Saturday, July 9, 2016

Lesson 13-16 Perilous Times Are Here!

Our number one desire for these Bible lessons are for them to be understandable, defendable, and for the Holy Spirit to bear witness that the conclusions are the true, and correct interpretation of the Holy Scriptures.

Guidelines for our Bible studies on this website:

1.  We treat the living words of the living God as spoken by the Lord Jesus and given to the Apostle Paul for the Body of Christ the same importance, as the words of the Lord Jesus recorded in red letters in the books of Matthew – Acts Chp. 8, as what should be known as the instructions to the nation Israel.      
2.   We will not be wresting the scriptures against each other, we will look at the verses in their context, and will not try to make the scriptures say anything, but what they say.
3.   We will be using the verses out of the Authorized Version, commonly known as the KJV. It is fine if you want to look the verses up in other translations if you like, but we will consider the Authorized Version as our final written authority.
4.   We do not and will not use the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, or Latin languages to prove any points, or give any indication that the Authorized Version has been incorrectly translated. 

As we begin a new lesson since the tragic event that took place in Orlando we now have another tragic event in Dallas, I don’t believe it to be an accident that these events are taking place. I believe with all my heart that we are witnessing the events spoken of in the Bible as the last days before the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ. If they are not the fulfillment of Bible prophesy these events sure resemble the prophetic words of the prophets recorded in the Bible.

I had been planning this lesson before the Orlando and Dallas events, I think you will find it a timely lesson.

Our brother and Apostle Paul spoke the following words to Timothy approximately two thousand years ago and as we study them together I believe you will find them to perfectly describe the times in which we are living.

2Tim.3
[1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

In this first verse we are told that in the last days perilous times shall come, perilous simply means full of danger or risk. So to give an example of how times have changed, just the other day in the little town I live in a teenage girl has gone missing. In times past this type of thing was almost unheard of in America. As an elementary school student our parents thought nothing of letting us walk to school by ourselves, now parents are afraid to even let the children play in the front yard without supervision. I remember when you could go almost anywhere in an airport, your family could even meet you as you stepped off the plane. There were no metal detectors, and armed guards at the county court house or schools.

Yes, all one has to do is just look back not that many years and see that the world in which we live has become perilous, full of danger and risk. In the following verses Paul gives the main cause for these perilous times. I still remember the first time I read these verses and I didn’t have any problem understanding them out of an Authorized Version of the Bible, in fact the words seemed all too clear. See what you think.

[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Honestly, as I read these words for the first time forty-two years ago I thought someone could have just written them the week before describing the people of the world in which I lived. I want to just give a couple of examples, I am sure that as you read the words many of you had the same thoughts I had.

Men shall be lovers of their own selves, I believe they refer to us as the me generation everything revolves around self, and not others, to Quote Patch the Pirate it is “King Me First”.    

I thought about the doctors and women who abort and kill babies in the womb when I read the words without natural affection, and how calloused people have become when they care more about a cat, dog or some other animal being abused, but not a word from them on reaching into a mother’s womb and killing that little baby. A woman or man with natural affection would do anything and everything to save a baby in the womb!

Despisers of those that are good, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, notice how today they are building bigger and bigger sports arenas, race tracks, movie theaters, etc. People will sit out in the cold, rain, all kinds of inclement weather to watch football, car racing, baseball, etc. and then make fun of a Christian that spends a couple of hours a week in a Church service or Prayer meeting and label them as a religious fanatic if they mention the Lord Jesus.

[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. [6] For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

Again many people like to say they are a Christian but their actions speak volumes. They talk about God like he is some impotent being that has no real power.

[7] Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

I would like to comment on verse 7 as it is a perfect description of what our educational system has become, instead of teaching the students reading, writing, and arithmetic and focusing on things that will help them become productive citizens with a meaning in life. The students are taught in school that there is no God, no heaven (no hope), no hell (no punishment) they are just an animal and the only thing they can look forward to in this life is as much partying as they can get in before they die and go into a hopeless eternity, so they are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Then for the Seminary students they go off to be young preachers and are taught that the Bible has lots of errors in it (KJV specifically) and they can learn how to correct it and make it better using the Greek and Hebrew languages which is one of Satan’s biggest lies to mankind. Again this leads to ever learning and not being able to understand or come to the knowledge of the truth.

[8] Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. [9] But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

In this verse we get the names of a couple of people who withstood Moses and Paul uses their failure to declare the end of the scoffers at the last days.

[10] But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, [11] Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. [12] Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Paul now gives us a look at how people who live for the Lord Jesus shall fair among the religious nonbelievers he says that the people who live godly will suffer persecution.

[13] But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Here again we see that evil men and seducers simply get worse and worse not only deceiving people but being deceived themselves.

[14] But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; [15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Paul finishes off chapter 3 with the wonderful words of wisdom and tells Timothy where to find real wisdom in the Holy Scriptures.

Now I want to share a section of scripture and I am not going to make any comments on it other than to tell you it is on a 7th grade reading level. I want you to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes of understanding to his word as you read it. Please let me know in an email if you get it.

Rom. 1
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. [17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
[18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; [19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. [20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: [21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. [24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. [26] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: [27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. [28] And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; [29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, [30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, [31] Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: [32] Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, your life is short and if you have been slack concerning Bible study, it is high time for you to get back to studying the living words of the living God or begin studying if you have not in times past.

With modern day technology being what it is, it is very easy to do word searches and check when someone quotes a Bible verse or tells you something is in the Bible for you to look it up and verify if they are pulling your leg!

The Truth of God’s Holy word is easy to determine if you let the Holy Spirit lead you.

Remember all of the confusion among Christianity/Christians today can be attributed to the simple fact that the church, the Body of Christ, does not recognize the separate, distinct, and unique apostleship, ministry, and message of Paul.

If you have never trusted the Lord Jesus as your savior, I encourage you to believe in him and invite him to save you today! All one needs to do is to trust and believe in the Lord Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins to be made new in him.

Gal.2 [16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified

Eph.3 [17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, [19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

What a great day that will be when Jesus Christ returns in all his glory, friend don’t let that day take you unawares. Today Jesus has his arms outstretched and open to sinners to put their trust in him. One day we will all stand before him either as our savior or our judge, don’t put it off invite Jesus to save you today!

"The crowd that will not accept one truth will decay to the point that it does not accept one God: many denominations, many translations, many gods."

The words of our Apostle Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles!

2Tim.2 [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Come join with us as we study God’s Holy Word!

Remember most unsound Bible Doctrine, is sound Bible Doctrine misapplied to the wrong time period, or wrong group of people.

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