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who shall ridicule the idea that Christ will ever come again. Jude echoes
this in verse 18. This leaves us with two references in the first epistle of
John.
'Little children, it is the last time:',
and if we ask how do we know that, or what is the outstanding feature that
denotes that, he continues:
'and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there
many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time' (1 John
2:18).
This is evidently an outstanding feature of the last time, whether
anticipatory 'even now' or at length, in the final years of Daniel's prophecy
of the seventy weeks. It will be perceived that the expression 'the last
days' speaks of the first and second Advents, and of those events, some glad,
some sad, that accompany these appearings of the Saviour.
We have now only two passages left for us to consider, namely 2 Timothy
3:1 -9 and 1 Timothy 4:1 -3, the only prophecies that belong to the
dispensation of the Mystery. Let us turn to 2 Timothy 3:1 -9. The opening
words of this section are prophetic in tone and deal particularly with the
characteristics of the last days. This feature is very prominent in chapter
4 and it is this light upon the last days of the dispensation of the Mystery
that makes Paul's final word so important to us. Let us first of all
acquaint ourselves with the structure of this section.
2 Timothy 3:1 -9
Disapproved concerning the faith
A
1,2.
Men (anthropoi) of the last days.
B
Characteristics
a 2.
Love of self (philautoi).
of last days --
Love of money (philarguroi).
misplaced love.
b
3. Haters of good (aphilagathoi).
a
4. Love of pleasure (philedonoi) more
than Love of God (philotheoi).
C
5 -.
Form without power.
D
-5.
From these turn away.
A
6. Women (gunaikaria) of the last days.
B
Characteristics
a
6. Led captive.
of last days --
b
6.
Laden with sins.
inordinate
a 6. Led away by lusts.
desires.
C
7.
Ever learning.
Disapproved.
D
9.
They shall proceed no further.