IF THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS, WHAT DOES THE LAST OF THE LAST DAYS LOOK LIKE?

INTRODUCTION

Do you realize that the last days began nearly 2,000 years ago with the birth of Christ? His coming to earth ushered in salvation by grace to all who freely accept His gift, but it also ushered in the last days. Let me read you what Hebrews 1:1-2 says: In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe

I am now 68 years old. People will say that I am over the hill. I have statistically less time to live than I already lived. In other words, I have lived most of my life already. So, in the real sense I am in my last days. But my last of my last days will probably not be the same as the beginning of my last days. Now, in the beginning of my last days, I can drive an auto but there may be the possibility in the last of my last days I cannot. I can cut my own yard on a zero turn mower in the beginning of my last days, but in the last of my last days, someone else may have to do that for me. I can walk in these beginning last days without any assistance, but in the last of my last days, I might need a walker or wheelchair.

What I am trying to tell you is that I am expecting the last of my last days is going to be different than the beginning of my last days. And the Bible makes it clear that the last of the last days is going to be a whole lot different than the time spoken about in Hebrews 1:1-2 which is referring to the beginning of the last of the last days.

But how different are the last of the last days going to be? That is what we hope to answer tonight. So, if you have your Bible turn with to 2 Timothy 3:1-12.

SCRIPTURE

2 Timothy 3:1-12 1  But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- 5  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 6  They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7  always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8  Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth--men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9  But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone. 10  You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11  persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12  In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Points:

#1

I WANT YOU TO NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BEGINNING OF THE LAST DAYS AND THE LAST OF THE LAST DAYS.

Hebrews 1:1-2 (NIV) 1  In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

2 Timothy 3:1

(NIV) 1  But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.

In Hebrews 1:1-2- there is no mention of terrible times. Instead, it extols the greatest of Jesus. But 2 Tim 3:1 cuts right to the chase. If you are living in the last of the last days , you are living in terrible times.

There are people who think nothing is going to change. Life as we know it is just going on and on. My grandparents struggled, my parents struggle, I struggle- that is just life. It not any worse; it is just a different type of struggle and our kids will struggle differently than us. No, there is a definite spot in time, when things are going to be so much worse than before.

It is going to be a marked difference. I know that by the word “terrible”. It is the same Greek word used in Matthew 8:28. Matthew 8:28 (NIV) 28  When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.

Terrible and so violent are the same word in the Greek. It is going to be an untamed time, a violent time a time that is difficult to make it through. And some generation of Christians will have to go through this time and I pray that it is not ours.

So, that brings me to my next question. What am I to look for?

#2

IN THE LAST OF THE LAST DAYS , THERE WILL BE LOVE BUT IT WILL NOT BE A BIBLICAL TYPE OF LOVE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY YOU AND I DISTINGUISH BETWEEN BIBLICAL LOVE AND NON-BIBLICAL LOVE.

In verses 2-5, there are 19 characteristics of the non-God fearing people who will be living during these last of the last days. There will be a generation of Christians who will be living amongst this mess because Paul warns those Christians living during these times to turn away from such people. And if it our generation we need to know what to look for.

And I think the biggest thing that we need to look for is how do they love. 1 John 4:7 (NIV) 7  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. And we use that love to first love God and then our neighbor as ourselves. But in the last days God’s Biblical Love will be replaced with non-biblical love.

But look at all the ways they have perverted love in 2 Timothy 3: 2-5.

Lovers of themselves

Lovers of money

unloving ( directed toward others)

lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

And look at all the elements that are a contradiction to God’s in 1 Corinthians 13

Boasters....it does not boast

proud…it is not proud

3. disobedient to parents… It does not dishonor others

unforgiving…it keeps no record of wrongs

without self-control…it is not self seeking

despisers of good… love does not delight in the truth.

John 13:34-35 (NIV) 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

So, as we approach the last of the last days, we better know what God’s love looks like.

#3

IN THE LAST OF THE LAST DAYS, WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL NOT BE LED ASTRAY BECAUSE THESE NON- GOD LOVING PEOPLE WILL FIND THEMSELVES IN LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE CHURCH.

In verse 5 it says that they have a form of godliness but denying its power. But in verse 6, it says their influence will be such that their false theology will work its way into the homes and lead people astray. That is why I feel that they will have leadership roles in the church.

And obviously, they must do a good job deceiving the Christians because in

Luke 18:8 (NIV) 8 ... However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

#4

IF WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE LAST DAYS ,THE KEY FOR US IS TO HOLD TIGHT TO THE WORD OF GOD AND HE WILL DELIVER YOU THROUGH THIS TIME.

2 Timothy 3:10–11 NKJV

But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.

But Paul does warn us that we are going to get affected by these last of the last days. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.