1 Timothy 4:1c
1 Now [de] the Spirit [pneuma] speaketh
[lego] expressly, [rhetos] that [hoti] in [en] the latter [husteros] times [kairos] some [tis] shall depart from [aphistemi] the faith, [pistis] giving
heed [prosecho] to
seducing [planos]
spirits, [pneuma] and
[kai] doctrines [didaskalia] of devils; [daimonion] KJV-Interlinear
1 But
the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the
faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, NASB
Paul uses a broad
definition when referring to the latter times. The word for latter, husteros,
is a reference to that which follows the former or the primary.
It stands apart for the
Day of the Lord or as some other phrases refer to the end times. The reference to the latter times is a
reference to the Church Age as a dispensation in its entirety, in that it is
the final full dispensation which will see human rule in history.
The Age of Israel was
the dispensation which immediately preceded ours, and of which we interrupted,
leaving them with just seven years remaining within their dispensation. That remaining seven years will conclude
immediately after our dispensation ends with the Rapture.
Paul refers in this
verse to a growing apostasy, which is a general concept. In 2 Thess. He referes to a great apostasy, which
is more specific, and of which this apostasy will culminate in at the end of
our dispensation, as the greatest apostasy era in all of history.
However, Paul refers to
the latter times, which is elsewhere defined for us in the New Testament.
The first advent of
Christ ushered in the period known as the latter times. John reinforces that notion by his reference
to the last hour in 1 Jn. 2:18.
Christ appeared in
these last times for our sake, 1 Pet. 1:20.
Hebrews
refers to these last times, in stating that God has spoken to us in His Son,
Heb. 1:2.
Hebrews also refers to this
era as the consummation of the ages, when Christ was crucified once during this
last era, Heb. 9:26.
And in Matthew, Pauls statement of 2 Thess, that
the love agape of most people will grow cold (wax cold), will occur and escalate
at the end of our era, Matt. 24:12, before the anti-christ
is revealed.
Throughout all of the
Church Age, apostasy will rise and fall through the generations, and that is
obvious from viewing the last 1900 years of history, however, as the end of our
age approaches, apostasy will rise to its highest.
Now just a quick
thought here.When the Rapture occurs,
society will already be in its peak of apostasy. Immediately after the Rapture, when all
believers have been removed from the earth, what do you suppose the spiritual
state of the world will be then?
Obviously there will be
only unbelievers on the earth, who by default are negative to God, Christ, and
doctrine, but more specifically against Christ, therefore the actual state of
the world will be at its most extreme anti-christ
state, ever.
Who then will come into
power after the Rapture?And who will
cheer him into power?
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