(2 Timothy 3)
THERE is a period in the last days designated in the Scriptures as “perilous times.” The Holy Ghost through the apostle Paul tells us to know that these times should come, and shows what should be our attitude and conduct in faithfulness to the Lord, amidst the increasing ruin and disorder in the professing Church. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Tim. 3:11This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2 Timothy 3:1)).
The characteristic features of these perilous times are clearly delineated in this chapter, and they are plainly shown on every hand, in the spirit of the present day. What makes these times so difficult are the prevailing worldly principles, and these in their worst form; false doctrines and seductions under the profession of Christianity, and all passed off as genuine truth, when it is a counterfeit.
A form of godliness is not enough, because there may be that along with a denial of its influence over heart and conscience in one’s life. The days are full of deceivers and false teachers, who “overthrow the faith of some” by their seductions, and cause even the enemies of Christ to blaspheme. They will grow worse and worse, for “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:1313But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)). It must be so, for God’s infallible Word has foretold it, but the truth of God remains ever the same, it changes not, because the Lord changes not. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Heb. 13:88Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)). And His Word remains the same. “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth forever” (1 Pet. 1:24, 2524For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:24‑25)). “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:3535Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Matthew 24:35)). Dear fellow-believer, we rest in our Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Holy Scriptures, in perfect peace and security amid the increasing iniquity of these perilous times. It is sadly noticeable that the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, is largely given up to pleasure. The form of religiousness is gone through by many, then the balance of that day is spent for pleasure, or in social visits. The vast number in Christendom give themselves up to pleasure on that day, under various excuses.
Does this not show there is more love of pleasures than love for God?
On the first day of the week the Lord rose from the dead, and triumphed over everything which was against the believer. He was crucified for the believer’s sins; He rose again for his justification on that day (Matt. 28:1-61In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:1‑6); John 20:1-201The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. 11But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. (John 20:1‑20); Luke 24:1-91Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8And they remembered his words, 9And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. (Luke 24:1‑9); Rom. 4:24-25, 5:1, 2). This first day of the week is called in Revelation 1:1010I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10), “The Lord’s Day.” It is His day and not our day. That day recalls to the mind of the believer the Lord’s love in dying for his sins, and rising again from the dead for his justification; and being the Lord’s Day, it should be given up to the Lord exclusively in love to Him. Truly every believer in the Lord Jesus can say, “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:1919We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)), and that love should be his incentive to live for Him, and wholly serve Him.
“Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” Do these words have their force and power upon the conscience and heart as they should?
Let us ask ourselves the question and answer it before the Lord. How do we use the Lord’s Day? And how do we spend our vacations?
Our prayer is —
“O keep us in the narrow way,
That ne’er from Thee our footsteps stray.”
Dear child of God, we are not of this world; our blessings are “in heavenly places,” not in earthly places. If any are careless about these things, let God’s faithful and holy Word arouse them from their indifference to own the Lord’s claims over them as above everything and every one else.
Occupy yourself with that Word, and be guided only by its teachings and principles.
The delusions of Satan under high-sounding names are gotten up to hide attacks upon the person of Christ, and the atonement, and upon the Holy Scriptures, which are the inspired Word of God. Such delusions are but subtle revivals of the old errors and heresies of the apostles’ day, and openly condemned by them. Oh! turn away from all these errors and seducers. Turn away from that snare of Satan called Higher Criticism. It would take from the Christian the Holy Bible. It would tear out of your heart and conscience, if it were possible, the admonitions and teachings of the inspired five books of Moses, every one of which unfold to us who believe in Christ “the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27, 4427And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)
44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44)).
The teachers and disciples of Higher Criticism, who deny the inspiration of parts of the Holy Scriptures, cannot come under the appellation of “the man of God,” for he needs “ALL Scripture” in order that he may be perfect, and thoroughly furnished unto all good works, and they only take parts of Scripture.
The “Millennial Dawn, or Plan of the Ages,” and “Christian Science” (falsely named) are delusions of Satan, and are apostasy, for the former attacks the atonement by lessening its efficacy; it is a denial of the value of His work on the cross, and the eternal judgment of God against sin, while the latter attacks the Person of Christ, and the whole of Christianity, and God as Creator. It is not Christianity at all. “Evil men and seducers” are getting bolder, and waxing worse and worse with the deceptions of their own deceived hearts and minds which are blinded by unbelieving reasonings. Your safety, dearly beloved in Christ, is to continue in the teaching of God’s Word taught by the Holy Ghost, and allow that precious and faithful Word to have its influence over your conscience and heart. Turn ever to it. Cleave closely to it, and to the Lord with purpose of heart, and you will be equipped in the energy of the Holy Spirit for the Lord’s service.
It is the Lord’s will that we should be aware of these “perilous times,” and their characteristic masks, and avoid them. Also, in order that we may be on our guard against error, we are to be fortified with God’s Holy Word. Let us not be discouraged, for the Lord would have us go on preaching the Word and the gospel, instant in season and out of season, exhorting, reproving, until He comes. He will give delivering mercies, and He will stand by His testimony and His faithful servants and followers, however small their number may be, and strengthen them as He did His beloved and faithful apostle. The Lord has said, “Surely I come quickly;” let us say from hearts His love has won, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Till then, it is our privilege to continue in the things learned from the Word, guarded with it, like sentinels on watch, lest the world’s principles, religiousness of the flesh, and false doctrines ensnare our hearts and minds. Also endure afflictions, and serve and follow the Lord, whom the mass of Christendom reject in practice. There is a crown of righteousness laid up for all who love His appearing, which the righteous Judge shall give “at that day” when He comes. Alas! poor Christendom, thy doom is sealed. Thy judgment as an apostate system is foretold in iniquitous Babylon’s ultimate and final destruction (Rev. 18).
W. E. S.