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1 Timothy 4:1c
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1 Now [de] the Spirit [pneuma] speaketh [lego] expressly, [rhetos] that [hoti] in [en] the latter [husteros] times [kairos] some [tis] shall depart from [aphistemi] the faith, [pistis] giving heed [prosecho] to seducing [planos] spirits, [pneuma] and [kai] doctrines [didaskalia] of devils; [daimonion] KJV-Interlinear
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, NASB
Paul uses a broad definition when referring to the ‘latter’ times. The word for latter, ‘husteros,’ is a reference to that which follows the former or the primary.
It stands apart for the ‘Day of the Lord’ or as some other phrases refer to the ‘end’ times. The reference to the ‘latter’ times is a reference to the Church Age as a dispensation in its entirety, in that it is the final full dispensation which will see human rule in history.
The Age of Israel was the dispensation which immediately preceded ours, and of which we interrupted, leaving them with just seven years remaining within their dispensation. That remaining seven years will conclude immediately after our dispensation ends with the Rapture.
Paul refers in this verse to a growing apostasy, which is a general concept. In 2 Thess. He referes to a ‘great’ apostasy, which is more specific, and of which this apostasy will culminate in at the end of our dispensation, as the greatest apostasy era in all of history.
However, Paul refers to the ‘latter’ times, which is elsewhere defined for us in the New Testament.
The first advent of Christ ushered in the period known as the latter times. John reinforces that notion by his reference to the ‘last hour’ in 1 Jn. 2:18.
Christ appeared in these ‘last times’ for our sake, 1 Pet. 1:20.
Hebrews refers to these last times, in stating that God has spoken to us in His Son, Heb. 1:2.
Hebrews also refers to this era as the consummation of the ages, when Christ was crucified once during this last era, Heb. 9:26.
And in Matthew, Pauls statement of 2 Thess, that the love ‘agape’ of most people will grow cold (wax cold), will occur and escalate at the end of our era, Matt. 24:12, before the anti-christ is revealed.
Throughout all of the Church Age, apostasy will rise and fall through the generations, and that is obvious from viewing the last 1900 years of history, however, as the end of our age approaches, apostasy will rise to its highest.
Now just a quick thought here. When the Rapture occurs, society will already be in its peak of apostasy. Immediately after the Rapture, when all believers have been removed from the earth, what do you suppose the spiritual state of the world will be then?
Obviously there will be only unbelievers on the earth, who by default are negative to God, Christ, and doctrine, but more specifically against Christ, therefore the actual state of the world will be at its most extreme anti-christ state, ever.
Who then will come into power after the Rapture? And who will cheer him into power?
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