ONE OF THOSE LATTER TIMES I

As I have commented before in this Journal, the strongest word I received in 2023 was: ‘We are fighting the disintegration of virtue at every level of society.’ That can at first appear negative and doomsdayish or it might be a call to investigate more carefully.

This is what I think I heard and why: “Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the latter times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings, influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” (1Timothy 4:1-3)

I believe ‘in the latter times’ could and has been several ‘latter times’ in history not just the history of Ephesus in this letter. There are periods of history that seem more evil than others (although that would be difficult to calculate) because it is really primarily because it is evil in our particular time. What appears striking to me is the ‘seared conscience’ comment (4:2).

“Consciences are seared. The precise meaning of this phrase is somewhat debated. Three primary interpretations are (1) the consciences of these false teachers are “branded” with Satan’s mark to indicate ownership, (2) their consciences are “branded” with a penal mark to show they are lawbreakers, or (3) their consciences have been “seared” (i.e., totally burnt and desensitized) so that they are unable to notice the difference between right and wrong.” (New English Bible comments) Point three is what I believe it means and what we are experiencing in our culture: ‘they are unable to notice the difference between right and wrong.’ (Continued)

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Jesus