The Bible makes it
unmistakably plain that in the last days, the world
will be filled with difficulties, the like of which
have never before been known in the history of
mankind. In fact, the Holy Spirit was so committed to
making sure we understand what will occur in the last
days that in Second Timothy 3:1, it is as if He points
His prophetic finger two thousands years into the
future and specifically foretells what will occur at
the end of the age.
Paul wrote these words by inspiration of the Holy
Spirit in Second Timothy 3:1: "This know also, that in
the last days perilous times shall come." Notice that
this verse begins by saying, "This know." The
word "know" is the Greek word ginosko, the
Greek word for knowledge. But in this verse,
it is used in the present imperative tense, which
means it is a strong command to recognize that there
is something that must be known,must be
recognized, and must be acknowledged.
Having this knowledge is not optional; it is mandatory.
The verse continues, "This know also, that in the
last days." The word "last" in this verse is
from the word eschatos, which points to the
ultimate end of a thing - such as the last month
of the year; the last week of the month; the last day
of a week; or the very extreme end of the age. In
other words, the word eschatos doesn't merely describe
the last days in general, but the very last of
the last days. It was used in classical Greek
literature to depict a place furthest away,
such as the very ends of the earth. In this
sense, it also signified something that is final.
With this word eschatos, the Holy Spirit
through Paul takes us right into the end of the
age to enlighten our eyes and help us see what
the world environment will be like in the concluding
moments of the age. Paul goes on to say that
"perilous" times will mark that final age. "Perilous"
is the Greek word chalepos - a word used to
describe ugly words that, when spoken, are hurtful
and emotionally hard to bear. It is also used in
various pieces of literatures to depict wild,
vicious, uncontrollable animals that are
unpredictable and dangerous. It always carries
the idea of an action, place, person, or thing that is
harsh, harmful, and filled with high risk.
This is the very word used in Matthew 8:28 to portray
the two demon-possessed men who were so legendary in
the country of the Gadarenes. It says, "And when he
was come to the other side into the country of the
Gadarenes, there met him two possessed with devils,
coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no
man might pass by that way." The words "exceeding
fierce" is this same word chalepos. This means the two
demon-possessed men were like wild, vicious, and
uncontrollable animals, completely unpredictable and
dangerous. Simply being in the region near these men
placed one's life in jeopardy because these demonized
men were chalepos - harsh and harmful,
presenting a high risk to anyone in the
region.
Taking the definitions of all these words
into consideration,
Second Timothy 3:1 could be taken to mean:
"You emphatically must know what I am about
to tell you! In the very last part of the last
days, in the very end of the age, hurtful,
harmful, dangerous, unpredictable, uncontrollable,
high-risk periods of time will come."
Considering the events that have shaken the world in
recent years, we shouldn't be shocked to hear that
this is the meaning of Second Timothy 3:1. Dangerous,
harmful, high-risk periods of time have already
arrived! We are living in a generation that faces
world threats no other generation has ever known. As
always, the Holy Spirit was correct in what He was
trying to tell us.
But why did the Holy Spirit forewarn us about these
events? Were His prophetic warnings intended to scare
or to fill us with fear? No! The Holy Spirit,
as He always has done, wanted to prepare God's people
so they could be spiritually alert and ready to
minister to people who suffer harm as a result of the
events that will grip the world at the end of the age.
According to Second Timothy 3:1, we are living in an
age that will be marked by "perilous" world events.
Let us therefore be wise, protecting our minds, our
family members, and every other area of our lives by
renewing our minds with the Word of God. Rather than
hide in fear, let's get God's perspective about what
we should be doing to help people who have been
victimized by this age. Let's move out with the power
of God and be ready to minister to those who have
suffered harm because of the times in which we live! |