Young People's Group

Perilous Times Will Come

by Mitchell Tan
October 19, 2017

GENERAL WARNING ABOUT THE LAST DAYS

What does the term “last days” mean? It is a reference to the time period when the Lord Jesus began His ministry during His first coming and to the time of His second coming. During this epoch of time, there would be grave dangers from the outside that could threaten the Church. The world and Satan can influence and deceive God’s people.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON PERILOUS TIMES WITHIN THE CHURCH

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come …”
2 Timothy 3:1

More specifically, Paul warned of how perilous times would come within the Church context. The reason for this is because of the kind of people that would rise up among His people. They can grievously hurt and affect the Church from within. Young people, we need to be prepared for such times.

DESCRIPTION OF THOSE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS

What kind of people would we encounter in the Church during the last days?

1. SELF-CENTREDNESS

“… For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God …”
2 Timothy 3:2-4

One key problem that we will see in these last days is self-centredness. Paul had given Timothy a long list of characteristics that would describe what these people would be like. They would be focusing on themselves and being unloving towards others. They can be brutal, vicious and would not think twice of betraying others. They would go against everything that the Lord stands for. They would cause much hurt and stress to the people within the Church.

2. SUPERFICIAL

“… Having a form of godliness but denying its power.”
2 Timothy 3:5

These people would seem to be godly on the outside. However, what they have is only a shell. They actually do not have real faith in the Lord. They, in reality, would deny the power of the Lord in their life. They are hypocritical and superficial. They only pretend to be godly.

3. DECEPTIVE AND SPIRITUALLY BLINDED

“For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
2 Timothy 3:6-7

These people would also be deceptive and would seek to lead gullible people, especially ladies, astray. They are always learning but unable to have a proper knowledge of truth. They are spiritually blind.

STANDING STRONG IN THE LAST DAYS

1. TURNING AWAY FROM SUCH PEOPLE

“And from such people turn away!”
2 Timothy 3:5

Paul’s command to Timothy was to shun such people. We are meant to totally avoid such false teachers. We should not have any form of fellowship with them lest we become influenced by them.

2. SEEKING TO BE A LOVER OF GOD AT ALL TIMES

“Lovers of God”
2 Timothy 3:4

Our challenge is to be a lover of God. There should be a deep sense of affection for God and His word. We would love the Lord more than the world.

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
Mark 12:30

This is the Lord’s command to love Him with everything that we are. Let’s seek to obey this commandment at all times.

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