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1 This [touto] know [ginosko] also, [de] that [hoti] in [en] the last [eschatos] days [hemera] perilous [chalepos] times [kairos] shall come. [enistemi] KJV-Interlinear
3 But
realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. NASB
Now we have the phrase 'last days.' We have already learned that there is a specific and technical term for 'last days,' which applies to the last seven years of the Age of Israel, known as the Tribulation. But that is not our context here. So be careful how you read passages of scripture so that you do not get off track.
In the last chapter, our subject was generally the negative attitude of believers.
This chapter continues that thread, and in the next chapter, in chapter four, Paul will make reference to the increasing apostasy that will occur among believers.
Therefore, in this verse, the reference to 'last days,' is not to the period that will occur after the Rapture, but to the end of our current dispensation when believers are still here.
We already know that when the Rapture occurs, all believers will be removed from this world, leaving only unbelievers. We already know that during the Tribulation. Those seven years will be without the restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit, thus evil will run rampant.
New believers in the Tribulation will be turning to God in droves, not turning away.
This verse and following, however, is speaking of an increasingly negative population, wherein negative attitudes toward doctrine will be replaced by wickedness on all levels.
This supports the comment that Paul made in 2 Thessalonians, that a great apostasy must first occur before the anti-christ and the end days will be revealed.
Our current dispensation, the Church Age, began fifty days after the Cross. The Cross occured on the day of Passover. Fifty days later, on the Feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given, thus kicking off our dispensation.
In our current dispensation, when a person believes in Christ, all three members of the Godhead, reside within each believer, making our bodies into a Temple (residence of God).
This is spiritual of course, and thus their presence cannot be measured or detected. None of this shenanigan and nonsense holy roller stuff is legitimate. So do not be fooled by folks who pretend to be filled or overwhelmed resulting in emotional or physical displays.
What you can expect to find in this world is a population, even of believers, who are self serving and self pleasing, leading to greater apostasy, greater confusion, greater moral decay, and more tolerance for wickedness in its many forms.
And as the true church of Christianity embraces these types of false practices, more and more believers will turn to the appeals of human viewpoint and even emotional outbursts that are intended to draw attention rather than teach. Sound doctrine thus gets replaced by false and empty displays of emotion and opinion.
And just as the trend predictions for our current dispensation have come true, namely a rapid increase in population, a rapid increase in technology, in travel, in weather patterns, in earthquakes, and so forth, so also, there has been and will continue to be, a rapid increase in the falling away from sound doctrine, being replaced by an equally rapid increase in apostasy.
Apostasy you recall is simply an embracing of that which is false. And the false of this world is a broad range of topics and activities and philosophies and such.
In other words, truth is set aside, and the lies of the world, are pursued.
And this will lead to the difficult times as Paul states here in our current verse. Difficult times describe all manner of social and economic and natural problems that will lead to a time that can also be described as perilous.
Difficult, 'chlepos,' means perilous, difficult, dangerous, fierce. And that is a good description of life when doctrine is absent or greatly reduced in society.
And when you combine the lack of doctrine with a rapidly growing and rapidly moving society, then that leaves little room for reaction or recovery or even figuring out that things are not going well. The dive into apostasy just keeps getting deeper and deeper. And that unfortunately is where society is heading.
John has already told us in Revelation, that these things must be. And even though we might not want to see the world fall apart, unfortunately society is going to do that to itself through negative volition toward truth.
Our dispensation has already been through the dark ages, inquisitions, world wars, plagues, famines and more, and not many have figured out the reasons for those difficulties. Even advances in technology and such have not helped in this regard.
By the time the Rapture occurs, whenever that is going to be, the entire world, not just a country or two, will have crossed over the line of massive world government or at least the pattern for it, which will make the anti-christs takeover virtually uncomplicated.
In order to get to that point, the world has to get from where we are today, to deeper into apostasy, and all that is required is time and a negative attitude toward truth. Wickedness will do the rest.
And as for the perilous times phrase, it should be self evident that negative volition produces dangers beyond imagination, and the peril will be in the future repercussions of the collective decisions of todays and tomorrows society.
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Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
