The Berean Expositor
Volume 36 - Page 211 of 243
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Hebrews, "these last days" refer to the days of Christ's first advent (Heb. 1: 2), even as
John in his first epistle said: "it is the last time" (2: 18). It is manifest that each writer
views the subject from his own point of view, Peter's "last days" would be the last days
of the dispensation associated with the Kingdom and Israel, whereas Paul's "last days"
would be the closing days of the dispensation of the mystery. We are concerned when
we read in II Pet. 3: 3, that in the last days shall come scoffers who shall walk after
their own lusts and deny the second coming of the Lord; but we should be still more
concerned to learn that the closing days of this most favoured dispensation will end in
apostasy parallel to the conditions of ancient paganism (for proof of this statement see
later exposition), and characterized by the same dreadful motive "after their own lusts"
(II Tim. 4: 3). With such passages of scripture written for our learning, and with the
consciousness that the end of the present dispensation cannot be far off, the reader will
not be easily moved to believe that a great spiritual revival is on its way, even though
such should be "a consummation devoutly to be wished".
In the first epistle to Timothy the apostle had been led to speak of the outstanding
character of the "latter times" husterois kairois "latter seasons". Not only is there the
change of word "days" in II Tim. 3: and "seasons" in I Tim. 4:, but also the second
epistle speaks of the "last" eschatos "the extreme end", whereas I Timothy speaks of the
period that is "left over" husteros of the season. Consequently, the state of affairs
described in the first epistle must be understood as leading up to the crisis of the second
epistle. The apostasy starts in I Tim. 4:, for the word "depart" is the Greek word
aphistemi from which our word apostasy is derived, it marks the beginning of the
movement that ends with the awful reprobation of II Tim. 3: This departure from the
faith is the outcome of "giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons" which,
while including antagonism against the essentials of the Gospel, points markedly to
"spiritism", a cult that is developing with alarming rapidity and captivating millions.
While "seducing spirits" are not named in II Tim. 3:, their fell work is to be seen in the
word translated "perilous" times or seasons. This word "perilous" is the Greek word
chalepos, the word employed in Matt. 8: 28 to describe two demon possessed men
who lived among tombs exceeding "fierce".
Such is the prophetic picture of the last days of this dispensation. The truth forsaken,
those who hold it despised or persecuted, the whole dominated by the doctrines of
demons; no wonder the apostle spoke of a day that should come when men would turn
away their ears from the truth and be turned unto fables. We said earlier that the
characteristics of these last days of II Tim. 3:, were like those of the early days of
paganism. We gather this from a comparison of II Tim. 3: 1-4, with Rom. 1: 28-32.
Romans 1: 28 - 32.
II Tim. 3: 1 - 4.
"Boasters" alazon (30).
"Boasters" alazon (2).
"Proud" huperephanos (30).
"Proud" huperephanos (2).
"Disobedient to parents" goneusin apeitheis
"Disobedient to parents" goneusin apeitheis
(30).
(2).
"Without natural affection" astorgos (31).
"Without natural affection" astorgos (3).
"Implacable" aspondos (31).
"Truce breakers" aspondos (3).
"Reprobate" adokimos (28).
"Reprobate" adokimos (8).