The Fall of Man Prophesied by the Apostle Paul
Paul writes to Timothy:
2 Timothy 3:1 “But know this, that in the last days (eschatais hēmerais) litteraly—last, final (the furthest, extreme-end). 2078/esxatos (“future things”), the root of “eschatology” is “the study of last things.” This includes future Bible prophecy, the end-times, and life after death (“the after-life”)—difficult times will come” (kairoi chalepoi)—literally “seasons/periods that are hard to bear, fierce, dangerous”; times that will be grievous and hard to endure.
2 Timothy 3:2 “For people will be lovers of self” (philautoi, G5367)—preoccupied with their own selfish desires and self-interests. This word appears only here in the New Testament, emphasizing extreme self-centeredness, and points to the evolution of idolatry: from reptiles, to cattle, to birds, to man.
They will be “lovers of money” (philargyroi, G5366)—literally “lovers of silver”; in love with personal gain and material wealth.
They will be “boastful” (alazones)—braggarts who loudly advertise self-importance, exaggerate accomplishments, and seek admiration without true substance; arrogant self-promoters.
They will be “proud” or “arrogant” (hyperēphanoi)—literally “showing oneself above others”; those who are pre-eminent in their own eyes, looking down on others with contempt; conspicuously haughty.
They will be “blasphemers” (blasphēmoi)—slanderous, abusive speakers; those who speak evil, particularly against God and sacred things; revilers.
They will be “disobedient to parents” (goneusin apeitheis)—literally “unpersuadable to parents”; showing deliberate rejection of parental authority, which reflects deeper rebellion against God-ordained order.
They will be “unthankful” (acharistoi)—without gratitude; the absence of thankfulness toward grace freely given; those who fail to recognize or acknowledge benefits received.
They will be “unholy” (anosioi)—profane, impious; properly describing utter disregard for what is sacred; willful (arrogant) disrespect of the things of God; wicked.
2 Timothy 3:3 They will be “without natural affection” (astorgoi)—devoid of family love; without the natural tender affection that should exist between family members, particularly between parents and children; heartless, unloving; without natural human affection toward their own kind.
They will be “unforgiving” or “irreconcilable” (aspondoi)—literally “without libation/treaty”; those who refuse to make peace or be reconciled; implacable, unwilling to enter agreements.
They will be “slanderers” (diaboloi)—literally “devil-like” or “false accusers”; those who maliciously misrepresent others through false charges (the same root word used for “devil,” the accuser).
They will be “without self-control” (akrateis)—lacking power over oneself; unable or unwilling to exercise restraint over passions, appetites, and impulses; intemperate.
They will be “brutal” or “fierce” (anēmeroi)—savage, untamed; literally “not tame” like wild beasts; cruel and harsh without gentleness.
They will be “despisers of good” (aphilagathoi)—literally “not lovers of good”; hostile toward goodness and those who do good; opposed to virtue and excellence.
2 Timothy 3:4 They will be “traitors” (prodotai)—betrayers; those who hand over or give up others treacherously; this word was used of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal.
They will be “headstrong” or “reckless” (propeteis)—literally “falling forward”; rash, precipitate in action; acting without proper thought or consideration of consequences; impetuous.
They will be “haughty” (tetyphōmenoi)—puffed up with pride; literally “wrapped in smoke” or “beclouded”; blinded by conceit and arrogance; swollen with self-importance.
They will be “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (philēdonoi mallon ē philotheoi)—literally “friends of pleasure more than friends of God”; those who prioritize personal gratification and sensual enjoyment above devotion to God; pleasure-seekers who have displaced God with self-indulgence.
They imitated the people around them although the LORD had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”
2 Kings 17:15
They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. 2 Kings 17:17
The best global estimate is that 73 million children will be sacrificed this year.
They practiced divination. 2 Kings 17:17
Divination is to try to find out hidden knowledge about future events through supernatural, magical, or occult methods.
An estimated $1.7 trillion is wagered on sports annually.
“They sought omens.” 2 Kings 17:17
To seek omens is to actively look for natural phenomena, like weather changes, in order to predict the future. Approximately $4 billion annually is spent on climate and global change research.
