Other Causes of the Apostasy Which Make a Season Difficult

By John Fast

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.” – 2 Timothy 3:1

The past several years have yielded report after scandalous report of widespread abuse and victimization of people at the hands of Catholic priests, creating a crisis of trust and integrity within Roman Catholicism. Within the culture at large there is now a heightened awareness and increased willingness on the part of those who have been wronged by wicked people to speak out. However, in the midst of all the allegations and calls for justice and reform, what is conspicuously absent is the identification of the root causes of all this evil, Read more »

Other Causes of a Difficult Season

By John Fast

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.” – 2 Timothy 3:1

Like the Apostle Jude, I had originally intended to write about one thing, but instead felt the necessity to write about another and devote at least one more study to the causes which make a season dangerous. Sadly, these causes are nothing new, but have occurred repeatedly at various times and ways throughout the course of history. These causes are of the worst kind and produce the most pernicious consequences, which are the open and visible apostasy from the commands of the gospel and the obedience which it requires. Read more »

Another Cause of a Difficult Season – Mixing With the World

By John Fast

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.” – 2 Timothy 3:1

I take it for granted that no person reading this study would like to be thought of as a hypocrite. No one likes to think of themselves as being self-deceived, that while professing to believe, and considering themselves to be one thing, they actually live in a way that is totally inconsistent with what they profess to be and believe. The Apostle Paul was grieved over the many professing Christians whose walk was not in keeping with their profession; those “who set their minds in earthly things” (Phil 3:18, 19). Read more »

Preparation For Suffering

Another Cause of a Difficult Season

By John Fast

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.” – 2 Timothy 3:1

In our last study I began to describe some of the causes which make a season difficult. The first cause I mentioned was that given by the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3:2-5, “For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;”. Read more »

Preparation For Suffering

The Causes of a Difficult Season

By John Fast

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.” – 2 Timothy 3:1

I take it for granted that virtually everyone who will read this study considers themselves a Christian. You profess to believe the Bible. You affirm key Christian doctrines. You read Christian books. You listen to Christian radio and Christian music. You regularly attend a place of Christian worship. You follow one or more famous and popular Christian preachers. But the question I have for you is, will all this save your soul? Read more »