Jonathan Brentner: Keys To Surviving Perilous Times

KEYS TO SURVIVING IN PERILOUS TIMES

JONATHAN BRENTNER

What can we expect in 2022?

Personally, I would very much like to experience the fulfillment of Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. I know it will happen soon, but who can say if this will be the year when Jesus takes us to the place that He’s preparing for us (John 14:1-3)?

The only safe prediction I can make for the upcoming year is that the “perilous times” (2 Timothy 3:1-5) of the past few years will continue unabated.

The word translated “perilous,” or “difficult” in some translations, is chalepos. This term denotes the last days as “dangerous” and “hard to bear.” In Matthew 8:28, the word depicts the fierceness of the two men possessed by demons. The text says that they were “so fierce that no one could pass that way.”

Such are the ominous times in which we live, and they will grow increasingly treacherous leading up to and during the seven-year Tribulation.

How do we cope with these turbulent days as we eagerly await Jesus’ appearing?

RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE WITNESSING THE FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY

As we look in greater depth at some of the attributes Paul lists in 2 Timothy 3, it becomes increasingly apparent that they aptly describe the time in which we live. I believe there’s much consolation in this as it assures us that God remains sovereignly in control. He saw this day coming long, long ago and inspired the apostle to write about it just before his death.

The critics tell us that these terms describe all of the past two thousand years; they claim nothing has changed to signify that the Lord’s return is at hand. While it’s true that these things have, to some degree, marked every period of history since Paul’s day, I disagree with the scoffers for two reasons:

First, the current “perilous times” come at a time when many other prophetic signs are converging as never before in history.

Second, we are witnessing a heightened and demonic quality to these attributes that not only indicates the added fierceness of our day, but also the nearness of the Day of the Lord.

Consider the following ways that make today different from any previous time in the past two thousand years:

More...