The Character of Perilous Times

2 Tim. 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

The greatest threat to the kingdom of Jesus Christ today is the carnal, compromising, effeminate, and worldly Christianity the devil has spawned to destroy the faith once delivered to the saints. False teachers promote it on every side. The cure is simple, but few ministers will use it, since most hearers are demanding fables and entertainment instead. The importance of this prophecy cannot be overstated. You are living in the fulfillment of the perilous times!

The OED definition of perilous - very dangerous; full of risk; hazardous; very harmful; dreadful; frightening; threatening; terrible; greatly to be avoided.

Character Traits of Perilous Times

1. Christians shall be lovers of their own selves.
2. Christians shall be covetous of wealth and promote a "results" religion of gain as godliness.
3. Christians shall be boasters by singing their own praise, either directly or indirectly.
4. Christians shall be proud with an excessive and haughty view of themselves as special.
5. Christians shall be blasphemers by their irreverence toward God and the things of God.
6. Christians shall be disobedient to parents and rebell against any and all proper authority.
7. Christians shall be unthankful for the abundance of all things, though living in great plenty.
8. Christians shall be unholy in their affections, speech, and actions by worldly compromise.
9. Christians shall be without natural affection in conduct by perverting ordinary standards.
10. Christians shall be trucebreakers without regard for commitments to peace and unity.
11. Christians shall be false accusers by spreading slander without regard for reputations.
12. Christians shall be incontinent with a great lack of self-discipline and temperance.
13. Christians shall be fierce in their treatment of others without basic kindness and gentleness.
14. Christians shall be despisers of those that are good and righteous by hating holy saints.
15. Christians shall be traitors and manifest great unfaithfulness to duties and commitments.
16. Christians shall be heady with rash and impulsive conduct and decision-making.
17. Christians shall be highminded with lofty opinions of themselves and their thoughts.
18. Christians shall become lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God in carnal living.
19. Christians shall have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof to control them.

The peril or danger taught here is a widespread powerless Christianity, and it is the great threat to believers.