Perilous Times by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 22, 1871

Perilous Times.

By Uriah Smith

The Holy Spirit inspired the apostle Paul to write for the benefit of the people of God, that the last days would be to them days of peril. “In the last days,” said he, “perilous times shall come.” Peril is danger, hazard, liability to injury or loss. Perilous times are such as are full of peril; times in which the people of God will be in danger of suffering loss. The warning of the apostle is therefore timely; for the only way in which we can pass unharmed through times of peril, is to have the perils pointed out to us beforehand, and to be put on our guard against them.

What then causes the last days to be times of peril to the people of God? Paul goes on to say, “For [which word shows that what follows is the reason for the previous statement] men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” 2 Tim. 3: 1–4.

We need enter into no argument to show that our own days are the ones of which the apostle here speaks; for abundant testimony is borne to this fact by the secular press, and by men of the world. They do not, indeed, undertake to show a fulfillment of this prophecy; for many of them are doubtless unaware that any such prophecy was ever given, or that thus it was to be in the last days; but the testimony they bear shows that men everywhere manifest the very characteristics the apostle here describes, both in nature and degree, and that consequently the last days have come, and their perils are around us.

It requires no very extensive experience in the ways of the world to enable a person to see the inordinate self-love that rules in the hearts of men, the covetousness by which they are actuated, and the boasting and blasphemy that mortal men utter against God their maker in denying his existence, and making man his own Saviour. Pride is written on almost every brow. Disobedience to parents is the prevailing disposition of the rising generation. Thankfulness for favors is scarcely expected, such expectations have been so often disappointed. Unholy lives are the rule, and holiness the exception. Parents, with alarming frequency, show their lack of natural affection, by putting out their infant children to country nurses, where they well know they will suffer neglect, abuse, and often death, that they may be free to pursue their customary round of dissipation and pleasure. Men are held to their word, only by the most stringent enactments of the law. False accusations are unscrupulously raised to advantage self. Men are incontinent, walking, as Peter declares, speaking of the same class at the same time, after their own lusts; not falling occasionally, and under some sudden temptation, into this sin, but deliberately walking in this course. And they are fierce, filling the earth, as in the days of Noah, with violence. They despise and contemn the good. He who “departeth from evil maketh himself a prey.” While in an insane chase after pleasure, they drown all love for God, and put his fear from before their eyes.

All these things are plainly exhibited before us; and on account of these, Paul declares that the times are perilous, or full of danger. But how do these things endanger the people of God, for whose benefit Paul writes? It must be that they do, else this warning would never have been put on record. But how is this? Suppose the world does give itself up to sin, and suppose even those who have a form of godliness, of whom Paul here especially speaks, are guilty of all this dark catalogue of crimes, how does that affect those who are truly the disciples of Christ? Evidently because this is the prevailing spirit of the age at the time when this prophecy applies; and whatever is the prevailing spirit and tendency of the times, the people of God are in danger of falling under that, and being influenced thereby. It has been so in all past ages. The nations of the earth had kings, and so Israel must also have one. In the days of David and Solomon, polygamy was the spirit of the time, and they were unable to keep themselves free therefrom. At a later age the devil raised so strong a tide toward idolatry, that Israel, time after time, fell into the snare.

So in these times men are drawn, with almost irresistible power, into the commission of these dark crimes. The tendency of the age is in this direction. A strong tide sets toward perdition in these channels. The people of God are in danger of falling into the same spirit. How is it with us? The devil has come down in great wrath, knowing that his time is short. He means to swallow us up in the flood tide of iniquity which he is raising in the world. Are we entirely free from these sins? Is there no self-love, no covetousness, no pride, no love of pleasure, in our hearts? We cannot be the people of God and indulge in these things. There is no line drawn among the people, on the one side of which all are the people of God, notwithstanding they commit these sins, and on the other, all are children of wrath, though free from them. No; if we commit these sins, we belong to this class, whatever be our position or our profession. Let us examine ourselves well, and resist the insidious approaches of the enemy. Happy shall we be if we can escape the perils of these days, and in the soon-coming kingdom of glory, secure a home at last. U. S.