II Timothy 3:1 – 5>>> 2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. The Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul tells us in these passages what the condition of the world will be in the last days, actually in these days in which we presently live. These are these are the last days of the church, meaning that it’s dispensation is about over, with the righteous soon-to-be rapture. The world will then be plunged into a cataclysmic judgment such as it has never known before. Jesus said so! (Matthew 24: 21). The second coming will then usher in the kingdom age, and the restore some of Israel. So we are presently living in the last of the last days of the church age. Paul’s statements have complete we eliminated the fallacious thinking of some who claim that the world is getting better and better, and that Christianity is going to come terms with the other religions of the world and usher in the kingdom age, which will then bring Jesus back. Such thinking completely disavows the coming great tribulation, the rise of the antichrist, the battle of Armageddon. The Bible doesn’t teach that the situation is going to get better and better, but, as stated here, worse and worse. It also teaches, as we see from verse five, that the church will go into total apostasy. It will have, and presently has,(a form of godliness, but denies the power thereof.) What does (denying the power thereof) space mean? Paul said, (for the preaching of the cross is to them who perish foolishness; but in to us which are saved it is the power of God, I Corinthians 1:18). How is the preaching of the cross the power of God? In truth, there is no power in the cross, per se, and there certainly isn’t any power in the fact death. The power is actually in the Holy Spirit; however, he works exclusively within the para meters of the finished work of Christ, and, in fact, will work to another way (Romans 8:2) when the believer expresses faith in Christ and what Christ did at the cross, the Holy Spirit will then manifest his Almighty power on behalf of such an individual. The Holy Spirit works on behalf of the believer is the power of which Paul speaks. However, the modern church, at least as a whole, is denying the cross. And when the cross is denied, ignored ridiculed or set aside, the Holy Spirit refused to work in such an atmosphere. So the power is denied as well! How many churches presently are preaching the cross? The answer is simple: precious few! Why aren’t they preaching the cross? There are many reasons, but the greatest reason of all sadly, is unbelief. Let me, however quickly it: even though the situation is in good, and, as far as the general direction the church is concerned, it’s not going to get any better, still, the Lord, I believe, in the last days, is going to do a great thing, something so great that it will eclipse anything done in the past. While most of the church will continue to go deeper into apostasy, still, even as Daniel prophesies: in Daniel 12:3, 10 (and they that be wise shall shine as brightness of the firmament; and they who turned many to righteous as the stars for ever and ever. Many shall be purified and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and not of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.)
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 11:59:46 +0000
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