“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that… [These] evil people and impostors will flourish. They will go on deceiving others, and they themselves will be deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13 NLT)

Paul warned Timothy about what people will be like “in the last days.” This phrase “the last days” is used in scripture to refer to the time between the first coming of Christ and His return (Acts 2; Heb 1:2; 1 Pet 1:20; 1 John 2:18). Paul’s words, then, provide us with an insightful picture of the behavior and character of people throughout the church age, and that of course makes it applicable to our world today.

According to verse 5 of the passage, people will act religious. That’s another way of saying they won’t really be believers, but will just pretend to be. They won’t receive salvation, they will reject it. They won’t love God and their neighbors, they will be arrogant—loving only Self and scoffing at God. They will disobey the authorities, and consider nothing to be sacred. Paul says that these will be “difficult times” and implies that they will grow more and more so as the return of Christ approaches.

We see this character and behavior Paul that described in the world around us today. Unfortunately, some of that same spirit has even invaded the church and will probably become more invasive as the Day approaches. That is cause for grave concern. If the members of the Church become blind to the foundational truths of God’s word, if “acting religious” substitutes for having a viable relationship with Christ, if worship becomes a performance rather than a participation, if the will of God is overlooked and the people do as they want, then the Church will no longer be the effective instrument of God’s power here on earth.

Paul warns of perilous times ahead. We the Church must be prepared to stand against the evil people and impostors that will flourish and strive to take Jesus Christ out of the Church and bring it down.