Nov 23^rd 6 Roads to the END The Spiritual Norms

The final portion of our series is probably the most difficult to explain because it is a subject not usually covered in depth by modern churches; despite being spoken of, and that is spiritual life. Since the basis for our series is the pathway that reaches the conclusion of this age, it deserves to be asked what are the signs in the spiritual as we reach the conclusion of the said road? 2 Timothy 3:1-5 has the answer, and it goes beyond being lovers of self and money.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Preached on this passage in PT earlier this year. PRAY

The context is the last days. I must correct my understanding of this.

The heart conditions that Paul described as the terrible times in the last days are signs within the people of this very generation, but when we examine these words in depth it is more than just a callous disregard of our fellow humans, or even a matter of pride, it is a spiritual condition hidden behind translations who do not use the words that are proper to the original text.

We know have recognized verbiage in our culture like self-esteem,

self-worth, self- help     self-love     self-made     self-aware

self-loving   self-centered     self-fulfilled.

Verse 2 is where we begin to see this when the New International Version uses the word ‘abusive’ in its listing. This is the Greek word blasphemos, a person who reverses spiritual and moral realities. to speak in a way that shows irreverence for God or something sacred

A blasphemer is a person who mocks or derides a deity or claims to be God.

The use of this word indicates more than just an attitude

but a spiritual condition and the case for such extends into the next verse when Paul uses the word unholy.

Why would he mention this if the people in this time frame were ignorant to the things of God?

Ignorant to what holiness is?

But wait there is more as verse 4 uses the descriptive phrase lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

As this phrase is examined deeper in the original language, we discover that the Greek reveals two key words Philos which is friendly love, and Hedone here we get the word hedonism,” from where we get “hedonistic,” in English. The priority of pleasure no discipline no control given to lust of the flesh of the ego of the self over and above the care compassion of others. This is a chemical state affected by the spiritual. (DIG)

The final evidence in this chapter is found in verse five as Paul describes the people of this time frame as Having a form of godliness but denying its power.

Take note that the perilous terrible times in the last days

are not tied to signs in the heavens natural disasters war among nations

food shortages famine pestilence governments working against the people

global elite looking to kill 70% of the population

Perilous times is not due to the loss of rights

no it is the hearts of mankind going woke.

The word of God says have nothing to do with them. If your church is woke RUN

Again, this shows a spiritual condition that moves away from God, despite having a knowledge of God, and asks where does this end up? Revelation 16 is where the answer is found.

Revelation 16 is after the rapture, the church is gone,

lifted into the heavens for the marriage supper of the Lamb,

and the wrath of God is being released upon the earth.

The methods of wrath show themselves in the sky, sea, and land of the earth;

they show themselves in the one world government in absolute control

of what resources are left according to Revelation 13,

but the people know that the disasters and occurrences of dismay

and chaos are not of man, they are of God, and they refuse to repent.

While many of us who have and do read from the Old Testament shake our heads wondering why the people continually give themselves away to lesser gods and incur the wrath of the Most High, are we any different than they?

The state of the people around you and abroad will not stay static spiritually.

The hardening of hearts as promised by Jesus in Matthew 24:12

and the increase in wickedness is merely repeating the very pattern that again,

Jesus promised when he said, “As it was in the days of Lot,” or “the days of Noah.”

The only cure for any of this is the same message

Jesus gave us in Matthew 4:17, ““Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”