This Moment In Time

[2Tim 3:1]

If you have noticed recently that things have been changing in the world at an ever-increasing rate, it’s not because of your age, it is because of the age in which you live. We must always be seeking God and His will for our lives. And I believe that God not only wants us to know our purpose in life, but He really wants us to know where we are in this moment of time.

2 Timothy 3:1 (KJV) – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Know: The Greek word, “ginosko,” means to know (emphatically) to absolutely know, to know without exception. This kind of knowing is not just to know based on personal observation, but also supported by absolute truth. This knowing comes from God to totally lay hold of and have understanding of, and to have the intelligence and audacity to apply it accurately with wisdom.

The Holy Spirit is saying that this is not optional information. This is strong, as if the Spirit is raising His voice to make His point. He really wants us to KNOW what He is about to prophecy through the apostle Paul to Timothy, the Church in Ephesus, and to you and me.

This prophetic word is something we do not want to miss. He wants us to fully take hold of this urgent message, so that we won’t be caught off guard when these last days things begin to take place. I feel a sense of urgency when I read this verse, like time is quickly running out and there is still so much to do. The bus is waiting and you can’t find your shoes!

But first, lets clear something up right now. If there comes a thought anything like, “Yes, but this was written 2000 years ago and nothing has happened,” we need to stop it. The Bible calls this “scoffing.” We need to repent, cast those thoughts down, and take God’s Word seriously.

The Holy Spirit is talking about the very time in which we live. You and I were destined to live in this time, and He is telling us of these things so that we can be prepared. He is not trying to scare us. He already told us that He has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2Tim 1:7). He desperately desires for us to be ready to endure the last days that will include perilous times.

2 Timothy 3:1 (KJV) – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

The Holy Spirit goes into more detail as we study each word. The word “last” comes from the Greek word eschatos, (es’-khat-os) which means final. This is where we get the word, “eschatology” which is a theological study of end times. You and I are doing it now, studying end times or last things.

The Greek word eschatos describes the very last or the ultimate end of a thing. Greeks used eschatos to describe the point that is farthest away, or, the end of the line, the last stop of a long journey. It was the last hour, the last day of the month or year. It was the ultimate end of whatever was being discussed.

Technically, “the last days” started about 2000 years ago on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out. In Acts 2:17, Peter announced the outpouring of the Spirit by quoting Joel 2:28 (which was written about 800 BC). Joel prophesied about a charismatic flow of the Spirit for those who called on the name of the Lord in the last days. Peter said, And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh….” (Acts 2:17).

So when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost, it started a prophetic time period called “the last days” that we’ve been living in for nearly 2000 years. But in 2 Timothy 3:1, the word eschatos points to the very end of that prophetic season—to the days you and I are living in right now, at the very ultimate end of the age.

2 Timothy 3:1 (KJV) – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

The words shall come enistemi (en-is’-tay-mee) means to stand in the middle of, to be surrounded by, to be encumbered by, and that it cannot be avoided or that one cannot escape from it.

By using this word enistemi, the prophecy indicates that the people who live during the last days will feel like they are surrounded on all sides in an inescapable torrent of events. Being assaulted in “perilous times” from every direction with no way out, is why He really wants us to know what He is about to say. We are living in the last days, chosen by God for such a time as this.

Don’t panic, remember He has filled us with His Spirit and empowered us to live in this place and time. Men of old would have given anything to see what we are about to experience in these last days.

Second Timothy 3:1 is crucial to what we need to really take hold of what the Spirit has alerted us to in this verse. By warning us about what will occur in the last of the last days, God is lovingly preparing us for what is coming.

Prayer:

Lord, it is not Your will for us to be taken captive by a spirit of fear. We will continue with a sound mind that can wisely discern how to deal with the issues that we will encounter.

Father, we will not hide from the world. Instead, we will build a spiritual wall of protection around us with Your Word, so we can live in this world victoriously and not be defeated by it. Jesus has called us to rise up as mighty, Spirit-filled victors! We are called to shine light in the darkness, to rescue and do all we can to save those who are lost.

No matter what demonic agenda confronts us in these times, we will never forget that we are called to be “more than conquerors” through the power of Him who loved us (Rom 8:37). With the strengthening help of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome all things through Christ who empowers us—even the most intense battles in this prophetic season (Phil 4:13). In the mighty name of Jesus, and faith in that name, amen.

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond