Signs of the Times

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 Timothy 3:1 NASB

Last days – So how will we know we are in the last days? First, let’s examine the question. Do we need to know? Is the question even appropriate? In an important sense, this question reveals human pride, not religious humility. The truth is that God knows—and the rest is none of our business. We are asked to be prepared, not to discern the time of the end. In fact, we might ask a more important question. “Why do we think we need to know?” That question often reveals a desire for “secret” knowledge and that leads to pride. So if we are going to ask about the end, we must first be aware of the danger posed by this question. OK?

Now notice that Paul does tell Timothy something about the last days. The Greek is eschatais hemerais enstesontai, the last days that will come. Perhaps the Greek is better rendered, “the last days that will be present,” since the idea of “impending” is not found in the verb enistemi. We derive our theology of eschatology from the Greek word for “last,” that is, eschatos. Certainly Paul wanted Timothy to recognize something about these days so that he might be prepared for them. But now we are in for a shock. Not one single characteristic of Paul’s description of the last days has any predictive value. In other words, the list that Paul provides tells us absolutely nothing about world events, fulfillment of prophecy, future occurrences, political consequences or astrophysical phenomena. Look at the list: men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, disobedient to parents, malicious, brutal, reckless, conceited. We will look at all of these, but we must be impressed that there is nothing here that would allow us to fix a date, make a prediction, find a secret or write a book about the “end times.” What Paul provides is a list of human behaviors, not political or cosmic occurrences, and his list is true in the first century, the sixth century, the fourteenth century and today. In fact, his list has been true since Tubal-Cain.

Then why did Paul bother to point it out to Timothy? Doesn’t history demonstrate that men have always been described by this list of infamy? Paul specifies what the record already shows because he doesn’t want Timothy to have false hope in the Kingdom. Paul uses the verb ginosko (“But realize”). This is not the verb of intuitive self-awareness. This is the verb of knowledge by collective examination. Look at the facts. Don’t be naïve by thinking that since the Messiah came things will somehow get progressively better and better. In fact, just the opposite is true. Before that last day, things will get progressively worse. The key word is “progressively.” That means we won’t experience a sudden increase in ungodly behavior. It will just creep up on us. Like the frog in the pot of water, we won’t be aware of the rise in unrighteousness until it is too late. So Paul warns Timothy. Stay alert. Don’t fix your gaze over the horizon. The “son” will rise soon enough. Remember where you are. Do what God requires here. Now let’s go look at the list.

Topical Index: last, eschatos, prophecy, end times, 2 Timothy 3:1

TRAVEL NOTE:  Today I leave for China where I will teach and share with several groups.  I am still having a lot of pain from my past fall and the flight is very long.  Please pray for me if you wish.  Thanks.  Skip