PERILOUS TIMES IN THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE

CALM DOWN AND WATCH OUT THE WORLD AROUND   YOU                  ( Part 1)

By: Bishop Albert Gran

Let us fasten our shield of faith as we witnessed the battleground between GOOD and EVIL especially in our recent time, hence this expository study was designed to comfort us in light with the instructions that our apostle to Gentiles made us aware what comes may in the last days of the Dispensation of Grace. 

With prayers and inner joy, may this article shall be your comfort and shield amidst wicked people in our society and how shall every saint must stand down, observe, and respond based on the godly instructions and principles while rejoicing in grace and live a victorious life forevermore.             

2 Timothy 3 King James Version (KJV)

3 This know also, that in the LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME.

Last days in 2 Tim 3:1 and latter times in Eph.4:1 must be understood exclusively under the present period of the dispensation of grace and Paul points out in both passages about behavioral characters of people when he wrote the second epistle of Timothy what shall come in the last days perilous times. Certainly, this is not about the Great Tribulation for such Paul had not mentioned anything about darkening of sun, disappearance of moon light, and the falling of stars from heaven AFTER THE TRIBULATION (Mat. 24: 29), however conditions already common in the time of Paul all these evil character nature of men of which he himself was aware even in the start of his missionary journey in the book of Acts account. In fact he described himself as a prisoner of our Lord Jesus Christ ( Rom. 16:7, Eph.3:1) and participating in THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS and bearing about in the BODY the DYING of the Lord Jesus THAT THE LIFE ALSO OF JESUS MIGHT BE MADE MANIFEST IN OUR BODY ( Phil. 3:10; 2 Cor. 4:10). It describes the fact that in our recent time, believers' walk IN THE FLESH are bound WITH CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS at the same time our BODY is a manifestation of THE LIFE OF CHRIST which I believed declared a living epistle ( 2 Cor. 3:3).

Paul had charge what are the present realities of believers' life and the character conditions giving hints what might happened in the last days PERILOUS TIMES under the present dispensation of grace.                

LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES: CLEAR OBSERVABLE SHOW OF MEN'S BEHAVIOR UNDER THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE 

2a For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, ....

Paul prophesied that MEN in the last days perilous times under this dispensation shall be:

A. LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES   

It's all truth by nature, man is a selfish being and it's a clear reality what changes happened every year in the segment of men's lifestyle. Nowadays, clear observation points out that most people radically crave for lots of possessions of material things as an expression of love for themselves. People's consciousness are engrossed too much of their own personal welfare only for the purpose of themselves without redefining the clear set purpose how each could support the weak and care for the needy especially those in the CHURCH. Lifestyles of people were colored with worldly system how self -beautification, adorned with fashion, makes themselves perfectly acceptable in the unwise people in the society whose god is their belly ( Phil. 3:19).  
   

B. COVETOUS 

Basically, covetous is an idea of having or showing a great desire to possess something, typically something belonging to someone else. Paul had used this word as the example described below:

2 Corinthians 9:5King James Version (KJV)                                                                   

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and NOT AS OF COVETOUSNESS.

Ephesians 5:3King James Version (KJV)                                                                                

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or COVETOUSNESS, let it not be   once named among you, as becometh saints;

Possession of things is not prohibited in this dispensation of grace however when the act of possessing things is done through covetousness, then Paul  had warned and prohibited the saints to do it. Material things still be useful to sustain our physical needs on earth but these material things we possessed must also cater the needs of the Church the Body of Christ especially in propagating the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Covetousness is synonymous to robbery and hold up, stealing, etc. just to get other property for your own welfare.

Several cases you heard reports regarding this unbecoming deeds. Everywhere estafa case through fraudulent means are quiet common as aired in various media sites. People are too tight thinking a lot and succumb to fraudulent acts for more possessions. All these were forms of covetousness.    

Possessing and worshipping an idol is also described by Paul as a matter of covetousness. Consider this verse cited below and it reads:  

Colossians 3:5King James Version (KJV)   

   5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and COVETOUSNESS, WHICH IS IDOLATRY:

A lot more people in our present world worshiped idols and hail ideal persons and any creatures through whom and which they would want to venerate. People possessed created images and set it in altars, pray for them and worship them begging these would intervene to the Supreme Creator. But  then again in the last days of dispensation of grace, gross idol worshipers will exceed and abound more and more then get it worst.

Worshiping idol is notable at the onset of  the early creation especially on the account of the tower of Babel. People in their might try to reach God then create images whom they plead and thought these could lead to their blissful life in the next stage. The point Paul wanted to let us know about idol worship is that in the last days of this dispensation of grace idol worship will get even worst.

C. BOASTERS   

By definition, boasters were people who brag and talk so much of himself out of pride. A man who is self-centered and having speech with  more self glory. Boasters are usually people who will not listen to other's achievements in life, in contrast, had much to say about their own achievements.

Romans 1:30

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, BOASTERS, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,   

Boasting is a pride laden speech with tongue unbridled ( James 1:26). Our apostle Paul has much to say how our speech must be ALWAYS WITH GRACE, SEASONED WITH SALT.

Colossians 4:6King James Version (KJV)                                                                                  

 Let your SPEECH be always WITH GRACE, SEASONED WITH SALT, that ye  may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Doctrinal issues for learning and edification in any links and different online pages or network discussions must lay this wholesome principle of sound speech. When one's speech reflects this core value as instructed to us, believers today are equipped with the ability to maintain soundness in speech in order to answer those who ask about the truth of our belief, somehow they might understand the declaration of the truth of the gospel. Communicating God's word in sound speech, and preached it RIGHTLY DIVIDING is effective to promote wholesome acceptance even to the most remarkable ATHEIST in our planet. 

Double tongue is also another issue once discussed by Paul. To be a double tongued person literally says things with double standard meaning. He could just talk and not walk or lives on his talks. It's a deceitful tongue filled with hypocrisy. 

 Deacons had forewarned by Paul regarding this value for sound and healthy relationships in the Church.

1 Timothy 3:8King James Version (KJV)                                              

 8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, NOT DOUBLE TONGUED, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Every now and then you could hear sweet words from wicked people in every places or everywhere in your community however, the  sweetness of a wicked's mouth is not a guaranty you could have safety and worthwhile benefits out of it.   

Job 20:12King James Version (KJV)                                                                                    

  12 Though wickedness be SWEET IN HIS MOUTH, though he HIDE IT UNDER HIS TONGUE;  

Our speech and communication today has much to be patterned through the grace principle as influenced to us from our beloved apostle Paul. Though he was rude in speech but not in knowledge ( 2 Cor. 11:6) and yet Paul was open in view of other's judgement in his life and they could have nothing to be accused of especially in his speech and communication.

To maintain harmony and establish peace among men, Paul admonished Timothy to always implore SOUND SPEECH OR WORDS.

2 Timothy 1:13King James Version (KJV)                                                                            

   13 HOLD FAST THE FORM OF SOUND WORDS, which thou hast heard of me,in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.   

   

D. PROUD

To simply understand what "proud" means, it's a feeling pleasurable satisfaction over an act, possession, quality, or relationship by which one measures one's stature or self-worth. Because people thought they achieved a lot and gain worldly success, they themselves were much confident and trust among themselves and this confidence strengthen their thoughts and apply it in their lives as though outsmarting others and going to show inconsiderable attitude beyond others.

 Psalm 10:2

The WICKED in his PRIDE doth PERSECUTE THE POOR: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.   

Have you not thought that PRIDE is the reason Lucifer fell from Heaven and this inner motive made Him God's eternal enemy and a counterfeit? ( Is. 14:12, Jn. 8:44). Beginning the restoration account of God's perfect creation, Satan always opposes God's action regarding His plan of  redemption towards mankind.

Another danger resulting PRIDE of wicked people is it's effect causing oppression to poor people. No wonder wicked masters enslaved people who were not in level of their status in community, and in this situation, Paul had warned believing masters not to treat their servants same as how wicked people infiltrate them. 

Ephesians 6:9King James Version (KJV)                                                                 

  9 And, ye MASTERS, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

Colossians 4:1King James Version (KJV)  

                                                               

 4 MASTERS, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

1 Timothy 6:2King James Version (KJV)    

                                                                             

 2 And they that have BELIEVING MASTERS, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

Even until this time, the sting of PRIDE is what Satan influenced people in order to trust and had confidence on their might or GOOD WORKS instead of having FAITH to the plan of redemption. Through pride man continue to resist God and BY THEIR WILL NOT SEEK AFTER GOD. In a wicked's thoughts, there's no bit of idea to long for and think about GOD and how he pleased Him in all his walk and ways in life.  

  Psalm 10:4 King James Version

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, WILL NOT SEEK AFTER GOD: GOD IS NOT IN ALL HIS THOUGHTS.

     

Crystal clear that many people who did not mind their CREATOR are blinded with PRIDE especially those who trust themselves through their own GOOD WORKS OR GOOD PERFORMANCE. They thought they can do something to obtain salvation and merit from God. 

If you had this feeling, just a glimpse of thought that BECAUSE OF PRIDE you are too much confident of yourself and not acknowledged the fact that your works are just FILTHY RAGS and A THREAT TO YOUR ETERNAL SALVATION      ( Isa. 64:6, Gal. 2:16, Tit. 3:5).

Do you want to be like Satan that because of pride he fell and had his doom eternally bound for condemnation and shame? Trust the Lord Jesus Christ and His cross work,  he will make you free from condemnation, can make you walk with humility, and patiently watching the world and it's rudiments while waiting on our gathering in heaven.     

Watch out the next episode of this article......

Grace and Peace.