-1-
Be Ready
¶ But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2Timothy 3:1
Are we in the “last days?”
The Bible contains many references to the last days. And basically … to the people of God it means … be ready.
Genesis was written as a complete history of the beginning of everything. But the whole point of scripture is that it has been written in light of a final wind-up. And even though people have expected it in all past generations, no one really wants to believe “This is it!” But at some point it will be.
In writing to Timothy, the Apostle Paul, in both of his letters, gives Timothy a prophecy of the future. The first one is this:
1Timothy 4:1-4
1 ¶ GOD’S Spirit specifically tells us that in later days there will be men who abandon the true faith and allow themselves to be spiritually seduced by teachings of demons, 2 teachings given by men who are lying hypocrites, whose consciences are as dead as seared flesh.
3 These men forbid marriage and command abstinence from foods — good things which God created to be thankfully enjoyed by those who believe in him and know the truth.
4 Everything God made is good, and is meant to be gratefully used, not despised. The holiness or otherwise of a certain food, for instance, depends not on its nature but on whether it is eaten thankfully or not. 5 It is consecrated by the word of God and by prayer.1
What later times was Paul meaning? Is this something that we are still supposed to expect?
Paul wrote a second letter to Timothy … and we also have that letter as part of our Bible. In this second letter Paul gives Timothy another prophecy relating to the future. In this prophecy Paul does not use the word, 'later'. He uses the word 'last'. He specifically talks about the 'last days' of life on this earth, prior to the return of Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:1-4
1 ¶ But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
In this letter Paul says 'terrible times' are coming.
And what is implied is … be ready. How can we be ready? First, be ready spiritually. That means … fix everything that is wrong .. spiritually.
As most of you know, the book of Revelation in your bible is mostly prophecy. But this prophecy is also preceded by … be ready. Just like Paul's statement to Timothy … Revelation also says, terrible times are coming, be ready.
Specific areas of our daily lives that might need correcting (so that we will be considered ready), is the reason for the seven letters at the beginning of Revelation. Because of the serious things that will impact the whole world, the seven letters to the churches instruct the people of God on how to be ready for it.
And the instructions to the churches have nothing to do with preparing physically. Physical things, such as food, rations, guns, living somewhere out it in the boonies … are not mentioned at all. God is concerned with spiritual preparation. Only. He promised if we will seek first the spiritual things … He WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PHYSICAL THINGS.
Correction of wrong practices has something to do with readiness for the coming times.
Being ready includes an increase in prayerfulness of God's people.
Lu 21:36 “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
It will be possible to escape something - If we watch and pray.
Counted worthy? Some translations say 'Be strong enough to escape.' That is incorrect. The original Greek actually says 'accounted worthy'.
Is the 'escaping' of things on us? Are we to use our wisdom and knowledge in making decisions that will aid us in escaping things? Or does God look at our hearts and sees to it that certain things do not come upon us?
Our attitude should be one of expectation, not fear. It should be an attitude of desire. John had this attitude as he said, “Even so come quickly Lord Jesus!”
Our commitment to God, in our overall mission of the church, includes hastening the Lord's return. (2Peter 3:12)
How do we do that? Get the gospel out to the community, our families, and the world.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14
1J.B.Philips translation of the New Testament. Most scripture references will be taken from the Philips translation. If otherwise it will be so noted.
Are we in the “last days?”
The Bible contains many references to the last days. And basically … to the people of God it means … be ready.
Genesis was written as a complete history of the beginning of everything. But the whole point of scripture is that it has been written in light of a final wind-up. And even though people have expected it in all past generations, no one really wants to believe “This is it!” But at some point it will be.
In writing to Timothy, the Apostle Paul, in both of his letters, gives Timothy a prophecy of the future. The first one is this:
1Timothy 4:1-4
1 ¶ GOD’S Spirit specifically tells us that in later days there will be men who abandon the true faith and allow themselves to be spiritually seduced by teachings of demons, 2 teachings given by men who are lying hypocrites, whose consciences are as dead as seared flesh.
3 These men forbid marriage and command abstinence from foods — good things which God created to be thankfully enjoyed by those who believe in him and know the truth.
4 Everything God made is good, and is meant to be gratefully used, not despised. The holiness or otherwise of a certain food, for instance, depends not on its nature but on whether it is eaten thankfully or not. 5 It is consecrated by the word of God and by prayer.1
What later times was Paul meaning? Is this something that we are still supposed to expect?
Paul wrote a second letter to Timothy … and we also have that letter as part of our Bible. In this second letter Paul gives Timothy another prophecy relating to the future. In this prophecy Paul does not use the word, 'later'. He uses the word 'last'. He specifically talks about the 'last days' of life on this earth, prior to the return of Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:1-4
1 ¶ But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
In this letter Paul says 'terrible times' are coming.
And what is implied is … be ready. How can we be ready? First, be ready spiritually. That means … fix everything that is wrong .. spiritually.
As most of you know, the book of Revelation in your bible is mostly prophecy. But this prophecy is also preceded by … be ready. Just like Paul's statement to Timothy … Revelation also says, terrible times are coming, be ready.
Specific areas of our daily lives that might need correcting (so that we will be considered ready), is the reason for the seven letters at the beginning of Revelation. Because of the serious things that will impact the whole world, the seven letters to the churches instruct the people of God on how to be ready for it.
And the instructions to the churches have nothing to do with preparing physically. Physical things, such as food, rations, guns, living somewhere out it in the boonies … are not mentioned at all. God is concerned with spiritual preparation. Only. He promised if we will seek first the spiritual things … He WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PHYSICAL THINGS.
Correction of wrong practices has something to do with readiness for the coming times.
Being ready includes an increase in prayerfulness of God's people.
Lu 21:36 “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
It will be possible to escape something - If we watch and pray.
Counted worthy? Some translations say 'Be strong enough to escape.' That is incorrect. The original Greek actually says 'accounted worthy'.
Is the 'escaping' of things on us? Are we to use our wisdom and knowledge in making decisions that will aid us in escaping things? Or does God look at our hearts and sees to it that certain things do not come upon us?
Our attitude should be one of expectation, not fear. It should be an attitude of desire. John had this attitude as he said, “Even so come quickly Lord Jesus!”
Our commitment to God, in our overall mission of the church, includes hastening the Lord's return. (2Peter 3:12)
How do we do that? Get the gospel out to the community, our families, and the world.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14
1J.B.Philips translation of the New Testament. Most scripture references will be taken from the Philips translation. If otherwise it will be so noted.