, and liberty for the flesh from laws and the authorities. These are the horrible results of apostasy and lawless­ness. Only those who are godly can look forward to a bright future in, the midst of all this darkness that is slowly settling over mankind. We read a glorious word in 2 Peter 2:7, “And delivered just Lot . . . .” Through the fear of God we and our children have reason to hope that we will be spared from the wrath to come. In Proverbs 31 we read about the virtuous woman (who is a picture of the bride), that she laughs at the times to come. The bride can do this, because she has had her time of tears, need, and sorrow.

There are two tribulations the disciples of Jesus must be familiar with. The one is in regard to the flesh—suffering in the flesh to cease from sin. 1 Peter 4:1. The other is being persecuted for Jesus’ sake, because they desire to live a godly life. 2 Timothy 3:12.

Let us in these days do what Jesus exhorts us to in Luke 21:28: lift up our heads, for our redemption is drawing near.