The Age In Which We Live….perilous Times

Why? Because when they preach on these verses of scripture, they may be branded as one of those “Doom and Gloom” preachers. Nevertheless, if a Minister of the Gospel loves the Lord, he is compelled by his love for the Lord to preach on these verses of scripture. Why? Because these verses of scripture are just as much the Word of God as John 3:16.

These verses tell us how it is going to be in the last days, a period of time referred to in the scriptures as “Perilous Times”. The word that best describes this age, is the word “corrupted”.

Look again at 2 Tim 3:8. “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also RESIST THE TRUTH: MEN OF CORRUPT MINDS, reprobate concerning the faith.”

The Bible says that Jannes and Jambres WITHSTOOD Moses and resisted the truth. Paul is saying that during the last days, the same thing will happen again.

There are three words we need to look at closely.

(1) Look at 2 Tim. 3:8, at the word, “RESIST”. This is the word “anthesistemi”, which means to stand against, to oppose, to resist. Notice, the Bible says that those who “RESIST” have corrupt minds.

(2) Look at the words “CORRUPT MINDS.” This is the Greek word “kataphtheiro”, which means to spoil entirely or deprave.

Illus: They are like spoiled fruit, entirely corrupt. And now they are worthless.

(3) Look at the word “REPROBATE”. God’s Word says they will become like Jannes and Jambres, who were REPROBATES.

WHAT IS A REPROBATE? The word “REPROBATE”, is the word “adokimos”, which means unapproved, worthless, castaway, or rejected. Jannes and Jambres had rejected God’s Word and God’s man, and now they have been rejected by God.

God’s Word tells us that one of the things we can look for in the last days, is for men and women to become like Jannes and Jambres, who rejected God’s man and God’s Word.

Let’s look at these reprobates, to see how they have become corrupted. During the last days they will have-

I. CORRUPTED MINDS

His Word makes it clear, that in the last days we would be living among people who have CORRUPTED MINDS. HOW WOULD THEIR MINDS BE CORRUPTED? In three ways:

A. THEIR MINDS ARE CORRUPTED SOCIALLY

Look at 2 Tim 3:1 5, we read, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

As we look at these verses of scripture, we who were privileged to have lived during the 50’s, now find it difficult to believe we are seeing these things take place in our society today.

Look at verse 1. God says these are PERILOUS TIMES, which means hard to bear, troublesome, dangerous, harsh, or fierce.

Then the Word of God shows us SEVEN THINGS that would describe the Perilous age. God’s Word said:

• They would be BOASTERS - People are proud enough to get on national television, and brag about things they should be ashamed of. We live in an age of BOASTERS.

• They would be COVETOUS - We live in a society that is always wanting more.

• They would be BLASPHEMERS - There is nothing sacred in their lives, they attack God and God’s Man. We live in an age of BLASPHEMERS.

• They would be UNTHANKFUL - This is definitely the age of ingratitude.

• They would be UNHOLY - This age in which we live is certainly unholy.

• They would be WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION -

-It is not natural for a man to love a man.

-It is not natural for a woman to love a woman.

-It is not natural for people to have a greater affection for animals than they do for humans.

• They would be INCONTINENT - This means they have no self control.

This is the age in which we live. This is truly the “Perilous Times” age. This is the age when evil men and women are CORRUPTED SOCIALLY. The Bible also says, in these “Perilous Times” -

B. THEIR MINDS ARE CORRUPTED SPIRITUALLY

2 Tim 3:5, “Having a FORM OF GODLINESS, but DENYING THE POWER thereof: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY.”

Does it mean that atheism will prevail in this wicked age? No, the Bible says they will have a “Form of Godliness”.

• You would still have PREACHERS

• You would still have CHURCH BUILDINGS

• You would still have BIBLES

• You would still have CHURCH MEMBERS