Always Learning But Still Ignorant

II Timothy 3: 6-9

We've just seen some of the character traits that will be prevalent in the Last Days. Now we will see how they work. 

(6) For among them are those who enter into households 

They "worm their way into homes;" physically then, but today it could be by internet and television. 

and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 

Captivate is aixmalotizo, "take captive" in war. Here it could mean "deceptive," as these women are weak morally, and already addicted to following various impulses. 

(7) always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

Evidently these women think they're so smart, they read and study, but all the wrong things. They're following all the by-ways that take them further and further away from that narrow road. And some of these deceived women are in powerful positions of authority. 

(8) Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. 

Jannes and Janbres are thought to be the two main magicians who duplicated some of the miracles God gave Moses to perform. Our enemy has always wanted to be worshiped as God and tries to do what God does, in a twisted and corrupted way. 

(9) But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes's and Jambres's folly was also. 

These two magicians could only go so far in duplicating what Moses did, and were not able to do the later miracles. The devil can only go as far as God allows him to go; but God will allow the Antichrist to go so far as to have authority to persecute and martyr God's people. 

God will allow this final rebel to have so much power that everyone who doesn't know God will be convinced that he is God:

"The one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false (the lie), in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness." (II Thessalonians 2: 9-12.) 

This sounds scary, like everybody will succumb to the devil and perish. And everyone who has refused to submit to our Lord and believe the truth of the Gospel, will be given this delusion, and left to their destructive wickedness they have chosen. 

We have the choice, either to say, "Your will be done, Lord;" or the Lord will say, "Your will be done, rebel." 

Everyone alive will hear the Good News in a way to understand enough to turn to God, and it's up to us, brothers and sisters, to do that job! We must get the Word out! We are charged with this mission, to go and teach all the nations, baptizing and instructing them in the ways of the Lord (Matthew 28: 18-20). 

O my Father, send out Your children, show us how to get Your Word out to every person alive! You want everyone to have that choice, before allowing "the lie" to condemn them. Strengthen us, Father, and give us boldness and steadfastness in the face of opposition. Lead us to all those who are searching, and enable us to share with each one how much You have loved them and want them to be Your children. 

And no one will have any excuse for rejecting Your gracious and generous gift. 

Every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!