Perilous Times: The New Assault of Demons

PERILOUS TIMES: THE NEW ASSAULT OF DEMONS

I have read 2 Timothy 3:1-8 several times during the past years.  Its prophetic implications always astounded me, but now I believe it is here upon us.  High ranking government leaders and bankers are definitely infected with more and more lower ranking people displaying the symptoms daily. 

2 Timothy 3:1-8 NET  But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  (2)  For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,  (3)  unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, (4)  treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God.  (5)  They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.  (6)  For some of these insinuate themselves into households and captivate weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions.  (7)  Such women are always seeking instruction, yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.  (8)  And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people — who have warped minds and are disqualified in the faith — also oppose the truth.

2 Timothy 3:1-8 RYLT-NT  (1)  And this know you, that in the last days there shall come perilous times,  (2)  for men{people} shall be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, evil-speakers{profane, those speaking insults}, to parents disobedient, unthankful, unkind{unsacred (Gk. anosios)},  (3)  without natural affection{affectionless}, implacable{unappeasable, irreconcilable, relentless}, false accusers{slanderers}, incontinent{without restraint, undisciplined, lacking self-control}, fierce, not lovers of those who are good,  (4)  traitors, heady{rash, reckless}, lofty{conceited}, lovers of pleasure{hedonists} more{rather} than lovers of God,  (5)  having a form{semblance} of piety, and its power having denied; and from these be turning away,  (6)  for of these there are those coming into the houses and leading captive the silly women, laden{weighed down, heaped, piled} with sins, led away with desires manifold{of various sorts},  (7)  always learning, and{yet} never to a knowledge of truth able to come,  (8)  and, even as Jannes and Jambres stood against{opposed} Moses, so also these do stand against{oppose} the truth, men{people} corrupted in mind, disapproved{rejected} concerning the faith;

Some Definitions

Nephilim – The offspring of a Watcher (angel) and a human woman.

Watcher – An angelic being who descended to earth at Mt. Hermon for the purpose of breeding human women and teaching human inhabitants things not condoned by God according to the book of Enoch.

Demon – The soul of a non-human Nephilim i.e. the book of Enoch.  90% of the Nephilim souls were confined to Tartarus with 10% left to roam the earth at the condoned request of Satan according to the book of Enoch.

Perilous Times

And this know you, that in the last days there shall come perilous times.

The Greek word translated as “perilous” in 2^nd Timothy is used in only one other instance in the New Testament.  It is translated as “extremely violent in Matthew 8:28 when describing two demon possessed men.  The Word Study Dictionary defines this word as:

chalepós; fem. chalepḗ, neut. chalepón, adj. Violent, fierce. Used of demoniacs, wild, difficult (Mat_8:28). Grievous, hard to bear, distressing, referring to the times (2Ti_3:1).

When he came to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were extremely violent, so that no one was able to pass by that way.

(Matthew 8:28 NET)

The Spiral of Life News Magazine published by L.A. Marzulli recently contained an article by Mark Conn entitled The Rise of the Supernatural.  Mr. Conn employed the scripture of 2^nd Timothy 3:1 as evidence the last days will contain demonic influences.  According to Mr. Conn demonic activity will manifest again during the end-times. 

Most of the Bible versions use either fierce, violent, wild, or evil as the translation for the Gadarene demonics.  2Timothy 3:1 translations include:  perilous, difficult, terrible, disastrous, dangerous, or grievous.  The dictionary defines “perilous” as:  full of grave risk; dangerous. 

It appears that demonic activity increases to be an aggressive system when the influence or power of the dark forces (no, not Star Wars) feels the need to launch an offensive battle plan.  The New Testament Gospels have several incidents of demonic activity at the time when Jesus was announcing the coming of the Kingdom of God or Heaven.  There appeared to be a need, although futile, to battle the Son of God during His presentation of the Gospel and Kingdom.  The activity of demons appears to have subsided during the European and American Church era. The exception would be the majority of third world areas having little to no missionary activity or Biblical religious system.  Horror movies involving the Roman Catholic church denotes several apparently fictional occasions of demonic possessions, perhaps an indictment of the religious system and Roman structure.

Paul’s thesis in 2 Timothy 3 is the last days or end-times period presenting an increase in demonic apparitions and possessions which could be referred to as “perilous times”.  Several commentators view the accounts given in 2 Tim. 3 as prevalent in the human affairs of today and getting viler each day.  The cadre of government officials appears to be bursting with narcissism and profane speaking.  We could also include:  money hungry; boasters; proud; unthankful; unkind; and liars or false accusers.  The old joke:  “if their lips move, they are lying” appears to be the case.  Actually the complete 2 Timothy 3:1-8 perilous list would apply to most government paycheck receivers.  Are they demon possessed?  Could be.  It has been occasionally said that high level government officials are Luciferians or Satanists.  According to their actions and characters that insight is a distinct possibility.

Agendas

One of Mr. Conn’s main points is the evil situation that has always existed in the world will be increased during the last days.  It is argued and discussed by many that the last days began at the ascension of Jesus Christ, and to an extent, that is true.  The meaning and semantics of the last days has several levels of intensity.  There have been wars, mass murders, genocides, abortions, and general street killings for two centuries.  There is a general last days and there is the end-times of the 70^th week of Daniel and the preparations preceding that week.  It is my opinion that we are involved in the end-times preparations of the 70^th week of Daniel right now.  The evil, wars, and human rights violations appear to be accelerating.  The antichrist is on many minds and everyone has their favorite candidate for the beast:  Obama; Ergodan, Bill Clinton, Alexis Tsipras, and others.  There actual may be a bookie taking bets.

Satan works with many people on many fronts along with his demonic horde.  The Christian community in the near and far East are being exterminated.  Christianity in Europe is basically a lost cause if internet reports are to be believed.  At one time, the strongest Christian nation in the world was the USA.  The work of many front organizations has diminished that presence.  There are now many feel-good Bible-less congregations, along with atheist churches, homosexual churches, and rock-n-roll churches.  Children seldom attend unless they are highly entertained.  The older teens can’t be entertained enough.  The increase in membership numbers and money appears to be the primary goals of leaders and ministers.  I am not a church authority, just reporting what is seen and read online. 

The antichristian battle has been in progress was several years and has increased in intensity during the present administration in this country and in the present period of the world.  There are internet reports of numbers of undocumented Muslims allowed in the country.  The panhandle of Texas supposedly is home to many Syrian immigrants.  This may be another attempt to destroy Christianity.  It may also account for the beheading found in Revelation 20:4 although I believe this will be accomplished by the beast (antichrist) in Jerusalem near the rebuilt temple.

Then I saw thrones and seated on them were those who had been given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. These had not worshiped the beast or his image and had refused to receive his mark on their forehead or hand. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  (Revelation 20:4 NET)

The cancer industry is a highly funded, money making business.  The current cancer treatments are extremely expensive and they never cure cancer, they only make people sicker with more pain than before.  If there was a cure for cancer, does anyone actually believe it would be announced and made available to the general public?  Has anyone ever heard of a high level government official, a world leader, or an elite dying of cancer?  Cancer may be as inventions of non-gasoline using vehicles – they are bought out or the inventor is killed.

Another tremendous demonic attack is the gay agenda.  Not content (demons are never content) with simple legal or equal rights, the battle has been taken into the government, the schools, and finally the church expressed by government hate laws.  The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is currently exerting pressure to rewrite the Bible with anti-gay scriptures either eliminated or edited.  Churches that preach or believe that homosexuality is a sin are to be fined and/or arrested for hate speech.  The government through the IRS is attacking Christians and conservatives.

From Unmasking the Gay Agenda  http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/mbarber/080213

Ultimately, the homosexual lobby's primary objective is to radically redefine our foundational institutions of legitimate marriage and the nuclear family by unraveling God's natural design for human sexuality. In so doing, they hope to elevate their own spiritual and biological counterfeit and establish a sexually androgynous society wherein natural distinctions between male and female are dissolved.

Anyone who believes the Biblical directive that human sexuality is a gift from God, to be shared between man and wife within the bonds of marriage, is branded "homophobic," "hateful" or "discriminatory." They are to be silenced by all means possible.

The American people have been called sheep and perhaps for a good reason.  These sheep are not necessarily the “lambs of God” but rather lazy feel-good animals.  They have become “lovers of pleasure (hedonists) more rather than lovers of God.  They maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have denied its power.  The internet seems to be the last bastion of truthful information, but it is quickly diminishing.  Far too many sites are operated by the elite powers that stream misinformation or no information worthy of ones attention. A large number of posts state that something catastrophic will happen next week, but it doesn’t.  Others claim a certain event (or events) prove the Revelation trumpets are sounding, but they aren’t.  Mr. somebody must be the antichrist, but he isn’t.  Shock and awe, divert the mind is the current game while the new world order occurs in the background without a headline.

Anything to keep one’s mind off the real events happening every day such as:  human rights removed; police acting as invading soldiers; false flag theatrical bombings and mass murders; forced vaccinations with highly lethal chemicals (does anyone read and understand that population reduction is the primary goal of the elites);

Mississippi First in Infant Vaccination Rates – Highest Infant Mortalities

While we have the highest vaccination rates, Mississippi also has the highest infant mortality rate in the U.S. Keep in mind that the U.S. is the most highly vaccinated country in the world; now consider that as a nation, our infant mortality rate falls below 27 other wealthy countries-some of which do not even mandate vaccines at all! Mississippi has the most highly vaccinated pediatric population IN THE WORLD.  Why then are we the LEAST healthy? Yes, poverty and crap food, etc. plays a part, but too many vaccines too soon cannot be ignored.   http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/mississippi-first-in-infant-vaccination-rates-last-in-infant-mortalities/

common-core education (dumb down the slaves).

Obama Exempts His Daughters From Common Core Testing  The Obamas, for example, send their two daughters to the elite Sidwell Friends School, a private Quaker preK-12 school with campuses in Washington D.C., and Bethesda, Md. Sidwell, like other independent schools, does not bombard its students with high-stakes standardized tests. (It also doesn’t evaluate teachers by the test scores of their students, a policy promoted by the Obama administration.)  http://www.youngcons.com/obama-exempts-his-daughters-from-common-core-testing/

Let’s not forget genetic seeds.  The Svalbard seed vault contains pure seeds while the world is forced to use genetic seeds which may be designed to poison and kill.

From Wikipedia:  The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a secure seed bank on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen near Longyearbyen in the remote Arctic Svalbard archipelago, about 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) from the North Pole.[4] Conservationist Cary Fowler, in association with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR),[5] started the vault to preserve a wide variety of plant seeds that are duplicate samples, or "spare" copies, of seeds held in gene banks worldwide. The seed vault is an attempt to insure against the loss of seeds in other gene banks during large-scale regional or global crises.

Jannes and Jambres

Jannes and Jambres are said to be the names of two demon possessed magicians opposing Moses in the palace of Pharaoh.  Their names are not mentioned in the Old Testament, however Paul gets them from rabbinical Judaism, specifically The Targum of Jonathan.  Paul occasionally uses rabbinical traditions in his writings.

These demonic magicians opposed Moses and likewise, current demonic individuals “who have warped minds” according to Paul and are disqualified in the faith will also oppose the truth.  This occurs every day.

True Israelites: Part 3 - A New Look at the Fig Tree

A NEW LOOK AT THE FIG TREE

Jesus and his disciples were walking along a road where a fig tree was noticed.  This particular fig tree had produced leaves no figs.  It has been said the fig trees in Israel will first produce figs before leaves appear.  However, this tree had leaves but no figs.  It has been further stated that ripe figs will appear on the tree almost a month before the tree begins producing leaves.  This tree was not fulfilling its purpose and was cursed.

After noticing a fig tree by the road he went to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, "Never again will there be fruit from you!" And the fig tree withered at once.  (Matthew 21:19 NET)

The parallel version found in Mark states that it was not the season for figs.

After noticing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it. When he came to it he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  (Mark 11:13 NET)

The Greek word specifically used for time as on a clock would be “chronos”.  This particular word, according to all Greek dictionaries viewed, is usually translated as a perception of time but it generally means a convenient season or occasion.  Thus the scripture verse in Mark could be translated as:  “He found nothing but leaves due to the tree’s lack of ability to produce them.”

Strong’s Greek Dictionary

kahee-ros'      Of uncertain affinity; an occasion, that is, set or proper time: - X always, opportunity, (convenient, due) season, (due, short, while) time, a while.

This fig tree may be comparable to one found in a parable recorded in Luke 13:6-7.  This tree did not produce fruit for three years, and the owner of the garden had it cut down due to the tree’s depletion of the soil with a lack of harvest.

Then Jesus told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the worker who tended the vineyard, 'For three years now, I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and each time I inspect it I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue to deplete the soil?'   (Luke 13:6-7 NET)

Most commentaries agree that the fig tree represents the Judeans who most were all leaves with no fruit.  Many had an appearance of religion but a lack of understanding concerning the Personhood of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God.  In a current general sense, God desires a production of fruit in the lives of His people because fruit is the product of following the life and example of Jesus in the Kingdom of God.  As the fig tree in the parable of Luke, over a period of time fruit is expected and when it doesn’t appear the tree will be uprooted. 

As for the Judeans, the time of judgment was near and the sentence was proclaimed with a curse of the tree resulting in the withering of the leaves. 

Mark adds the words of Jesus saying, “May no one eat fruit from you again.”  It has been said that the fig tree is symbolic of the people of the nation of Israel.  Many claim the fig tree is symbolic or representative of Israel in the Gospels as well.  If this is true, then Jesus cursed the Judeans and generally stated the large majority would not ever produce edible fruit.  Is that possibly true?  The Chuck Smith commentary has this to say about the fig tree:

Chuck Smith Commentary:  But the symbolism was of the nation Israel, failing to bring forth fruit for the Master, was to be cursed, withered. And that of course is exactly what did happen, so quickly after the death of Jesus. Their rejection of Him, so quickly the nation withered and died.

Today, it appears the returned Jews or Judeans continue to despise Jesus and the church, or at least those who write books and articles and public officials.  Even with the disparaging words put forth by high profile Judeans, many Christians continue to think they are still the chosen ones and whatever they do must be the will of God.

Let’s now continue to the second example of a fig tree in the book of Matthew chapter 24.  This particular chapter is considered by many and myself to be the eschatology of Jesus.  For more information go to:  Matthew 24: Part 1  Matthew 24: Part 2  Matthew 24: Part 3  Matthew 24: Part 4

In this particular parable, the Lord points out the leaves on the tree, but indicates the fig tree lacks fruit.  Jesus is still referring to the people of Judea when he states the generation witnessing all the prior events discussed in chapter 24 will not pass away before the return of the Messiah.  If this parable is related to the previous fig tree stories the Judeans or the individuals of the nation of Israel will continue to personify fig tree leaves without producing the required fruit.  The budding of the leaves of the tree indicates that summer is near. The beginning of these signs indicates that the Lord’s second coming is also near (perhaps when the leaves appear as in circa 1948.

"Learn this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

(Matthew 24:32-34 NET)

The phrase “this generation” has created a certain amount of confusion or disagreeing commentary concerning scriptural interpretations or exegesis.  A generation can be defined as a life span or the period from one’s birth to their first born child.  However, these are only two of several definitions available for the translator.  Strong’s Greek dictionary gives the following definition:

Genea    ghen-eh-ah'

From (a presumed derivative of) G1085; a generation; by implication an age (the period or the persons): - age, generation, nation, time.

Although the primary definition is “generation” it can also mean age, nation, or time.  Therefore the possible translation interpretations could be:  1) The generation alive on earth at that time will see these events take place; 2) The nation of returned Judeans will view these events; 3) Only the partially fulfilled Kingdom age (as in Church) will view these events before the Millennium (fulfilled Kingdom age).

Dr. Stephan Jones of God’s Kingdom Ministries claims that, “Jesus was saying that the Judeans would not pass away before their nation would return to life as the fig tree. In 1948 the sap began to flow into that tree once again, and it bore more leaves. However, leaves were the reason Jesus cursed the fig tree in the first place”.

An exegete asked the following question concerning this scripture:  “Did he (Jesus) intend to symbolize the revival of the life of the withered Jewish race in the time of the end?”  I believe the answer is no.  The leaves were cursed to wither as written in the first fig leaf scripture we viewed in Mark 11:13.  As a result the Judean nation, Jerusalem, and the temple were destroyed by Rome and the population dispersed.  Some individuals returned before 1948 and many returned afterward (mostly European Judeans but very few, if any, from the original 12 tribes to my knowledge).  Today there are essentially only leaves in the nation of Israel but still no fruit, meaning one would be hard-pressed (but not impossible) to find Judean believers in today’s nation of Israel (yes, there are those referred to as Messianic Jews).

The current nation of Israel is mostly a revived nation of Judah, as stated by several commentators.  According to some sources the Spanish Sephardim are the actual dispersed Judeans and the Ashkenazim group are the theoretical eastern European self-proclaimed Jews of Khazar ancestry.  They are back in the land of Canaan as leaves of the fig tree with a final opportunity to bear the fruit as expected and required by God.  However, Jesus said to the fig tree with no fruit, "Never again will there be fruit from you!" 

Two verses prior to the fig tree parable of Matthew 24, we are presented with the scriptural presentation of the return of the Son of Man.

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  (Matthew 24:30 NET)

Many dispensational pre-tribulation commentators (and others) have interpreted this passage to mean the Jews or Judeans (and perhaps anyone else alive) will repent when they see Jesus Christ coming in the clouds of heaven.  However, it may mean the exact opposite.  The word translated as “tribes” is from the Greek word phule.

Thayer Definition:  phule  1) a tribe  2) a nation, people  Thayer’s/Strong’s Number is G5443

Strong’s and Thayer’s Dictionaries state the word phule has a similar and related word which is phullon.

G5444 Thayer Definition:  phullon   1) a leaf

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from the same as G5443

Although the word phule most likely should be translated as “tribe” it is also closely related to phullon which is a leaf or leaves.

The Greek word translated as “mourn” is kopto which is defined as:

Thayer Definition:  kopto  1) to cut, strike, smite 2) to cut from, cut off 3) to beat one’s breast for grief

As can be seen in the above definition, the translation of “mourn” is the third aspect of the word with the first two defined as “to smite”; or be cut off or cut from.  This appears to indicate those remaining at the return of Jesus will be cut off in the final destruction, other than the marked 144,000 of the listed twelve tribes and the remnant who escapes at the setup of the abomination of desolation.  The remaining leaves, both Judah and various ethnic tribes or groups, will again be cut off (cursed to wither and die) in the final destruction of Jerusalem.