The Last Days Of The Apostolic Period

by Doodson, A. T. | Category: Lessons From The Last Days | Oct 1962

Hitherto in considering this subject we have been concerned with the phases of man's history in regard to spiritual things and now we consider the present phase especially with its lessons for ourselves. History is a storehouse of man's experiences and wise men learn therefrom what the probabilities are with regard to the future. But the lessons which have been studied in these articles disclose something more than a probability for in each case the history shows the same result, declension in the spiritual condition of people and lawlessness made manifest. This is the lesson of history, but in the spiritual matters we have moreover a clear warning from the prophets that were raised up of God to declare to men what would be the result of the drift from God. This phase of man's history opened up with the glorious declaration of the gospel with its new hopes and standards of life, so much so that even yet we regard these as the great civilising truths which men hope will be effective in producing a better world in which men may live on a higher plane than their forefathers. But in the very early days of this great message to men there came a voice from God unto His apostles concerning the things which would ultimately prevail. Thus the apostle Paul in testifying to the elders from Ephesus warned them as to men arising from among their own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them (Acts 20.80).

Events recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles show clearly that the greatest enemy to the work of the apostles lay in those from within the movement rather than by outside persecution. Indeed the latter has rather been beneficial than antagonistic, for a spiritual movement resists outside threats though alas ! it is vulnerable to inside treachery. It becomes us therefore to examine one's own actions in relation to what is revealed as to the time of the end.

Take what is written in 2 Timothy 3.1-5:

But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof."

These are things which may be applied to men in general, but the apostle is writing to Christians, and these are acts which reveal that the heart is in a wrong condition. It is sad indeed when Christian children manifest lack of obedience to parents that gave them life, cared for them in infancy, and bestowed gifts upon them in later life. In these the parents have imitated God who gave life and has bestowed gifts, and the child has failed in respect to God when it has failed in respect to parents. In the world at large there is today much that shows the growing disrespect to parents, and it is indeed lamentable that any so-called Christian child should be deficient in this elementary duty, which is the first claim upon a young life. To be unthankful to parents generates a state of unthankfulness to God and it is a rapid declension to unholiness in which men become lovers of self but without self-control and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. God expects that those who have received life from Him should live according to His commands in thankfulness for His mercy to them, but it is evident that looseness of conduct and immorality. are growing evils in the world. Alas! that it should be so among Christians.

It is a serious evil amongst Christians when men become haughty, railers, puffed up, having a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof.

Railing is not a crime of childhood, but its most serious effects are seen when it is exercised upon those who have been their instructors, by men who begin to have a high opinion of themselves. But note what Peter and Jude say of this evil:

"Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities: ... But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed" (2 Peter 2.10-13).

"These rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed" (Jude 10).

These are solemn words and they put the matter in clear perspective. A man who descends to railing is no better than a mere animal without reason, and for such there is little hope, but alas! they tend to create confusion in the minds of others and become destroyers of the things which once were cherished. An assembly afflicted by such men is in a woeful condition, and what we say now is applicable to men in assembly position, destruction coming from those within, not from those without. It is worse when those who become railers have been in the responsible position of overseers or deacons. There have been assemblies which no longer exist because of this activity of the flesh finding exercise among the saints. The exhortation of the apostle Paul should be remembered:

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4.31, 82).

It would be a very different world if there were no occasions of bitterness, but the mounting actions are seen to be bitterness, anger, wrath, clamour, and railing. It is possible to have bitterness, to be angry but not to sin, but there is a cure for it which strengthens the assembly, when faithful tender hearts remember what the Lord did for them, who endured bitterness and heard the clamour of men and as He hung on the Cross heard those who railed upon Him. Yet He was able to say, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23.84).

We pass on to the state when men should be instructors and the great need will then be that they should be sound in doctrine. Alas! when it is true as Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4.8:

"The time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts."

The statement that the time will come should make each careful to examine himself whether there is anything in his own mind either to accept wrong doctrine or to teach unsound doctrine. "Evil men shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3.18), and we do well when we adhere to the good word of God and choose not our own way. Sound doctrine is already embodied in the Faith once for all given to the saints. The lesson of history is given by Peter, writing of the Israelites

"There arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction " (2 Peter 2.1),

and Paul writes,

"The Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the Faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons"

(1 Timothy 4.1 Mg.).

We not only have the testimony of history but the express word of the Holy Spirit, a forth-telling of the things which will indeed be, and as we have the warnings, so may we examine ourselves. If it is evident that any of the things which have been listed as characteristic of the last days befall men, it is because insufficient thought has been given to the lovely things which are in Christ Jesus. We are called upon to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things (Titus 2.10),

"For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world; looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a people for His own p05session, zealous of good works " (Titus 2.11-14).

Doodson, A. T. | Oct 1962
Lessons From The Last Days