20160914 Wednesday, September 14 2016
1 Timothy 04: What Does The Spirit Say About The Latter Times?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth"

Many people incorrectly regard end-time prophecy as a portrayal of how "Satan's world" (see Embassies In An Alien World and How Does Satan Impersonate Jesus Christ?) will win over what is right. For example:

"13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:4-8 KJV)

But what is actually described in those revelations is the precipitous fall of Satan's world. Logically, when his self-destructive loser path reaches its greatest power, it will destroy itself - the more powerful it becomes, the more self-destructive it becomes (see also When The World Is Going To Reject The Way Of Satan).

"18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 18:9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more."

Like a driver who plummets down a freeway at 120 miles per hour - while under the delusion that he's "leading" and "superior" to those who obey the law - it's actually just a wild and stupefied rush to a dead end of wreckage (see also When Satan Cuts You Off On The Highway).

As also stated in the verses above, the time of Satan's fall will include the "great tribulation" upon God's true people, and the powerful deception upon humanity as a whole that will cause it. But the true people of the LORD will need only to stand clear, by standing with the LORD, because they know the difference between true right and wrong. The only danger then, and now, is to be drawn away into the rubble: "Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."

"4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

4:11 These things command and teach. 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." (1 Timothy 4:1-16 KJV)

Fact Finder: How does Satan make his loser wrongs seem "right"?
See Iniquity In History And Prophecy and Is Iniquity Liberal Or Conservative?; also Which Way Is Right And Left? and Strait And Straight